Climb Down Opinions

Climb has many meanings.  One is:
to proceed or move by using the hands and feet, especially on an elevated place; crawl: to climb along a branch; to climb around on the roof.

“Climb down” has always been legitimate when used properly, and it is almost always listed as a verb phrase in  “climb” entries in the dictionary.

I see nothing wrong with "climb down/up" per se as it can denote a direction much like the points of a compass, but if the phrase draws attention from the author, one could restate the situation to avoid it entirely. Take the staircase example: "With his advanced arthritis, tackling the rickety staircase wouldn't be a walk in the proverbial park. Nonetheless, once he managed the journey, his old bones didn't squeak as much as those damn steps." Or such depending on context. There's always another means to the end. Take care. Vern

Could just say descend instead. Descended the staircase. That said, for some reason it doesn't sound right with something like a ladder. It's not something I've ever really delved into before.

Maybe climbing should be used more liberally when discussing something using all four limbs? Climb up and down a ladder. Descend ascend a mountain, staircase...etc

Just my thoughts. I like Vern's approach, too, but anyone who's read my work knows I don't shy away from extra description

For the Merriam Webster dictionary, climbing is something that can be done either up or down. What seems to define a "climbing" operation is the usage of hands for grasping/clutching/holding.

Definition of climb
climbed; climbing; climbs
intransitive verb

2 a : to go upward or raise oneself especially by grasping or clutching with the hands climbed aboard the train

3 : to go about or down usually by grasping or holding with the hands climb down the ladder

Kiss

Gacela