Jamming is used where the rock features a crack in which you can jam your hand, fist, finger or in some cases forearm, rather than pulling down on a hold. In most cases you don’t actually pull down on a jam, it is used to stabilise the upper body as you push up from your…
There are some climbs where good friction between shoe and rock is absolutely vital, and they’re almost impossible to complete without it. When climbing on granite, I’ve found a few instances where I’ve had to trust steeply sloping footholds which I would rarely have trusted previously. To gain the required amount of friction on climbs…