Sport Climbing Basics - VDiff Climbing Sport Climbing Basics - VDiff Climbing | Page 9

Be careful when removing the last
quickdraw. If you remove it in the same
way as the others, you’ll swing out from the
rock and pull your belayer with you.
If it is a safe swing (i.e: you wouldn’t hit
anything or anyone) unclip your lowering
quickdraw from the rope and attach it
directly to the bolt. Then allow your weight
to hang on this quickdraw.
Remove the other quickdraw from the bolt
and the rope.
Give your belayer time to take in the extra
slack which is created.
Next, remove the last quickdraw from the
bolt. To make this easier, use holds on the
rock to pull yourself in. Be ready to swing
out!
If it isn’t a safe swing, one option is to
lower to the ground, and then ‘boulder’ up
to retrieve it. This works best if you have a
bouldering pad and the first bolt isn’t very
high.
Another option is for the belayer to be
anchored to the ground. In this case, you
can keep your lowering quickdraw attached
until you’re on the ground.
VDiff – Sport Climbing Basics > Descending
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