0 a spike (= a piece of metal with a sharp point at one end) that climbers put in cracks in the rock to support them or to attach a rope to : --
These pitons comprised 70 percent of his income.
Between time spent surfing and climbing, he sold pitons out of the back of his car to support himself.
This concept revolutionized rock climbing and led to further success of the company, despite destroying the sales of pitons, formerly his most important product.
The smallest size can also work well in old piton scars.
Mastering the art of down-climbing also eliminates the need for piton protection while leading the climber's skill and self-confidence is his protection.
Until the 1940s protection was provided by the piton, driven into a crack in the rock with a hammer and stoppers.
Repeated hammering and extraction of pitons damages the rock, and climbers who subscribe to the clean climbing ethic avoid their use as much as possible.
They were developed as an alternative to pitons, which are hammered into cracks and are more prone to damage the rock.
