Troop 721 Milford, CT - Climbing
Top Roping Illustration In top-roping, a
rope from the top of the climb always
holds the climber, making most slips off
the climb harmless. As shown above,
the climber is attached to one end of the
rope, the middle is passed through an
anchor at the top of the climb, and the
other end is held by the belayer.
The anchor at the top of the climb is
assembled from loops of webbing
connected to carabiners attached
securely to the rock. The rope is passed
through some of the carabiners, and the
others are attached to either pieces of
protection, wedged into a convenient
crack, or bolts, which other climbers
have drilled into the rock.
The anchor's carabiners with the rope passing through are suspended below the
top of the climb to prevent the rope from rubbing. When bolts or protection are far
from the top of the climb, substantial lengths of webbing are needed to place the
carabiners correctly.
Not all climbs can be top-roped because of the following requirements:
1. There must be a safe way to the top to set the anchor before the climbers.
Most popular top-roped climbs have an easy way to hike to the top.
2. The climb may be no longer than half the length of the rope; when the climber
starts, the rope must cross the full length of the climb twice.
3. The belayer stops the rope with a belay device attached to his harness if the
climber slips. The belay device makes it easy to apply enough friction to stop
a falling climber. If there is some danger of the belayer being lifted into the air,
he can be anchored down.
4. The belayer must keep the slack in the rope to a minimum since when a
climber slips, any slack must be taken up before the rope can stop the fall. To
take up this slack, the belayer pulls the rope downward as the climber climbs.
While doing this, the belayer must never release the rope fully to ensure the
climber could never fall far.
Top-Roping and Belaying
Climbing
Top Belaying