Top Rope Solo System

TR Solo is a great introduction to building self-reliance, a stepping stone for lead solo (if you are interested in the art), advanced multipitch (staying away from the word “efficiency”), big wall skills, and projecting hard sport routes!

It is not a quick hack to get laps or to get strong (although that is the reward once you dial the safety systems but not the real intent to get started; start with the love of the process and problem solving). 

Goal: Understand the breakdown of system, transitions, risk, and mitigation. And, get some laps on TR Solo while under the supervision of the instructor and peers.

Ideal Candidate: someone who:

• Embodies redundancy and doesn’t cut corners
• Has at least one full season of multipitch rock climbing (trad preferred) 
• is fully confident in rappels
• fixing lines or isolating strands of rope + has set up Top Rope Anchors at Ice Park (Joshua Tree Style Anchor)
• Has built and belayed someone on Trad anchors - gear or tree & boulders / natural features to use for protection
• If you are not sure about your experience & fit feel free to reach out! We can guide you to courses that will build the skill or you could be ready!

• (1 hour) Zoom call to understand principles of top rope solo or self belay 
• Accessing the bolted anchors or building an anchor 
• Fixing the line
• Protecting rope rub by rope protector or refixes along the way
• How the progress capture devices work and redundancy 
• Failure modes - rope & progress capture devices & falls close to the anchor with slack 
• Human factors involved which increase the risk
• Ethics of Rope Solo’ing 
• Gear questions
  
  
• Field Day // this day will involve a simple route (not a lot of refixes or traverses)
• We will safely access the line using principles of of redundancy
• Fix the line and rappel down 
• Climb 
• Slack Management (meaning no slack in the system at all!)
• Perform transitions // 
• half way up - cannot pull moves - how to aid up 
• Half way up - want to bail - how to safely transition to rappel from top rope solo on same line 
• Transition at the anchor for lap #2 
• Transition at the anchor to finish the day
  
  
• Complementary weekday evening trip posted (outside of the course for participants to practice)

• YouTube Videos:

  The Most Detailed Top Rope Solo Setup Guide on YouTube
  How do you climb by yourself... SAFELY???
  Do you need a Neck Lanyard for Top Rope Solo Climbing?
  https://youtube.com/shorts/CKfqxgVQe2Q?si=3YSgm1csLcnzAyZS
  
  What not to do (unless you are an IFMGA Guide)
  Top rope solo set up