I started climbing indoors a few months ago, and I've only ever done top roping, but I'd really like to try outdoor climbing, and especially sport climbing. One matter of logistics eludes me though - when you're all done with a route, how do you get the top quickdraw back? I mean, you could have someone climb the wall and retrieve all but the last one on their way up, but it seems to me that the only way to get the top one back is to downclimb the whole thing. I'm sure it's something simple, but I just haven't figured it out! How do you get that last one back? Or is there something permanent at the top of the route?
Thanks!
2007-07-05 16:09:11 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Outdoor Recreation ➔ Climbing
Rusty's answer is correct.
2007-07-08 02:35:37 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a great question. I actually did downclimb the first couple of times I went and then I found out the correct way. You do it by running a bite of rope through the 2 (hopefully) anchors at the top. You can tie a figure 8 (retraced) in the loop. Then you attach it to you with a locking caribiner, and come down. When you get down untie all the knots (if you don't they get stuck in the anchors--yup personal experience), and then you pull the rope down. Hopefully this makes sense.
2007-07-05 16:53:15 · answer #2 · answered by Nelson_DeVon 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most sport routes have permanent bolt anchors with chains for belaying/rappeling at the top of the route. So you lead the route from the bottom up, get to the anchor, and clip in to the anchor with a sling. Attach sling to your harness with a locking carabiner. Have your partner take you off belay. Whew! Now you have to decide whether you will lower off, rap off, or walk off. Let's assume you want to be lowered off. Pull up about six feet of slack and tie a figure eight on a bit. Clip this to your harness with a locking carabiner. Now untie your figure eight from your harness, and run the end through the anchor chains, and tie back into your harness with a figure eight. Remember to do it in this order. If you don't and you drop the rope, you're screwed. Unclip the figure eight on a bit, untie it, and have your partner put you back on belay. Unclip your sling from the anchor, and lower away. You can unclip the quickdraws on your way back down. Obviously there are other ways. You could belay your partner from the top, and have them clean your gear as they move up the pitch. You could also set up a rappel and clean the gear on the way down. If you can walk off, walk off! Don't try any of this unless you are with someone who knows what the hell they are doing.
Good Luck.
PS- unless it's a matter of life or death, you NEVER lower off a single quickdraw.
2007-07-07 08:00:11 · answer #3 · answered by Rusty Sanchez 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i think you need a partner
2007-07-05 16:38:43 · answer #4 · answered by jc 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