Picture this if you will: you are hanging by a crimp, cranked down. The next move up is to another evil little crimp; above the crimp, an easy hold; one move away from an easy hold, a nice, beautiful jug. The crimp is slick, your arms are tired and you want to kick your friends for talking you into this mess, because they’re on the ground belaying and laughing at you as your legs go Elvis.

But wait, what is this you spy; a shelf, or small ledge, so to speak. Just out of your reach, above and to the right. Your arms are busy, so is your left foot, but what’s this? You have two feet! Yea!! You raise your right foot up, swinging your body up to a horizontal position with the ground, and pray your fingers don’t play out. You slam your right heel on top of the shelf, and bam, instant leverage.

Moving quickly, you are now able to free your right hand for the nice jug, which allows you to pull yourself into a more upright position. Feet stable, arms cooling down, friends shutting up, you have just hooked your way out of trouble.

Granted, this is an extreme example. Heel hooks really only enable you to gain a foothold where none exist by stepping up your foot practically on the same level as your head.

Heeling can also provide you with a brief respite, allowing one arm then the other to relax and fight the pump. As with any maneuver you are unfamiliar with, practice in a gym or easy boulder with a friend before you go out.