Using drones to place protection overhead

This will happen soon if it has not been done already. What do y'all think?

There is no god.

Before we see them setting, there will be surveying. The use of drones to research anchors and gear placements that are out of sight. Takes the guesswork out. Now you only rack what you need. We will become soft and complacent. Forgetting how to properly self rescue. We'll send a drone for help.

Todd Ra wrote:There is no god.

I wouldn't worry to much about this, simply because even a few feet of rope is pretty heavy for a drone, and then you would have to try use the drone to get your quickdraw or trad gear in.

How is this any different than current head pointing tactics? Pre-inspecting (and sometimes pre placing) gear is already pretty common. Seems easier to rap in and place a piece than try to get a drone to place it properly, no?

They are a passing fad, like computers, the internet, and smartphones.

Wow! That TR^ used the drone to place paracord then set the line...that's pretty close! Not that it's in the "purest of styles" category but it was clever. And he got the FA.... didn't that peak fall down soon after that?

Edit: D3 rating .... I guess we now also have a drone rating for climbs thx to this guy....

Jamboxes, dogs, crag babies, and now drones at the crag. I'm going to be a very crabby old man someday.

John Braun wrote: What does this mean for climbing ethics and style?

my best guess-- in the future people will use drones to set up their toprope. all climbing will be done this way.

We're going to need some new terms. Who likes "Drone-pointing" We'll call it DP for short. It's like pinkpointing a route, but with a drone.

For example:
"My buddy, my trusty drone and I DP'd the $hi# out of this chossy desert tower, she was a real beaut!"

My thoughts? It's a silly question.

Xam wrote:http://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=16048

This is all very silly. Just get belayed from an actual helicopter; now you can climb anything and don't have have to carry pro at all. First TR ascent of the Nose, anyone?

Matt Stroebel wrote:We're going to need some new terms. Who likes "Drone-pointing" We'll call it DP for short. It's like pinkpointing a route, but with a drone. For example: "My buddy, my trusty drone and I DP'd the $hi# out of this chossy desert tower, she was a real beaut!"

The "dronepoint" (DP)!should probably get more respect than the redpoint. Placing a cam with a drone sounds WAY harder than just climbing the thing and placing gear the old fashioned way.

?!? ^^ I was laughing at the "dp" joke not the absurdity of placing a cam with a drone ;) for that you'd need a drone and a robot(maybe you could get one like a bomb squad has) or a drone with robotic arms...

I guess i'll have to get a real good sling shot and ruin the 'dronepoint'

As long as people only dronepoint ground up, it's legit. No rap DPing.