I tried top rope solo for the first time!

I have been intrested in top rope soloing (TRS) since the last year. This year I looked up some techniques and tried it for the first time. I'm trying my TRS setup with two ropes and one rope. There is a lot of test falls.
I took influences to my setup from Petzl self-belay system instructions and ‪@skillsforclimbing‬ top rope soloing video.
This is not an instructional video. Using these techniques shown in the video is at your own risk.
Petzl
www.petzl.com/...
‪@skillsforclimbing‬
• Top Rope Soloing

[@keithagnew8062]

Nice work! .. Here's what I would add .. in your single rope climb - you added the gri-gri before removing the first device (good) but removed your 2nd device (11:45) without testing the gri-gri first. If, for some reason, the gri-gri didn't engage, you could be in trouble. By the time you leaned back to test it you were not backed up. Remember this principle - always add before you remove. So a few things you could have done - I'll cover two options that would have been quick and easy - only a few seconds more. Option 1 Before removing the 2nd device, add a catastrophe knot below the gri-gri (you add before removing). Option 2: Step on your sling using a prusic, and sling your Traxion (above the sling you're standing on) to your harness with a bit of slack (this is your backup) (add before removing). Now you can remove the Ascender and weight-test the gri-gri and make sure it's engaging well. Also, lowering on the gri-gri is meh! A lot of people do it .. I'd use my ATC and rap down with a prussic. When you lower on the gri-gri, you're not backed up. And per the comments below, yes, always have a few extra pieces of self-rescue gear on hand and practice using it. Have fun!

[@mkclimbing]

Thanks for the comment and good advice! Rapping down with ATC is also a good option, but personally I prefer using Grigri if I have a fixed rope, just because it's easier.

[@raggedshoe3521]

I do quite a bit of top rope solo, make sure to bring a long sling and a prusik for anything vertical or overhanging. Been stuck dangling in the air more than I’d like admit

[@mkclimbing]

Thanks for a good piece of advice. On the video I wanted to try using the secondary belay device to get the primary device unweighted. It worked too but in case something weird happens, it's good to have a prusik also, and a sling of course.

[@AidanHoggard]

I also run with two ropes like you. I'm trying the Taz Luv 3 as a primary and Shunt as the back up. Both go up smoothly and have the benefit that when you want to descend you don't need to change anything - i.e. they both have a descend operation. Means you can easily go up and down hard sections and removes the slight risk associated with changing devices.

[@mkclimbing]

I have been thinking about buying Taz LOV just for that reason. It's sometimes frustrating if you're projecting one section of the route and you need to change the device to lower yourself. However, I'd reconsider using Shunt as a backup device as it's said not to be suitable for self belaying by Petzl.

[@isakhammer6558]

This is the optimal setup! I think you can climb quite hard with it as well. However, it is a bit costly.

[@biomorphic]

Serious question: how do you put the rope up there?

[@dansurf828]

Often you walk around the wall so you can walk to the top then you can set up anchors and other systems. There might be other methods but this is what I've seen.

[@mkclimbing]

Yes this is exactly what I did. Of course it's not always possible to walk to the top. In that case you would have to lead the route first.

[@biomorphic]

@@mkclimbing can you lead it alone without someone belaying?

[@mkclimbing]

That is possible. It's called lead rope solo, but unfortunately I have no experience about it.

[@JonathanCamp]

@@mkclimbing I can attest that Yann Camus of Blissclimbing has a great course on both TRS and LRS. I'm sure you've run into his videos in your research.

[@mitchellbaker4806]

Maybe don't post on social media until you have the system dialed in, lest someone inexperienced gets the wrong idea that it's easy. Also, why do none of these videos show redirecting the line with draws or cans, or protecting edges with rope pro. This is where people will go wrong trying to imitate what they see on KZbin.

[@mkclimbing]

Hi. Good that you mentioned... This is not an instructional video as said in the video description. This video is about my first experience of TRS as said in the title of the video.

[@isakhammer6558]

Have you tried any big falls on these systems? I am always a bit afraid that the systems with teeth may brake my rope if a do a 2m fall on a crux

[@mkclimbing]

No I have not. That would not be good for the rope. But that should not be a problem because both devices follow up the rope while you climb, if you have enough weight on the ropes, so you don't have to take off any slack manually.

[@leagoo52]

Two things. This wind is disturbing (like on runway). Question: why are you using hand ascender as chest ascending device? You could use something much smaller.

[@mkclimbing]

Hi. Good question. I like the ascender as a primary belaying device because you don't have to use any extension like a dogbone or sling to connect it to the belay loop.

[@kirkbrode]

I previously used a left-handed ascender too, and I liked it for the same reason as you do. You don't need an extension from your harness (because the handle serves that purpose) and it works great with a chest harness because of the top hole for a carabiner. It worked perfectly when using a single rope and two devices. But sometimes when using two ropes, the other rope would get jammed/caught in the cam on the open side of the ascender. Usually it wasn't a big deal because it didn't get stuck hard and I could just pull it out instantly. But it tended to happen in overhanging situations when I needed to climb quickly and it was annoying to make the extra move to free the rope. I had already decided I was going to switch it out for a Micro Traxion but made the commitment after the rope got caught when I needed to make a deadpoint and then a couple of hard moves and I couldn't get a hand free to fix it. Now I use a CT Rollnlock and a Micro Traxion. I might switch to two Micro Traxions. PS: I didn't find the sound of the wind to be bothersome at all.

[@mkclimbing]

That sounds interesting. I have never had that problem. Maybe it's because my ascender is right handed. 🤔 Or maybe I just have not done that much TRS on overhang. PS. Actually that's not wind. The sound comes from a highway. But anyway I'm happy that it didn't bother you. 😄