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General Climbing Discussion

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Belay method, whats the consensus 16-Oct-2004 At 5:15:48 AM shmalec

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Currently in LA for 6 months and went to the gym for the first time last night with a couple of work mates.

Quite a few people seem to use a very dubious technique. It involves belaying palm up with the free hand hanging on to the rope that goes to the climber. When you want to shift the belay hand (eg to take in rope) you bring it up to the other one at around shoulder height which grabs both ropes while you slide your belay hand down the trailing end towards the stitch plate. The belay hand isn't meant to let go but it means that the lockoff rope spends very little time locked off.

Anyone know this method where you bring the ropes together at chest height to shift your belay hand?

It looks pretty dubious to me but if its an accepted method then I'll stop worrying.