Multi-pitch climbing
Multi-pitch climbing is a type of climbing that typically takes place on climbing routes that are more than a single rope length – approximately 50 to 70 metres – in height (or distance), and thus where the lead climber cannot complete the climb as a single pitch. Where the number of pitches exceeds 10 or 300–500 metres (980–1,640 ft) in length, it starts to become big wall climbing (especially if sheer); and where the pitches are in a mixed rock and ice mountain environment, it can become alpine climbing.