Editing Spring-loaded camming device (section)

{{short description|Piece of rock climbing or mountaineering protection equipment}}
{{redirect|SLCD}}
[[File:Klim friends.jpg|thumb|A selection of spring-loaded camming devices of differing sizes]]
[[File:Creeks Giving - Climbing in Indian Creek, Utah - 29.jpg|thumb|Climbers often carry a large number of cams on traditional climbs.]]

A '''spring-loaded camming device''' (also '''SLCD''', '''cam''' or '''friend''') is a piece of [[rock climbing]] or [[mountaineering]] [[Protection (climbing)|protection]] [[Climbing equipment|equipment]]. It consists of two, three, or four [[Cam (mechanism)|cam]]s mounted on a common [[axle]] or two adjacent axles, so that pulling on the axle forces the cams to spread further apart. It is then attached to a [[sling (climbing equipment)|sling]] and [[carabiner]] at the end of the stem. The SLCD is used by pulling on the "trigger" (a small handle) so that the cams retract together, then inserting it into a crack or pocket in the rock and releasing the trigger to allow the cams to expand. A pull on the rope, such as that generated by a climber falling, will cause a properly placed SLCD to convert the pulling force along the stem of the unit into outwards pressure on the rock, producing massive amounts of friction and preventing the removal of the unit from the rock. Due to the large forces exerted on the rock when an SLCD is fallen on, it is very important that SLCDs are only placed in solid, strong rock.<ref name="freedom">{{cite book | edition = 7 | editor = Cox, Steven M. |editor2=Kris Fulsaas | title = [[Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills]] | publisher = The Mountaineers | isbn = 0-89886-828-9| location = Seattle | year = 2003}}</ref>