HEAVY climber? ok?

Tried to research this on here first.... but...

My brother just rang me and wants to come visit next weekend, I already have plans to take a friend climbing (one who's never climbed before). My brother is a big boy, maybe weighs like 350. Would it be safe for me to setup a TR and anchor in and belay for him. I told him we were going to go climbing and his response was, "ok that's fine". I'd like him to get the experience too.

Don't know if this is going to be safe. Or if it would even be healthy for him to climb. Or if I'll be able to find a harness that will fit him... but it would be nice if I could.

Any positive responses on if it's ok, what to make it better, or anyone with a big harness in the RI- New England Area who would offer it up for a weekend that would be awesome.

Should I use a static so he doesn't just stretch down to the ground on TR? Let me know.... Thank you

Don't use a static line. Have fun.

If you have a gri gri use that. It helps. Also- spend a lot of effort priming the stretch out of the rope, especially when he's starting off the ground.
And it definitely can't hurt to anchor yourself to the ground.

If you're going to be through the Boston area I have a harness that may work. I don't remember the brand off the top of my head but it's a one size fits all that I keep around as an extra for when I bring new people with me. I'm not sure how big it gets but I know it expands a lot. If your interested shoot me a PM.

Definitely anchor yourself, I climb with a guy no where near that heavy, and I find myself up against the my anchor while lowering him all the time.

Thanks all for great info. Will look into that $10 harness and ccerling's offer. My bro is 6'7" so while he is definitely overweight, its not all oversized balloon obesity up top.

Could an alpine butterfly 2' up from his tie in point, clipped to a shoulder length sling under his armpits count as 'makeshift chest harness'?

TFerguson wrote:If you have a gri gri use that. It helps. Also- spend a lot of effort priming the stretch out of the rope, especially when he's starting off the ground. And it definitely can't hurt to anchor yourself to the ground.

Yes and maybe some lower angle stuff to off set the "top heavy".. To get rope stretch out..tie in and tighten up, then have him kinda sit/squat down a few times.

350 and tall... rig the anchor a bit beefer than normal.

I have caught leader falls on steep overhung climbs. My friend Greg Olsen, at 270 and about 5foot 10 is the largest climber to ever crank 5.12, I am sure about that record.

Use a 11mil and a Grigri, and tie your butt in, use gloves and do some pre-testing.

But most of all.... have a blast.

This is the harness I have just without the fancy colors.

http://www.camp-usa.com/products/harnesses/group-2.asp

John Wilder wrote: Years ago, this giant kid rolled up to the crag- he was all of 270, probably bigger, about 6', maybe. He then proceeded to onsight the entire cliff, including two 5.13s and the hardest 5.12d in the area along with a handful of other 5.12s, in about an hour, then walked off. Never saw him again, never even caught his name. Most impressive thing I'd ever seen.

And the legend of Chubbs McGee was born. A few months later he appeared one foggy morning in RRG. When he walked up to Pure Imagination and tied in, there were some snickers from the starved, vascular onlookers.

But you could hear the Hershey wrapper hit the ground for miles when he onsited the route while finishing a plain and almond chocolate bar.

As he walked away, the coordinated big people gods smiled, knowing they had succeeded once again in baffling the world. Rerun from "good times", The Fridge from the Chicago bears, and Farley's dance moves--we shouldn't be surprised.