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

[emperor]

You don't want to stick a rope round the parapet, no - you'll wear the stone and your rope more than is ideal.

What'd I'd suggest is to put a sling round a bit you're 100% sure is solid, connect both ends of the sling with a screwgate karabiner (for bonus points, find one of the clever ones with a roller), and run the rope through that; if the rope then looks like rubbing on bits of the masonry, consider using some old carpet or similar to protect. If you're not confident of doing all this right, find a friend who is.

HTH!

[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.