Top Roping El Cap

Hi everyone. I am visiting Yosemite Valley for the first time soon, looking for advice on top roping El Cap. I'm going to have at least one day alone on my trip and I was thinking about TR Soloing The Nose, how much rope do I need? Thanks.

-Dick Carter

To run a two rope system, you'll need about 6000 feet of rope.It's cheaper to get the rope at home depot than the overpriced climbing stores. There' a tree at the top to tie off both strands, but it's about thirty feet back, so you'll actually need 6060 feet of rope.

Okay, I'll admit I may have been reaching for the stars. What is the best thing I could follow a guide up the entire way? Something that makes for epic pictures without the top rope being distracting.

I’d say either astroman or sunnyside bench 

You’ll be in someone’s way on the nose. Dawn wall or bust

This is the kind of trolling I come to MP on a Friday morning to see. 

Hire a guide and ascend and descend  the East Ledges .

Swan Slab over by camp 4 has some good area's for top rope soling.  

Although I'd love to see what a TR fall on 3000' of rope looks like.  A fall on pitch 2 with that much static rope would be a glorious deck! 

Why not just go top down? It’s easy and you don’t need expensive heavy gear. Just hike to the top and jump off. You’ll be done by noon. 

Hans Florine just got his Single Pitch Instructor cert. Maybe he can set up a 3000 foot top rope for you

Top down is the best idea but just rap and TR solo every pitch down. 

I usually grab my base rig and go for a red point burn with a wrestling mask on. 

Why TR El Cap when you can just rappel down it? Asking on a forum like this is a great idea. Make sure to make a trip report afterwards and post it up here. I bet there's a low(ish) chance you'll need to get rescued. It'll probably be the fault of your partner mostly, so no worries. Go for it!

In all seriousness, is Salathe/Freeriders still fixed from heart to the top during busy season?

Dustin B wrote:

In all seriousness, is Salathe/Freeriders still fixed from heart to the top during busy season?

No