Big wall climbing is a form of rock climbing that takes place on long multi-pitch routes that normally require a full day, if not several days, to ascend. In addition, big wall routes are typically sustained and exposed, where the climbers remain suspended from the rock face, even sleeping hanging from the face, with limited options to sit down or escape unless they abseil back down the whole route. It is therefore a physically and mentally demanding form of climbing.
Climbers on a pitch of The Nose route (VI 5.9 C2) on El Capitan
Tre Cime di Lavaredo
Petit Dru
Great Trango Tower
Multi-pitch climbing is a type of climbing that typically takes place on routes that are more than a single rope length in height, and thus where the lead climber cannot complete the climb as a single pitch. Where the number of pitches exceeds 6–10, it can become big wall climbing, or where the pitches are in a mixed rock and ice mountain environment, it can become alpine climbing. Multi-pitch rock climbs can come in traditional, sport, and aid formats. Some have free soloed multi-pitch routes.
Leader (top) belaying the second (below), an aspect of multi-pitch climbs
Topo of the famous 320-metre multi-pitch climbing route, Brych (VI+, 9-pitches), in Germany.
Lead climber and Belayer (in a hanging belay position) on the multi-pitch El Niño 8b (5.13d), El Capitan
Josune Bereziartu on the multi-pitch sport climb Yeah Man 8b+ (300-metres, 9-pitches: 7a, 7b+, 7b+, 7c, 8a+, 8a/+, 8a, 8b+, 7a), north face of Grand Pfad, Switzerland.