'On the Line' TRS manual on Kickstarter

Hi, I am not sure if this will get zapped, but I've been tinkering away for a few years on a top rope soloing manual (I know how much people like TRS threads on MP!), mainly because it seems to have gone from something weird anti-social Ted Kaczynski types do, to something everyone tries at least once, with some non-anti social types sticking with it. So I thought that it might be good to create some baseline text based on best practices (like a TRS forum post, I'm sure there will be lots to argue about, but I hope this reflects the bleeding edge of the subject). 

The book is pretty much done (225 pages, 250+ illustrations) and is very much like my book 'Down', i.e. a book with a disturbing level of detail - well, it disturbs me at least, and I wrote it (I do have a page that sums the book up in one word, one sentence, one paragraph and half a page if you're in a rush). 

The Kickstarter page is here if anyone wants to support the project, but the aim is for the book to be out in time for some Xmas top rope soloing. 

Here are a few images from the book (I wrote and illustrated the book, and it's a self-published sort of deal, as who else is daft enough to publish a book on top rope soloing!?):

Let me know if you need someone to proof read the book or give any feedback.  I've been employing and advocating the TRS system for over 20 years and was one of the people that popularized its use in Yosemite.

@Jaren, the true path is a Lift and a micro...

I think Down is one of the most important climbing books on my extensive bookshelf and would expect no less from this next endeavor.

Would you mind posting the table of contents? I’m assuming a big chunk of that 225 pages is risk management and self rescue.

1001 Tips is the best real-world hard knocks climbing text since Extreme Alpinism.  Yoj can take my money already...

I look forward to reading this!

Thanks for making the transition easier for future climbers.

Andy's book is available now and I'm thinking about getting it. Has anyone read it already?

https://www.amazon.com/-/de/dp/1999700554/ref=sr_1_1?crid=PPLVM9BF0FTM&keywords=on+the+line+andy+kirkpatrick&qid=1708178416&sprefix=one+the+line+andy%2Caps%2C262&sr=8-1

Noel Zwrote:

Andy's book is available now and I'm thinking about getting it. Has anyone read it already?

https://www.amazon.com/-/de/dp/1999700554/ref=sr_1_1?crid=PPLVM9BF0FTM&keywords=on+the+line+andy+kirkpatrick&qid=1708178416&sprefix=one+the+line+andy%2Caps%2C262&sr=8-1

Short answer; Get it.

I found the explanations of the 'families' of devices interesting. Several inconsequential typos, but not a deal killer. I was either disagreeing with, or misunderstanding some of the fall factor stuff. All in all it reinforced all of the thoughts that I already had on the subject and I haven't changed a thing on my rig.

I also highly recommend one of his other books 'Down'. I did learn a few things from that one.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/on-the-line-andy-kirkpatrick/1144507592

https://bookshop.org/p/books/on-the-line-andy-kirkpatrick/21001195

https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/on-the-line-top-rope-solo-manual-cragmanship_andy-kirkpatrick/51858827/#edition=70633658&idiq=62854456

Looks like it's available from a small number of Amazon alternatives for those of us not willing to give Bezos any more cash.  Though, given the only link on AK's website is to Amazon, the author doesn't seem to mind.

Andy Shoemakerwrote:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/on-the-line-andy-kirkpatrick/1144507592

https://bookshop.org/p/books/on-the-line-andy-kirkpatrick/21001195

https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/on-the-line-top-rope-solo-manual-cragmanship_andy-kirkpatrick/51858827/#edition=70633658&idiq=62854456

Looks like it's available from a small number of Amazon alternatives for those of us not willing to give Bezos any more cash.  Though, given the only link on AK's website is to Amazon, the author doesn't seem to mind.

Thanks for the links Andy.

I know Amazon are evil, like radio was to the telegraph, or email was to the letter (remember pen pals?), but until people start paying a week's wages for niche nerdy books that take a year or two to write and illustrate, rather than the price for a bag of hipster coffee beans, the only way to make it pay is by leveraging everything modernity gifts me, even if it's ultimately poisonous. Selling PDFs was a much more moral alternative, but the problem with climbers is that although one person pays for a PDF, ten thousand end up reading it. You can't beat paper because at least - eventually - it'll disintegrate.

Best

Andy

Andy Kirkpatrickwrote:

Thanks for the links Andy.

I know Amazon are evil, like radio was to the telegraph, or email was to the letter (remember pen pals?), but until people start paying a week's wages for niche nerdy books that take a year or two to write and illustrate, rather than the price for a bag of hipster coffee beans, the only way to make it pay is by leveraging everything modernity gifts me, even if it's ultimately poisonous. Selling PDFs was a much more moral alternative, but the problem with climbers is that although one person pays for a PDF, ten thousand end up reading it. You can't beat paper because at least - eventually - it'll disintegrate.

Best

Andy

That makes sense.  Gotta play the game the way the system is designed.  I should have signed off that last post in a less passive agro way.  I have written exactly 0 books so I have no clue what it's like to be in you place of trying to market one in a declining capitalist economy.   If a tough time to be selling any sort of IP.  Now, single origin, hand polished, shade grown coffee on the other hand. Take our money!

Cold Wars is without a doubt in my top 2 or 3 non-fiction books. Right below My First Summer in the Sierra by John Muir, right above Annapurna by Herzog.  You're a legend in my head.

If I order the book will you put out a new podcast ep? The training podcasts are getting cocky now that we are lacking pointless rambling from a rainy shed, im on the verge of signing up for a lattice plan...

(I do have a page that sums the book up in one word, one sentence, one paragraph and half a page if you're in a rush).

Andy Kirkpatrickwrote:

Hi, I am not sure if this will get zapped, but I've been tinkering away for a few years on a top rope soloing manual (I know how much people like TRS threads on MP!), mainly because it seems to have gone from something weird anti-social Ted Kaczynski types do, to something everyone tries at least once, with some non-anti social types sticking with it. So I thought that it might be good to create some baseline text based on best practices (like a TRS forum post, I'm sure there will be lots to argue about, but I hope this reflects the bleeding edge of the subject). 

The book is pretty much done (225 pages, 250+ illustrations) and is very much like my book 'Down', i.e. a book with a disturbing level of detail - well, it disturbs me at least, and I wrote it (I do have a page that sums the book up in one word, one sentence, one paragraph and half a page if you're in a rush). 

The Kickstarter page is here if anyone wants to support the project, but the aim is for the book to be out in time for some Xmas top rope soloing. 

Here are a few images from the book (I wrote and illustrated the book, and it's a self-published sort of deal, as who else is daft enough to publish a book on top rope soloing!?):

This very new concept to me so excuse the dumb question.   I've also heard of lead rope soloing,  would your book cover this as well?

RWPTwrote:

This very new concept to me so excuse the dumb question.   I've also heard of lead rope soloing,  would your book cover this as well?

This book is dedicated exclusively to top rope solo.  Andy has another book called "Me Myself and I"  which focus's on more on big wall soling.  

RWPTwrote:

This very new concept to me so excuse the dumb question.   I've also heard of lead rope soloing,  would your book cover this as well?

My understanding is that Andy is rewriting MM&I because the book was based on the silent partner which is not in production any more and very expensive.

Leon Wrightwrote:

This book is dedicated exclusively to top rope solo.  Andy has another book called "Me Myself and I"  which focus's on more on big wall soling.  

Thanks Leon would skills for big wall soloing apply to just lead soloing at a single pitch crag?

Honestly, I have no experience with big wall or lead rope soloing so I’ll leave this to someone with more brain wrinkles than I ;)

Thanks all, I'll purchase all the cragsmanship books except FOR MMI along with 1001.