Contents

Margin of Safety ........................................................................................................ 6-8
Section II. USE OF HOLDS...................................................................................... 6-8
Climbing with Feet ..................................................................................................... 6-8
Use of Hands ........................................................................................................... 6-11
Combination Techniques ......................................................................................... 6-16
Section III. ROPED CLIMBING .............................................................................. 6-23
Tying into Climbing Rope ........................................................................................ 6-23
Presewn Harnesses ................................................................................................ 6-23
Improvised Harnesses ............................................................................................. 6-24
Section IV. BELAY TECHNIQUES ........................................................................ 6-28
Procedure for Managing the Rope .......................................................................... 6-28
Choosing a Belay Technique .................................................................................. 6-30
Establishing a Belay ................................................................................................ 6-33
Setting Up a Belay ................................................................................................... 6-34
Top-Rope Belay ....................................................................................................... 6-37
Section V. CLIMBING COMMANDS...................................................................... 6-37
Verbal Commands ................................................................................................... 6-37
Rope Tug Commands ............................................................................................. 6-38
Section VI. ROPED CLIMBING METHODS .......................................................... 6-39
Top-Roped Climbing................................................................................................ 6-39
Lead Climbing .......................................................................................................... 6-39
Aid Climbing ............................................................................................................ 6-47
Three-Man Climbing Team ...................................................................................... 6-50
Chapter 7

ROPE INSTALLATIONS........................................................................................... 7-1
Section I. FIXED ROPE ............................................................................................ 7-1
Installation ................................................................................................................. 7-1
Utilization ................................................................................................................... 7-1
Retrieval..................................................................................................................... 7-2
Fixed Rope with Intermediate Anchors ..................................................................... 7-2
Section II. RAPPELLING ......................................................................................... 7-5
Selection of Rappel Point .......................................................................................... 7-5
Installation of Rappel Point ........................................................................................ 7-5
Operation of Rappel Point ......................................................................................... 7-6
Recovery of Rappel Point .......................................................................................... 7-7
Types of Rappels....................................................................................................... 7-8
Section III. ONE-ROPE BRIDGE ........................................................................... 7-14
Site Selection ........................................................................................................... 7-15
Installation Using Transport Tightening System ...................................................... 7-15
Installation Using Z-Pulley Tightening System ........................................................ 7-16
Utilization ................................................................................................................. 7-17
Hauling Line ............................................................................................................. 7-19
Retrieval................................................................................................................... 7-20
Section IV. SUSPENSION TRAVERSE ................................................................. 7-21
Site Selection ........................................................................................................... 7-21
Installation ............................................................................................................... 7-21
Retrieval................................................................................................................... 7-24

iv

TC 3-97.61

26 July 2012