Building Safe Anchors and Top Ropes
Lake District - Level 2 : Instructional Course
Learn how to build safe belays and become more independent at a single pitch crag.
We'll cover all the fundamentals to help you become more independent outdoor rock climbing. Top-roping is a great way to access climbing outdoors safely, but you'll need to know how to set up a top-rope and the risks and hazards that are related to this. You'll learn how to identify secure anchors, place trad gear such as wires and cams and then be taught the best rope techniques to link these anchors together to create a safe main anchor. Personal safety is key, as is anchor and rope choice, as well at the route you've chosen to climb suited to the level of ability to those in the group.
Course Highlights
Coaching on 'trad' climbing leader skills and techniques in the Lake District
Multi-pitch rope work and belay techniques
Build confidence and become more independent in your lead climbing abilities
Expert Guiding and coaching from experienced ISM Guides
Is The Course For Me?
This course would besuited to someone who has climbed outdoors a number of times, top-roping and following friends, family or partners up single or multi-pitch routes. You want to learn more about ‘trad’ climbing in both the placing gear and mechanics around ‘trad’ gear, belaying a lead climber, ropework & building safe anchors so that you develop your trad climbing skills and knowledge to help you become more confident and independent moving forward.
Meeting point: Great Langdale
Please note: A minimum of four participants/bookings is required for this course to run. If fewer than four places are booked, we will discuss alternative dates or options with you.
Building safe anchors and top ropes
Skills covered on the course include:
- A refresh of your skills and the level of your ability
- Preparation of equipment, traditional gear and rope choice
- Mental preparation
- Using the full range of natural protection
- Route choice and route finding
- Stance organisation
- Safety equipment
- Belaying a lead climber
- Taking out and placing ‘trad’ gear, taking out stuck ‘trad’ gear placements
- Descending safely
- Crag awareness
- Avoiding potential problems (such as rope jams, protection falling out)
- Emergency procedures (when things don’t go quite as smoothly as planned) such as abseiling past a knot, hoist systems, escaping the system, evacuating an injured climber
- Judgement in rock climbing (perhaps the biggest safety factor!)
Course Dates & Booking
Meet the Team
Tommaso Dusi
IFMGA Italian Mountain Guide
Tommaso is a an experienced Italian mountain guide and regular year-round ISM team member. He loves the mountains and helping people to connect and find happiness in nature.
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Rose Gare-Simmons
ISM Marketing
Rose is a Summer Mountain Leader, healthcare professional, and passionate advocate for the healing power of the outdoors. Her work is rooted in the simple belief that time in the mountains can change how we feel, how…
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Terry Ralphs
IFMGA British Mountain Guide
Terry learnt to climb on the gritstone edges of the Peak District then after graduating from Leeds University he decided to make his living in the outdoors, moving to North Wales to work at Plas y Brenin…
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Carlo Cosi
IFMGA Italian Mountain Guide
Carlo Cosi was born in Padua, northern Italy, and has been a Guide since he was 23. He is a National Climbing Instructor and has a degree in Physical Education.
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All Vital Information
Short introduction to vital information. This is everything you need to know about attending this course, links to other pages
All Vital Information
