How to set up a toprope?
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I've been climbing for about 4 years. I haven't done much outdoor climbing and I want to start now. I've climbed outside, but I haven't set up a rope. I was just wondering what are the basic steps and what gear do I need to set up a toprope. What about sport climbing? Thanks |
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amazon.com/Climbing-Anchors…
read that, it will help a lot. when i started top roping i got a thick rope (10.2-10.5), 4 lockers a few double length slings and a cordelette. |
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Hey Logan, I would reccomend starting with Rock Climbing: Mastering the Basics to give you a basic level of education and then seeking out some hands on training. This could be in the form of a professional guiding service, a local climbing group/college club or a friend who is a climber and you trust with your safety. I was in the same situation a little over a year ago and found a class at my local rec center that taught me how to sport lead and the instructor was kind enough to take us outside on his own time and teach us how to rig a top rope. (thanks Cushman) |
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An addendum, I've found there's two books on anchors, John Long's and Craig Luebben's. I bought Long's first but having read Craig's Rock climbing book I found I preferred his style. I would say Long's is more of a casual, anecdotal style whereas Craig's is more of a scientific, egineering style (as he was a mechanical engineer). |
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The books will reinforce this, but the single most important skillset you need to develop is that you always always always have a redundant/backup system. With most sport routes, this is simple: 2 bolts for anchors, not one. One bolt will hold the load, so the 2nd one is there primarily for backup (other aspects like equalization come into play, but that is not relevant here). if you are using ropes and slings off of trees and rocks, you always run off of 2 (minimum) different supports. Even if you have a 80' tall healthy pine with a 12" trunk (the rope would break before it pulls out), you still get a redundant system in. This has to become absolutely 2nd nature, something you'll do instinctively and every time, it is the number one safety rule we all have been taught and it quite likely will save your ass someday. |
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hey logan.in my own opinion.dont read a book,find a friend or someone that can set up a toprope with you watching.i tried reading mongoose told you about,which is a awsome book.But best way to learn it is to go out and do it with someone that can.Once you learn it you wont forget it.Its super fun and easy in my opinion. |
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After building anchors with 1" tubular webbing for a long time I switched over to using an 80 foot chunk of static rope (which you can buy by the foot at REI) and I will never go back. |
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you need to watch 'Take it to the Limit' for REAL toprope hints. |
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If you are climbing in a gym for 4 years chances are you know someone who knows how to set anchors outdoors. Talk to people in your gym, i`m sure someone will show you the way. |
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Thank you for asking this Logan. I have been only climbing two weeks now, and I wanted to know the same thing. I will be checking the Lehi Library to see if I can find these books. |
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ukclimbing.com/articles/pag…
amazon.com/Rock-Climbing-An… and go find a dirty old climber who likes fresh meat ... |
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Books are great and I learned a lot from them. The problem is that before you trust yours and your partner's life to your very first TR setup, a book cannot look over it with a practiced eye and point out where you went wrong, what you forgot, what you should redo and how it could be better and safer. Books are great for helping you recognize really bad setups and dangerous situations. But there is really no substitute for that live review of your ropes. I was fortunate enough to start with a climber who was experienced, certified and a stickler for safety. And as much as I really, really wanted to go setup my own ropes (cause I had read a lot), I was willing to be patient and watch him, then setup a dozen or more different TRs under different conditions with his review before he was positive I could setup safely and bombproof on any crag. He was quite thorough. And since it's my wife and kids who are climbing my setups, I'm glad he was. A book cannot do that. |
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Since you're located in Madison, check out Hoofer Mountaineering Club ( hoofermountaineering.org ). If you're not a student at the UW, you can still become a member by joining the Wisconsin Union. You can learn everything there, and meet people to go climbing with and teach you. |
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J.F. Sebastian wrote: I am going to find the Take It To The Limit movie as well.Sorry if this is painfully obvious, but this is sarcasm, right? mountainproject.com/v/commu… |