Multi Pitch Climbing Basics

This video covers all the basic knots (figure eight, clove hitch, munter hitch) and anchor building basics for multipitch climbing. This works for both sport climbing and trad climbing.
#climbing #rockclimbing #tradclimbing

[@JREV123]

This is one the best and clear explanations of multi-pitch climbing basics I’ve seen on KZbin. Thanks for creating.

[@summitseekersexperience]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@julianjosephs8822]

Very well done video. Finally a munter hitch method that actually sticks and i can now remember always. Thanks!

[@lordoftheknownuniver]

That trick to keep the bar tack from coming down into the master point in absolutely genius!

[@martycomiskey6168]

As always, the “best” practice is scenario driven. However, all during the placing of the three gear pro placements and the sling/cordalette anchor building, the climber was not clipped to any pro and risked a fall to the previously placed pro down on the route. Often, it is a good practice to clip the first piece of pro with the leader’s rope so that they are on a relatively tight belay while they place the additional pro and build/rig the anchor.

[@summitseekersexperience]

Good add Marty

[@patricioriquelme2280]

💯‼️💯‼️,thank you so much for this smooth and efficient video. It was very helpful 👏👏👏

[@alexjay3334]

This was a great help. Really appreciate the guidance m’kay

[@bubbyb0i6967]

Really appreciate the tip on the well dressed figure 8. Not many people at all know of that method in my experience. I learned it awhile back and it’s been a game-changer ever since.

[@summitseekersexperience]

For sure, definitely set's the tone for the day.

[@cornebrouwer]

I really like that emphasis too! What I don’t like is belaying on the body so close to the stance/first protection. This video from the French Mountain Guide School confirms what the German-speaking countries (Germany, Austria, Swiss) are doing for a long time now. kzbin.info/www/bejne/m6K9gqF5fNFlaqM

[@DJBelbe]

We generally go for a double bowline knot for outdoor climbs. You can fall on it all day and it never gets hard to untie. Double Figure 8 we leave for indoors only.

[@hamishlivo]

I found this to be a useful reminder of multi-pitch climbing procedures/dynamics. Thanks!

[@summitseekersexperience]

For sure!! Glad it was helpful

[@algenhills]

The "easy side/hard" explanation for the figure eight is the first time ive really understood it this well. Thanks :)

[@summitseekersexperience]

for sure, it's the little things ;-)

[@nathantaylor4538]

It’s very easy to tie this knot in the “better” fashion when you stop and take a second to actually look at the knot, and understand what happens to it when it experiences load, as it would in a fall. You will understand immediately why, even though they are essentially identical and equally safe, after loading the knot, one way can be untied easier than the other. It is about whether the load strand is “inside” the trace (good) or “outside” the trace (not so good), where it will pinch and compress the whole knot and make it very hard to untie.

[@falkschulz1650]

This is exactly what I was looking for! Thank you so much for your effort and the precise explanation, greetings from Germany

[@summitseekersexperience]

Sweet... I used to work for Linde in Munich!

[@danshome-w5h]

Cracking video. Planning on taking a multi-pitch course in September, so it is great to start building the knowledge base ahead of time. Thanks for all the effort that went into this buddy!

[@summitseekersexperience]

Very cool, good luck on your multipitch course. Definitely opens a lot of possibilities.

[@llovebeats3749]

How did it go? Did ya live?

[@ianpalmer2311]

This is the best instructional climbing channel I’ve found - thanks!

[@summitseekersexperience]

Thanks!!!

[@carinahe1752]

Very useful! I’ll have my first multipitch class next week and it’s always nice to have some prior knowledge 😊

[@heikogehrig]

Very detailed overview - excellent video. Great refresher (or if you're still learning the ropes - before or after instruction). Thank you for making this video!

[@vlaaady]

Thanks, very logical set of steps! The thing that I did not think about is clipping a leader to a carabiner on the anchor, a cleaning sequence, and a rope management.

[@benb440444]

Thanks! Super clear! I really appreciate the video. You could save some lives 🙂

[@freebobify]

Fantastic video, very clear ahead of my first multipitch trip!

