As the name suggests, a rope is threaded through an anchor or pulley at the top of a route. The climber clips or ties into one end of the rope and then proceeds to make their way up the wall like a mountain goat on a tight leash. A belayer threads the other end of the rope through a belay device (that slows the rope) and takes in the slack as the climber ascends. At the top, the belayer lowers the climber. Lachie Thomas top-roping at Mt Arapiles | @patcorden