Best Way to learn how to Aid

[obwan]

Looks like you guys have figured it out - it's just something you have to mess with, if you can find an isolated backstop it helps reduce the wuffo's. And certainly keeps you out of any busy climbing routes.

You can heave the rope over the top of the backstop and tie it off somewhere, and then rope solo up using prusik or grigri.

If you want to simulate a "real" lead, building the anchor at the bottom, then useing a soloist device would be needed - but more expensive, just to get the mechanics worked out.

[matt_warfield]

I was not that innovative. I learned by spending an entire day on one pitch, making every efficiency error possible. My only excuse is it was the precam era. I had to use a bong before the climb and several during the climb.

Edited January 24, 2013 by matt_warfield

[denalidave]

And now I have a great drytooling practice spot just down the road... Still elicits strange looks from the local vagrants when I start unpacking my gear and ascending the backstop though...

Did you report your first ascents to the AAJ? We don't need any confusion down the road when someone else claims to have already aided any of those backstops, ya know.

[matt_warfield]

There are also people that bolt underpasses to free climb or aid and also get plenty of strange looks. It is derivative since absolutely vertical all the time but can be a way to learn.