When top-rope climbing, your rope must dangle over the edge of the cliff. If your anchors are set far back from the edge, you may need to use additional pieces of rope or webbing to extend your setup. Always bring the necessary gear to extend your top rope. You never know when you may need it, and it's unsafe to climb without it.
Extending Your Top Rope
Step 1
Tie each piece of webbing in a loop, using a water knot. Make sure to dress and check all knots after tying them.
Step 2
Girth hitch a piece of webbing around each of your anchors. You should use no fewer than 2 solid anchors on which to set up your rope. If using trees, place the girth hitch low on the trunk near the ground.
Step 3
Tie a figure eight on a bight on each end of the cordelette, creating 2 loops.
Step 4
Connect the webbing and cordelette by clipping a locking carabiner to each loop in the cordelette and each end of the webbing. Lock both carabiners.
Step 5
Check to make sure that the cordelette now reaches over the edge of the cliff. It should extend over at least 3 feet in order for you to have enough room to tie your master knot.
Step 6
Tie a master eight knot in the cordelette, making sure it is positioned correctly over the route you want to climb. Check again to make sure that your master knot still extends over the edge. If it does not, extend the anchor further by using additional loops of webbing and locking carabiners.
Step 7
Clip 2 locking carabiners into your master knot, making sure that the gates are opposite and opposed.
Step 8
Clip the middle of your climbing rope into the carabiners in the master eight. Lock both carabiners and throw your rope over the edge.
Things You'll Need
- 4 Locking carabiners
- 20 Feet or more of cordelette
- 2 Lengths of webbing, 20 feet or longer
- Climbing rope
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