5-4. ANCHORS Anchors form the base for all installations and roped mountaineering techniques. Anchors must be strong enough to support the entire weight of the load or of the impact placed upon them. Several pieces of artificial or natural protection may be incorporated together to make one multipoint anchor. Anchors are classified as artificial or natural: a. Artificial Anchors. Artificial anchors are made from man-made materials. The most common ones use traditional or fixed protection (Figure 5-3).