How to Extend the Top Rope When Rock Climbing

Top roping is a safe, popular form of rock climbing because the rope is anchored from above and catches the climber immediately in the case of a fall. It's a good way for beginners to get started, and allows experts to hone their skills on difficult climbs. Safe top roping often means extending the anchor point so that the rope doesn't run over sharp edges or in cracks or crevices where it can get jammed.

Things You'll Need

  • Four locking carabiners
  • Two standard length slings
  • Cordellete
  • Climbing rope
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Instructions

    • 1

      Start with a good anchor at the top of your climb. Whether it is a cordellete around a tree, two bolts at the top of a sport route, or one constructed from traditional rock climbing protection, it must be solid, redundant and equalized in a way to avoid shock loading if one piece fails. It is also important that the anchor allows the climbing rope to run freely. Many times this requires adding slings so the anchor point is on the vertical cliff face and not a ledge at the top of the cliff.

    • 2

      Clip two of the locking carabiners into the main anchor point. Make sure the gates open in opposite directions and then rotate one carabiner so that the gates are not next to each other. This is called having the gates opposite and opposed.

    • 3

      Clip the two slings into the carabiners that are clipped to the anchor point. Lock the gates on the carabiners. If the slings aren't long enough to reach over the edge of the cliff, add more slings or use the cordelette.

    • 4

      Clip two carabiners into the other end of the slings, again making sure the gates are opposite and opposed.

    • 5

      Find the middle of the rope and clip it into the second set of carabiners.

    • 6

      Throw the ends of the rope to the ground, then lower the slings over the edge of the climb. Ideally, the carabiners the rope is clipped into hang will hang six inches below the top of the cliff.