The Cairn Catalogue
Field Guide
Everything you need to understand the Catalogue, its routes, records, climbing styles, community, and the systems used to document Cairn.
Reference Manual
Learn the language of the Catalogue.
Cairn Catalogue is the definitive resource for Cairn routes, a community-built record of climbing history, and the home of regularly hosted Cairn competitions with real prizes.
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Start Here
New to the Catalogue?
Chapter 01
Getting Started
Learn what Cairn Catalogue is, where its routes come from, how routes are reviewed, and where to begin exploring, contributing, and joining the community.
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Browse by chapter
Each chapter covers one part of the Catalogue in more detail.
Chapter 02
Using the Catalogue
Learn your way around routes, profiles, Ticklists, logs, Community, Cairn Project, and the other tools available throughout the site.
Chapter 03
Routes & Styles
Understand Buffless, Dry Tool, Aid, pitons, King Lines, Interior routes, and the other classifications used throughout the Catalogue.
Chapter 04
Records & Ascents
Learn what FA, FR, FC, and the other records mean and how Cairn Catalogue documents climbing history.
Chapter 05
Variations
Learn what makes a route a variation, how parent routes work, and when a line qualifies for its own Catalogue listing.
Chapter 06
Grading
Understand the Cairn Catalogue grading system, difficulty thresholds, and how route grades are classified.
Chapter 07
Adding Routes
Learn what qualifies for the Catalogue, what a route submission needs, and how the review process works.
Chapter 08
Cairn Projects
Learn how to prepare for competitions, understand each event format, and know what to expect from registration through the final result.
Chapter 09
Glossary
Looking for one term? Find quick definitions for the abbreviations, route types, and climbing language used throughout Cairn Catalogue.
Quick Reference
Common Catalogue terms
Full definitions and Catalogue-specific rules will be explained throughout the Field Guide.