Its purpose is to support the full weight and potential fall of the entire climbing team. - **Role:** It serves as the "master point" where the belayer is anchored and where the climber’s rope is managed. It is the foundation of the safety chain for a multi-pitch climb. - **Requirements:** In modern alpinism, a main station must follow the **ERNEST** or **SERENE** principles: - **Solid/Strong:** Each piece must be secure. - **Equalized:** The load should be shared across all points. - **Redundant:** It must consist of at least two (ideally three) independent points so that if one fails, the others hold. - **No Extension:** If one point fails, there should be no sudden drop or "shock" to the remaining points. - **Usage:** Used for the primary belay, the main lowering line in a rescue, or the central point for a rappel.