the.com/belay
the quiet promise that if you fall, someone has already decided not to let go.
nautical rootsSailors belayed ropes to cleats centuries before climbers existed
command wordBelay off means stop, abandon that order entirely
life or deathOne distracted partner turns a slip into a tragedy
friction trickBent rope through a device tames enormous falling forces
trust ritualClimbers exchange verbal checks before either leaves the ground