What does FA standfor....

Post by **philip171** » Mon Jun 21, 2004 8:14 pm

I have assumed it ment 'first assent', does this just mean that is the first person that climbed it or bolted it? Also what kind of paper work is invoved for some one to bolt a route now adays?

Post by **Johnny** » Mon Jun 21, 2004 8:39 pm

It means first ascent, generally the first person to climb it leading without a fall.

For bolting on National Forest, see www.rrgcc.org

Private land, contact owner.

Post by **Jonathan** » Mon Jun 21, 2004 8:51 pm

FA - First person(s) up the route.

FFA - Rarely used. If the the FA was aided and some one sends it free then it would be considered the "First Free Ascent".
Example: Welcome to Ole' Kentuck' FA - Cliff Cooper FFA - Steve Petro
You'll see this alot in places like Zion and Yosemite, where hardmen go around sending Old A3 and A4 lines.

Some places where there are a quantity of testpiece routes you'll see the person who equipped(bolted) the route and then the FA if it was a different person. Like at Mt. Charleston a lot of routes were put up by a certain person, but someone else may have nabbed the FA.

Post by **philip171** » Mon Jun 21, 2004 9:29 pm

Thanks! I understand now. Also one other thing, can you go and setup a top rope on any cliff you want or is that considered starting a route?

Post by **Jonathan** » Mon Jun 21, 2004 9:56 pm

Uh, it's just climbing...do it where ever you can.

Post by **squeezindlemmon** » Mon Jun 21, 2004 10:05 pm

Just curious, Philip, if you are just starting to climb, why venture out doing unclimbed routes when there's a plethora of established climbs out there to get on? Just concerned about safety...

Post by **gulliver** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 2:34 am

What about First Ascent Captive Crag, FACC
for when a crag is closed until the choice routes are put up by a select group ?
If it were a sport route , the person who installed the bolts should be noted. but what if it
were a trad route? Should it read : ( example - FA-RRGCC) ? Has anybody else had any thoughts
about that situation?

Post by **gulliver** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 3:08 am

by no means was that to sound as a slight to the RRGCC , just an example of form.
Attaching a name to a route only has as much meaning as it will to other climbers, but it's kinda cool sometimes when you knew the history was -this guy didn't make it , and this guy tried, but so and so pulled it off in 1962. I'm just wondering if the individual should be credited or the group.

Post by **philip171** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 2:55 pm

I was just wondering. I am not thinking about climbing unclimed climbs. Only thing I was think of is setting up a top rope on some thing easy to warm up on. Most of the easy warm up climbs are our progects. Plus there are very few if any routes that can be top roped safely.