Want some advice, am beginner climber in Melbourne at hardrock (3 weeks). I have read a book to learn the ropes (pun intended).
In 'traditional' climbing, when you do a 'multi-pitch', with a single rope, how does one descend? If the route calls for three sections which are each 50 or 60m long, and the group has one rope, does this mean they can descend only 30m at a time on the rope doubled over?
I do not understand how this can work, if anchors spots are normally at end of section (pitch?), does this mean you have to leave equipment to rappel off every 30m or so? Does this mean you have to leave gear on cliff every time you climb a multi-pitch traditional climb? Or do you hang rope around knob of rock? What if there is no knob of rock?
Or do you always have to carry two ropes on multi-pitch climbing, one to climb and another to rappel? In John Longs book it says two ropes are only for specialists and experienced climbers, so how does a beginner with only one rope descend, without leaving equipment on the cliff?
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