Alteraus

Alteraus is a type of platform used by climbers to aid in ascending vertical surfaces. It is typically a flat or slightly angled surface that is attached to a climber's arm and hand suits, allowing them to stand on it. This design enables the climber to reach foothold positions that would otherwise be out of their reach. The alteraus is commonly used in ice climbing, drytooling, and other types of climbing where footholds are limited.

The use of an alteraus can significantly increase the difficulty of a climb by requiring the climber to reach higher and navigate more tenuous footholds. While it does not directly provide the climber with the strength or steadiness needed to complete a move, it does allow access to holds that might otherwise be inaccessible. The alteraus is often used in conjunction with lengthening the tools or adding additional support to maintain balance.

Alteraus use in competition climbing has led to controversy over fair competition and whether the technology provides an unfair advantage to users. Effective alteraus use can influence the objective measurement of difficulty in a climb and arguments have been made that the tool can create "artificial" progression by circumventing physical limitations in climbers' reach and body positioning.