If the gaff slides along the wood without digging, which statement best describes the likely cause?

• A. The gaff is improperly sharpened or the gaff angle is too small
• B. The wood is too hard
• C. The climber is wearing gloves
• D. The rope is frayed

Answer: (A)

The key idea is how a gaff actually bites into a surface. For a gaff to hold, it must create a true bite into the wood, which depends on having a sharp edge and an appropriate bite angle. When the gaff slides along the wood without digging, it isn’t forming a solid bite, so it can’t hold weight. The most likely reason is that the gaff isn’t sharpened enough or the angle is set too small, so the edge glances off rather than penetrating. Sharpening the gaff and/or adjusting the bite angle so the tip catches firmly will restore the bite. The other factors mentioned don’t directly change the gaff’s ability to bite into wood in this way: wood hardness might affect effort, gloves don’t alter the edge’s bite, and a frayed rope affects rope safety, not the gaff’s penetration into the surface.