Communication in the winter environment is usually harder than in summer, as climbing often happens in worse weather conditions with wind, snow and spindrift sloughs all obscuring the message. When the climbers speak different languages and are from different climbing cultures then clear communication becomes essential.
I have a system that I use that I find very simple, possibly foolproof. It is based on an understanding of what each member of the climbing pair are doing at any time. The leader has to deal with any problems alone. The second cannot really provide any help- they cannot see the issue or give any useful advice other than 'Have faith in yourself'.
The leader leads, dealing with any problems that occur on their own. They build a belay when they have finished leading. They stop leading for a host of reasons: the pitch is completed, the leader runs out of energy, the climbing is too hard for them, etc.
When the belay is complete they shout "SAFE" This is the only spoken-or shouted -communication between the climbers.
The second will then take the lead rope from their belay device. They can then take off extra jackets, change gloves, faff and begin to strip the belay station, leaving as many pieces of protection in place to protect themself as is necessary.
Meanwhile the leader is purposefully faffing- putting on a belay jacket, deciding where the rope will go, arranging the stance and locating food and drink etc. When they are ready, and NOT before, they haul up the slack rope. When there is no more slack rope to pull up, they put the rope into their belay device and take it in tight.
The second will have observed the rope being pulled in. They know they are not on belay yet. The rope goes tight, then loose again whilst the leader places it into their belay device. The rope is pulled in again in a series of short pulls as the leader takes in through their belay device. The rope goes tight on the second and remains tight. The second knows they are on belay and can strip the remainder of their belay station and begin to climb. If they start to climb and the rope remains slack they should stop and wait for it to be taken in again.
In reading various climbing handbooks I have come across advice such as 'avoid buying black ropes as "take on black" could be confused with "give me slack"' In reality the word "slack" can also be confused with "lovely crack" "I want my money back" "I'm having a panic attack" and so on. If you use a simple communication system you can buy all the cheap black ropes that the other less informed climbers avoid.
I think that shouted, extensive communication between 2 climbers is unnecessary, stressful and confusing. A leader does their job, a second does their own and both should know what the other is doing. The only spoken communication in this system is the word "SAFE" therefore if the second hears or half hears any shouted word then it means "I'm safe". The only exception is "Aaaiiiieeeeeeeee" -the sudden tightening of the rope will give a clue as to what has happened!
Another means of getting clear communication is to use radios- fine until they are dropped, or the batteries run out. Radio handsets are also pretty hard to use with gloves on. If using radios it makes sense to have a back-up system agreed on for when they fail.
Whatever your communication system, the essential aspect in making it work is understanding it before the leader starts to climb. One partner inthe past didn't communicate at all. He just pulled hard on the rope until I started to climb, not knowing if I was on belay or if we were climbing together. I was unhappy with this to say the least. Knowing that it would happen would have helped immensely.
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