How to Top Rope

We offer top rope skills in two parts - natural anchors and artificial anchors - and recommend a minimum of two days for each to allow time to learn the skills and provide practice and supervision. In addition to a general review of all the basic skills, the additional topics we'll cover are as follows:

Natural Anchoring

• Anchor selection
• Knots
• Anchor building, equalization and extension
• Rappelling - how to rappel off an extended top rope anchor
• Bottom management - rope management, stance selection, ground anchors and belaying techniques
• Equipment - what gear you will need to buy
• and provide you with as much time as possible on the rock practicing the skills and having fun rock climbing

Artificial Anchoring

• Review the basic concepts
• Artificial gear placement (cams, nuts, etc.)
• Anchor building, equalization and extension
• Directionals
• Rappelling - how to rappel off an extended top rope anchor
• Bottom management - rope management, stance selection, ground anchors and belaying techniques
• and provide you with as much time as possible on the rock practicing the skills and having fun rock climbing

We will have you build and climb on multiple routes while under professional supervision to provide you with enough skills and confidence so you can get out on your own with friends.

Top rope set up instruction is available daily in the Shawangunks and Adirondacks. We supply all the necessary technical climbing equipment and day passes where required - please check out the Gear List specific for the day for what is actually supplied and what you'll be required to bring.

If you would like to purchase a top rope set up, just ask and we would love to advise you on what to buy!