In reply to CurlyStevo:
> It's not harder that is just nonsense, perhaps harder mentally than being dragged up a Diff on top rope but that's another matter. The easiest route on the slabs is a Diff - that's approx 3 to 4 grades harder than the down climb.
I don't doubt that these people have the technical downclimbing skills to do it. The occasion that you belayed a person down, had you 'dragged' them up? As we both agree technically they should piss the descent so why did you rope up? What if the person who belays the first person down is also nervous? You assume a gulf in skill.
> If people want to down climb fine I have no issue with that, but I think if you are up to leading 'The Ordinary Route' you'll be able to down climb the grade 2 scramble descent it just takes the courage to step down and start it, once you've done that you realise how easy it is.
Agreed. The thing is, you have to commit to something that
looks hard, especially for a descent off a diff.
> "I don't blame them for taking the abseil or belaying a nervous friend down."
> Like I said neither do I. Actually I think one of my posts which said there is no need to ab, was a touch over stated / abrupt, perhaps more like for most people in dry conditions there is no need to ab. Anyway......
I think we're actually pretty close on this one. There is no
need just depends if you know the descent, are confident it is not too difficult. I have soloed many grades above a vdiff, but I can easily imagine being faced with one and abbing down instead. Even though people who have soloed up and down it many times, potentially worse climbers, might not understand.