toprope question

[astridv]

I have a question for the people with outdoor belaying experience. I have my eye set on this bridge. It's conveniently situated in the middle of nowhere, there's barely even foot traffic, and I figure it might be possible to use the railing for toprope belay. However it's a sandstone railing and I don't know if it's advisable to hang a rope directly around a stone structure or if the friction would damage it. So I'm wondering if there is some kind of gadget that you could fasten around the stone railing, with a metal ring or roll through which the rope would go. If there is, what's it called?

Comments

[rydra_wong]

This is probably obvious and something you've already considered, but the major thing that I'd worry about is how the railing is constructed -- it may not be designed to take a force yanking sideways on it.

[astridv]

Oh yes, I'm going to take close look next time. It's been a while since I was last there; I remember the entire structure being built very solid but I didn't examine it under this aspect so who knows. I'm gonna do some bouldering at the foot first, see if the wall is suitalbe for climbing in the first place.

I just spent several hours reading about toprope anchors. Interesting.