[@wereinmusic]

Great content. Compact and clear. Thanks Jason!

[@summitseekersexperience]

For sure, glad you enjoyed it.

[@z1522]

From 16:30, the idea of pre-clipping the leader's rope through an initial piece is sound, to avoid risking a factor two fall onto the belayer - but there is a risk, with this setup off the harness, that a severe fall may pull the belayer's device all the way into that first protection biner, and with gri gri style devices, this will RELEASE them, and potentially drop the leader the length of the rope. The Munter hitch is being used more and more directly off a fixed anchor, or the master point loop, to belay the leader, because it is not susceptible to this. Practically, on long pitches with wind, river or road noise, other climbers, voice commands may be useless or misunderstood; having a clear standing plan in advance for procedures can be crucial. I assume the leader will fully set the next station, get ready to belay, and only then pull the extra slack up faster than I'd expect to see, were they still climbing. When it comes snug against my anchor, goes loose for a moment, then stays snug again, I interpret that as the time it took to place me fully on belay, and then keep it snug; I can take apart my anchors, and expect the new slack will get taken up as I release it, confirming I am on belay even without voice confirmation. Complications like traverses, the need to move down, etc. require attention and awareness, of what the follower may be coping with, so as to not pull them off, or give out slack at the wrong time.

[@summitseekersexperience]

For Sure good point on the factor 2 stuff. Check out this video where I highlighted how to deal with that (utilizing the munter in a couple different ways): kzbin.info/www/bejne/j2eUkq2FgJJ2jLs

[@carsythe]

Great video! I am getting into outdoor sport climbing this year. One day I'd like to find a bolted 2-pitch route to see if I could even handle those heights. I actually used to get scared in gyms.

[@summitseekersexperience]

Nice.... There's actually a lot of bolted multipitch sport climbs now. Once you get over 2 or 3 pitches, the height all looks the same ;-)

[@bryankano6247]

this is a fantastic SOP manual, thanks

[@summitseekersexperience]

For sure... all about the procedures in MP!

[@dannyCOTW]

Thanks so much for this video! It really helped my confidence while seconding!

[@35andRetired]

Really appreciate ya Jason!

[@MrProphetius]

Great video to refresh everything. thanks bud.

[@acsherman]

This is really great content, and you explain it so simply. Can you explain the purpose of the alpine draw (or in this case, the non-locking carabiner) you put the leader’s rope through before they started climbing?

[@summitseekersexperience]

For sure, you typically want to have the rope clipped on the anchor so that if the leader falls early (before getting another piece in), the force of the fall is not directly on the belayer but instead on the alpine draw. The belayer will be pulled up, similar to a normal lead fall which is desired. Otherwise all the force would be directly on the grigri/belayers climbing harness and also put them in a very awkward stance. Additionally, if the belayer backs up from the alpine draw some, this can reduce a potential fall factor of 2 which would be highly desired.

[@christofkr]

@@summitseekersexperience And to add to that: If you belay with a tuber (BD ATC, Petzl Reverso, Edelrid Megajul or Gigajul in manual mode or any similar device), not using a redirect will result in a potentially fatal fall when the leader falls before clipping the first quickdraw!

[@zucabrasil]

Thank you. Love the video and all the explanation.

[@JohanMood]

The foolproof way i like to do clove and munters is to hold your rope in your fists, arms crossed, thumbs pointing along the rope away from each other, uncross your arms so your thumbs are facing up and you should have the two micke mouse ears around your fingers, cross them to get a clove hitch or fold them like book to get a clove. fool proof and you can do them both in complete darkness without needing to remember what micke mouse ear twist in which direction :)

[@summitseekersexperience]

Yeah, I think that's how JB Mountain Skills teaches. Definitely fool proof.

[@mattbarry5938]

So informative, thanks for your time! 🤘

[@summitseekersexperience]

for sure!!

[@mirchtdm3489]

My primary way to clip when I arrive at belay station is my adjust PETZL and then i put clove hitch as a back up.

