A storm in Portland made me rethink my whole climbing setup

I was working a big removal on a damaged maple in the West Hills about eight months ago. The wind picked up fast, and a gust snapped a dead limb I hadn't fully secured. It swung and hit my main line, putting a real bad twist in it. I had to switch to my backup rope to get down safely. That was the day I started checking my gear before every single climb, not just at the start of the week. Do you guys have a specific routine for checking your ropes and hardware?

4 comments

4 Comments

reesej272mo ago

Man, that's a wake up call for sure. I mean, my old routine was basically just giving the rope a quick look and a tug, which is pretty bad, right? Now I'm paranoid and do this whole feel-and-look thing that probably looks silly. But hey, if looking dumb keeps me from falling, I'll take it.

troy_price2mo ago

Man, that sound you heard is the kind of thing that'll change your habits for good, isn't it? After a close call with a frayed line, I started running my ropes through my hands twice, once before and once after a job. I'll even do a quick check at lunch if I've been working over rough bark. It adds maybe five minutes, but how do you put a price on that peace of mind?

jakeb812mo ago

So you basically pet your rope now?

nancyjones11d ago

Oh my, I am so with you on this. That five minute check is worth its weight in gold. I don't just run the rope through my hands either anymore, I actually smell it for any hint of chemical damage or rot. Sounds silly, I know, but that extra sense has caught a bad spot that looked fine to the eye and touch. I also make a point to check the ends where the splice is, that's a weak point people forget about. If you've ever had a rope snap on a moderate pull, you'll do this every time without question. Better to look a little nutty than take a ride you didn't plan for.