A very small
piton for use in small or marginal
cracks. Called a reality piton
because if you are using one
you had better look at reality very
hard.
I have read this and realise that unless you already know what a reality piton is then you will not understand this wu. A reality piton, also called an rp is a very small
piece of climbing equipment.
On many climbs the rock is broken by a crack. Ideally one might wish to climb the crack free, without pulling on equipment placed in the crack. If the rock is sufficently
steep or overhanging, or is the crack is too thin to gain
purchace from with one's fingers, then one must aid climb
the crack. Pitons and blades of metal are hammered into the crack. The back of these pieces have holes through
which carabiners can be clipped and pulled on. If the
crack allows a piton to be hammered in deeply then you can even sleep whilst attached to hte piton. Thinner and shallower cracks require small pitons, the rp is one of the smallest pitons used. Often a single placement will not even hold body weight and an array of pieces must be placed
to distribute the load across the crack. This is sick hard aid climbing and something I have yet to expierence.