[@mirchtdm3489]

good vide TBH.

[@bloodink9508]

Appreciate the refreshing information.

[@summitseekersexperience]

You bet!

[@ambientdreamwaves]

New climber question. How do you set up the anchor before you clove hitch? The whole time you are creating the anchor with your sling, what is protecting your fall besides your last piece of protection?

[@summitseekersexperience]

You should utilize an alpine or quick draw on one of the bolts or your first trad piece for a trad anchor and clip yourself in before continuing to construct the anchor.

[@jasonquiroz1742]

Incredible! Thank you so much!

[@corvusicarus]

Awesome video, thanks!

[@summitseekersexperience]

Thanks!!!

[@hanzhefeng]

Nice video! i still have a question: when doing swap-leading (alternating leading), what's the best way to belay the follower? ( if using top belay, then when the follower leads, the belay needs to reset; if using belay from belayer himself that seems more natural and efficient so the follower can just pass leader and starts leading)

[@kaufdrop86]

superexcellent! thank you providing this!!

[@marekgumienny5813]

I just watched Magnus free soloing with Alex. And now watching this... so surreal

[@summitseekersexperience]

hahaha... two different things

[@LilY-yt6qj]

thanks for sharing

[@samuelcourtright7382]

This was a great video, and I almost missed all of the information entirely because I got hung up on him saying "figure of eight knot" rather than "figure eight knot". Have I been saying it wrong this whole time?!

[@summitseekersexperience]

Ha, I think they are interchangeable…. I say it both ways.

[@DVMCellini]

stay safe out there

[@summitseekersexperience]

🙃

[@ahmetmacitsahin8474]

it is a great video, thank you for it.

[@randomness96]

Is there a reason to not use a PAS other than convenience?

[@summitseekersexperience]

The only reason to utilize a PAS is if you intend to come out of the system for any kind of reason. Normally in MP climbing, I intend to stay in the system until the descent so I don't normally use a PAS until that point.

[@amanda_da_cat5981]

I am unfamiliar with the term "rating your pieces" 7:34 you said to have a total rating over 10, I have never Trad climbed, only sport climbed, if anyone could explain this for me I'd appreciate it!

[@danielpilon6936]

Very good video. One question, at 22:27 you are ready to climb up as second, and it seems that the Alpine draw is not yet unclippep from the right hand bolt. Did I miss something in your explanations? Thanks!

[@jamesdube2240]

He didn’t explain it in the video, but that would be similar to a QuickDraw. As the follower climbs, he/she cleans the QuickDraws or cams left by the leader, so once the follower starts climbing, they would take it out

[@MrAndypf]

If the leader falls on that first piece it will be greater than a 1 factor fall - very violent. That can easily pull you up to the clip and push down on the cam of the grigri. I know if you hold the break strand you are still good but do you have any tips on this? Especially with bigger falls later in the pitch too? Thanks so much for the great content as always.

[@georgekousouris4900]

Great video! Thanks a lot for their tips! One question on your last point, what if instead of a triple point anchor we use a quad anchor (for 2 bolts), can we use that without untying ? just clip the two biners to the bolts and start belaying the second ?

[@summitseekersexperience]

Right, the procedure would stay very similar. Quad would be appropriate for two bolts. The nice thing is then you have two master points so you can clove on one and then belay your second on the other one (two strands each).

[@johnnewman2490]

Hi George. That's what I do on bolted multis. I've read that you should periodically untie your quad - i.e. after a weekend of climbing - so that the sling doesn't get weakened from having knots in the exact same place.

[@susan3707]

Nice Tutorial!

[@GregSidberry]

Good content.

[@summitseekersexperience]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@holgerlay6977]

It‘s not very common to use a GriGri in a MultiPitch Climb. But it‘s definitely dangerous to use it from the Harnest. You should allways belay from the Masterpoint

[@summitseekersexperience]

Agreed on the masterpoint, I think that's shown at the 12:55 point. In regards to grigri in multipitch. I didn't use one until I became a guide and learned all the different rescue systems you can utilize a grigri in. Now I almost always have one just because if something happens, it's much easier to set up a rescue system with a grigri than without. Something to consider.

