Question about searching routes on MP

So when I search there are the little check boxes that say, trad, sport, TR (toprope). My question is about the TR option.

On routes that say TR does that mean you can set up a toprope from above without leading? Or does that simply mean the route can be toproped once you reach the anchors, but you may have to lead it?

Trying to find routes that we can toprope without having to lead, as no one in my normal group is confident enough to lead yet.

They're routes that do not need to be lead but it doesn't necessarily mean that there will be anchors a top. EI: TR routes in J-Tree require trad gear to create the top rope anchor. It should say in the description if gear will be needed to create the anchor.

OK cool, so we should be able to hike to the top of them somehow if they say they are a TR route. But it may or may not have bolted anchors, and we would need are own gear to set up the rope. Right?

Sorry for repeating it, just want to make sure I understand. I'm new to this site, so I'm not sure exactly how it all works.

Thanks man.

Because it says TR doesn't always mean you can walk to the top. Often a route is TR, and shares anchors with another route that you need to lead to TR the first route. So make sure to read the description first, as normally it will say somewhere if it is a walk up or not.
Don't just assume that tho.

OK cool, thanks guys

And for many routes marked TR, you have to lead something harder, maybe much harder, to set up the TR on the easier route. Which makes it a little harder when using the search to find something doable for you.

OK that is good to know. I'll try and look for the ones that say you can walk to the anchor in the description, otherwise I'll have to just go out and take a look.

Micah Klesick wrote:Because it says TR doesn't always mean you can walk to the top. Often a route is TR, and shares anchors with another route that you need to lead to TR the first route. So make sure to read the description first, as normally it will say somewhere if it is a walk up or not. Don't just assume that tho.

x2. I've marked routes as TR because they are just unbolted variations to another climb. You climb a route on lead, set it up for TR, and now you can TR a variation to the side.

In short, it means whatever the developer meant for it to mean! There is no standard. It could be a route that's just TR only, it could be something that you walk to the top of, or it could be something else all together, but typically speaking if it's marked TR and NOT sport or trad as well, that means it cannot be lead safely and most people TR it.

ok cool, thanks for that. saves me going out thinking I'm going to be able to toprope and not being able to.

It would be nice if the database separated out the two ideas:

1. foot-access for setting top-ropes
2. not-leadable, or at least, not generally lead climb, so usually TRed.

The database at thecrag.com does this -- it may be worth seeing if it has data for the climbing areas you're looking to visit.