Roped solo climbing

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Climbing
Background
Golden age of alpinism History of rock climbing
Types
Aid Big wall Bouldering Buildering Competition Crack Deep water solo Face Free Free solo Ice Indoor Lead Mixed Mountain Rock Rope Roped solo Slab Solo Speed Sport Top rope Trad Tree
Lists
Climbers Equipment Knots Terminology First ascents First free ascents
Terms
Abseiling Belaying Grades
Gear
Belay device Dynamic rope Harness Protection Shoes
Climbing companies
Entre-Prises Black Diamond CAMP Evolv Five Ten Grivel La Sportiva Metolius Climbing Mad Rock Sports The North Face Patagonia Petzl Rab Wild Country Walltopia

Roped solo climbing or rope soloing is a form of solo climbing without a climbing partner, but with the safety of rope protection.

Variations

• Roped solo free climbing refers to top roping on a fixed rope or to a traditional (aka trad) rope solo free climb.
• Rope solo aiding involves fixing the rope to an anchor and connecting yourself to the free end with either knots or one of the various modern devices designed for roped soloing. Then the pitch is led as a standard aid pitch would be led.
• Simul solo aid is a speed climbing technique where two climbers aid climb at the same time on opposite ends of the same rope. While climbing they alternate between free, aid, soloing, and simul climbing depending on the situation.

Potential danger

Roped soloing is much less dangerous than free soloing but more dangerous than climbing with a partner. One problem is that in a fall, the attachment system is loaded in a way it wasn't designed for. Also, in case of an accident, sometimes there is no one to go for help. It can also be tedious, as the climber must ascend each section of rock twice: once to add the next belay anchor, then again after descending to remove the previous one, effectively traveling the route three times.

References