[@steventhaw3765]

For the most efficient, strongest, and Safest anchor system Please refer to Brent Peter's CLOVE FOR ANCHORS KZbin VIDEOS!!!!!

[@raduturc6668]

Great video,but am I the only one thinking about Mr. Mackey(South Park) - mmkay? 🙂

[@Finimabob]

belay on and belay off seem like two very similar calls that you definitely do not want to get confused. Anyone familiar with this being an issue and know of any commonly used alternatives?

[@sitonmyface56]

Last time my buddy and me got confused, about commands so we made some up. Banana for example meant safe. On belay is normally pretty clear because the rope goes tight and you start

[@theeverydayadventurer]

Why not use a PAS instead of a clove hitch?

[@summitseekersexperience]

The simpler the system, the better. Unless you intend to come out of the system (untie) there is no reason to have a PAS. I'd recommend just having a PAS in your bag or utilizing a 120 cm sling when it comes time to rappel. Clove is way faster, more adjustable, lighter (0 oz), and simpler.

[@maximusnukeage]

Why not use the shelf of the anchor for some of the equipment rather than having all 3 carabiners sharing the master point?

[@summitseekersexperience]

I’m not a fan of the shelf unless ergonomics dictate to elevate a belay device. The odds of messing up the rope go up for a novice or loading the shelf incorrectly.

[@tomaszszymula6626]

when putting figure 8 through the harness, you should start with the top loop, not the buttom.

[@jaketaylor24081991]

Whys that?

[@tomaszszymula6626]

@@jaketaylor24081991 that's rare case scenario, but: if you loose focus (tired, bad weather condition etc.) and tie fig 8 only to the bottom loop and take a fall, you'll get upside down head down first. If you miss the bottom loop and tie to the upper one, you'll get bruses on your ribbs. By starting the knot with the upper loop, you minimalize the risk of worse case scenario

[@summitseekersexperience]

@@tomaszszymula6626 Interesting

[@jaketaylor24081991]

Ah good to know. I have tied into one loop before aswell. Luckily it got noticed on the buddy check

[@DrDroopsify]

« I’m a single pitch instructor and today I’m going to go over some multi-pitch basics » 🤔 great video tho

[@summitseekersexperience]

on my AMGA track, all i've been doing for the last 1.5 years is climbing multipitch to build my resume for the rock guide course which allows you to guide multipitch. I currently just guide single pitch because that's what my certification says, but I climb a ton of multipitch so wanted to share what I've learned.

[@mitchellbaker4806]

Please get an experienced climber to teach you outdoor climbing skills, in person. Please.

[@summitseekersexperience]

I have a climbing mentor who is an IFMGA Mountain Guide.

[@Nerudah]

@@summitseekersexperience I think he means the viewers..

[@summitseekersexperience]

Right, I meant even guides have people that teach them outside.

[@cornebrouwer]

Being a IFMGA Mountain Guide doesn’t say anything about your ability to teach… a lot of them are great guides, but poor teachers

[@summitseekersexperience]

For sure, everybody’s different. The key with finding a great climbing mentor is finding someone that you can communicate well with and understand.

[@nigelmtb]

Surely people who are multi pitch climbing don't need to learn these knots; they should be very clear on that already.

[@surfclimbcycle]

If this guy says "Mickey Mouse ear" one more time, I think I'm gonna scream.

[@fapc725]

It’s super cool the content and pretty clear, thanks for doing it. Obviously there are other techniques or scenarios you may found outside but it is question of each climber to solve following these basic security rules. I loved it!

[@mirovranavideo]

Tying knots on Dyneema loops is a bad idea.

[@summitseekersexperience]

Why?

[@nudevaulter]

Hey Jason, nice work on your videos. Well done information.

[@summitseekersexperience]

Thanks man! gotta get out there again soon!

[@bigsnwballs]

well said