SOME Qs ABOUT USING ROPE

S

sasha

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Feb 28, 2006
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Hi guys im planning on hitting some geocaching where i might have to use ropes. I never done any climbing so i know im going to getting into it (famous words). My Q is when you use rope going down and you do want to recover the rope. How do you tie it to a rock or a tree??? Or do you just wrap it in half (middle or the rope) around the tree and when you get to the bottom pull on one side and bring back??? But then i might need to carry twice the rope lengh.. I think i might have about 100ft of cliff to go down. For the guys that do geocaching here are the ones i got my eyes on. GCJNV9 and GC18MJJ, Im also looking at some topo maps and google and i THINK i might have a way to get there and not hit the big cliffs.. Im going to cut down on weight as much as i can and carry the basics only.

Sasha
 
For your question, go buy the book "Mountaineering: Freedom of the hills." Go practice, practice, practice, in an environment where your life is not on the line. Hanging on the side of a cliff is NOT the time to find out this system won't work for you.

Seriously though, more people get hurt and killed in rope work because they underestimate the difficulty.

Charlie
 
Hi Charlie Its not so much hanging off the cliff as its more very steep .... Mountain climbing is realy not for me as i dont like hights. I just want to do those two as i like to push my self every once in a while.. As my ex GF says its a mans thing and men are stupid.

Sasha
 
One of the most important survival skills is the ability to choose routes which are in keeping with your skills and abilities. When I am soloing I take a good deal extra care in choosing my route and in wilderness movement this has prevented any serious mishaps. The only time to even consider taking a difficult or dangeous route is if you have other team members along. That also gets the extra rope etc. spread out over the whole team so that your not carrying it all alone, as well as helping cover your ass if an emergency takes place.

Get the aforementioned book and join a mountainerring club or take some lessons, and practice. It sucks to go rolling and crashing off rocks for a few hundred feet.
 
If you're not going to be able to get back up to the rope anchor then at the bare minimum you would need an rapelling ring, some webbing and double the length of rope for the height you have to descent. Essentially use the webbing to hold the rapelling ring for the rope to run through doubled up. Rap down then pull on one end.

I'm specifically not giving details of the anchor construction as this is best learned from a better source than the internet. Go to a local climbing shop, talk to the guys there, get some diagrams, then buy a book and compare. It'll be well worth it. Rope work is fun.

Charlie
 
I do a fair bit of climbing, and while I'm comfortable with a 5.10b in a gym, that changes to a 5.8 with a rope outdoor and top rope only, no lead climbing for me yet, and without a rope I drop to very novice, is there a rating below 5.7? My point is that comfort and skill with ropes changes quickly with environment. but to answer your question, you would make an anchor, probably out of webbing that will be sacrificed or collected later, and you double your rope with the anchor at the middle. how are you getting back up? is the area used by sport climbing clubs, and if so, is it bolted? if you need a rope, its climbing, even if you are only planning on rappelling down, and so all of the skills and equipment are required. if you are not comfortable with heights, I'd be concerned, half of climbing/rappelling is in your head, and I've out thought myself several times, even though I knew I could do something, I froze up. not a good place to be in even if it is on a relatively easy rock scramble. IMHO big rocks are not the place to casually "push" your limits without training or help, the risks are very great and even a short fall or simple mistake can cause great injury.
 
Thanks Charlie im going to check out a place not too far that has alot of climbing EQ. The rope is more as a help to go down just in case. This weekend im going to check a route i been looking for to see if i can go around the hard parts.
Mike I mostly go alone as i dont like to deal with others when the hike gets harder. My not liking the hights keeps me from going too far over head. I do understand that im going on a hard hike and i can get hurt. I just want to do it.

Sasha
 
Let ppl know where you are, give them a topo map with the trail or non existing path you chose to follow..

Bring a cell phone or some sort of communication method and be smart out there... Most of all have a blast!:D
 
Learn from someone with experience how to set up your anchors. More accidents happen on descent than while climbing.

There are about a gazillion factors you might not think of that need to be taken into consideration. You could try the local climbing gym or mountaineering club for help.
 
Well i might not need anything if the trail i were looking for actualy works out..I just rather carry some rope with me just in case. If anything i could tie my pack to it and pull it up so i wont have to carry it up. I would try and check it out more this weekend if i get away then i would know more what its all about.. Some of the people hit it 2-3 times before they got to the top.
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cach...1d-b918-4c10-aac2-cc4ef52659cb&log=y&decrypt=

Im going to see if i can get to it from a diffrent direction all togher. If i do need to get there same way i would see if i can get someone to come with me. I just like to do things on my own if i can.

Sasha
 
I saw on an episode of Bear Grylls that he tied this special knot to a tree (i dont remember the name of the knot) but as long as he kept tension on the knot, it wouldn't loosen up. Once he got to the bottom and gave slack, the knot came loose and he got his rope back.

Anybody have an idea of a knot that would do this?
 
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