"Emergency Climbing Rope"

JAshley73

JAshley73

Active member
Wanted to poll the caving crowd on an idea...

I've been casually looking for cheapish, small-diameter cord/rope/etc. to put in my cave pack for "emergency use." Moreso as an aid in those awkward moments - a sketchy canyon climb, when you or your caving partner can't find a good foot-hold, and a rope foot-loop would be nice. Or where a hand-line would be helpful.

BTW this is NOT intended for SRT or vertical situations. Only for aids in awkward bits of caving where climbs, canyons, or muddy/inclines are concerned.



Does anyone keep rope/cord/webbing in their pack for such a thing?

I wouldn't mind finding 50' or so of a small-diameter rope for such an occasion. Preferably something not too stiff, so it can be stuffed nicely into a pack without too much space. 5-7mm for example.

I know a few folks like webbing, but it's a little bulkier than rope would be, right...? I know that slings are gaining popularity too, but they're not quite as versatile as rope, right?



What else would you add to this "kit?" A small bit of prussic cord too? Tibloc? Carabiner or two...?
 
langcliffe

langcliffe

Well-known member
I sometimes take 10 m of 6 mm rope if caving somewhere on my own that I don't know, or when caving with a relative beginner. Colloquially known as the "pink rope", although it's purple these days.
 
T

TLH

Active member
If somewhere I don't know, more so Mines, I tend to carry a small bag with snacks, water and first aid etc. But then at the bottom fits quite nicely a 25m/8mm rope, 120cm sling and a pear shaped krab. Held to my belt with an oval krab. I've found this useful for creating handlines, lifelines and even as back up ropes when I've mis-counted during packing! The sling can double up as a strop around something to create anchor, or can provide a harness or quick footloop. The pearshape means I can utilise an italian hitch to belay or abseil etc etc.
 
H

huwg

Active member
I carry 5m of 8mm, on both SRT and non-SRT trips, and I usually have a belt and biner too (if I don't have a full SRT kit). I have found it useful. Gives a few more options. I'd probably go a bit longer if it was specifically for handlining etc.. I know others carry sling/cord over their shoulder under oversuits too, though couldnt tell you the diameter.
 
Bob Mehew

Bob Mehew

Well-known member
I would suggest that the smaller the diameter of the rope, the less power you have in your grip so you could well find the rope is of no value. There is a cleat device used in sailing which would help you. But I have not checked it out safety wise. I guess it all depends upon the angle of the slope you need help on. But if you are climbing so your weight is taken by the rock and you are using the line for balance, then you could go down to 2 mm diameter. Though I'm not sure if you can get a cleat for that size rope.
 
tim.rose2

tim.rose2

Active member
I have 10m of 9mm SRT rope for this purpose. Get used loads. Doesn't take up much room in a bag but is a descent thickness to use as an emergency handline / lifeline and doubles up as useful bit of rope for those short annoying pitches you don't want to carry a longer rope for on SRT trips.
 
JAshley73

JAshley73

Active member
Bob Mehew said:
I would suggest that the smaller the diameter of the rope, the less power you have in your grip so you could well find the rope is of no value. There is a cleat device used in sailing which would help you. But I have not checked it out safety wise. I guess it all depends upon the angle of the slope you need help on. But if you are climbing so your weight is taken by the rock and you are using the line for balance, then you could go down to 2 mm diameter. Though I'm not sure if you can get a cleat for that size rope.
Click to expand...
That's a fair point about grip strength on small rope. While I was thinking something in the 5-7, maybe 8mm range, I suppose one could always take a carabiner, and hitch it to the rope using either a girth-hitch, clove-hitch, or even a few wraps, and use the carabiner as a "handle."

Thankfully, my pack has 4 carabiners on it, so I always have a few nearby if needed. I've swapped the cheapo's out for DMM's.

Swaygo.jpg
 
I

IanWalker

Well-known member
I usually carry 7m of 8mm cord (aka Lightweight rope) on a HMS krab on my belt. It's thick enough to SRT on if you are careful about rub and shock load. Long enough to be useful on those awkward steps, but not too bulky that I choose to leave it behind.

Having a 120cm sling (dyneema is small) helps with belay options away from anchored pitches, but it might be a braced belayer is the best you can expect. More akin to old mountaineering practice than SRT.

I carry a tibloc, pulley, krabs etc on my SRT harness but away from pitches its really the rope (cord) that is the biggest use. You can get away without a harness, a belay device, sling, but without a rope I occasionally feel a bit stuck for options.
 
JAshley73

JAshley73

Active member
A couple of you mentioned 10m of 9mm SRT rope - isn't that a lot (of bulk) to carry in your (back)packs?

I have a 40-foot piece of 10mm at home for practice, and I can't imagine stuffing it, or something only slightly smaller, in my cave pack...
 
traff

traff

Member
After finding myself in a tricky situation on the back of Sgùrr Dearg some years ago I bought an Edelrid 'confidence rope' essentially 20m of 8mm. Whilst advertised as not suitable for blah blah blah, in an emergency I have no issues.

www.ropelocker.co.uk

ropelocker.co.uk - Edelrid Guide Assist Pro Dry confidence rope 8mm [20m]

Edelrid Guide Assist Pro Dry ropeThe lightweight Guide Assist Pro Dry from Edelrid is an 8mm accessory cord with dynamic safety reserve for support and belaying a second climber in exposed areas and traversing glaciers. This rope is primarily designed for confidence and guidance and is not...
www.ropelocker.co.uk
 
Leclused

Leclused

Active member
H

hannahb

Well-known member
JAshley73 said:
A couple of you mentioned 10m of 9mm SRT rope - isn't that a lot (of bulk) to carry in your (back)packs?

I have a 40-foot piece of 10mm at home for practice, and I can't imagine stuffing it, or something only slightly smaller, in my cave pack...
Click to expand...
I suppose it depends how big your pack is? How many litres/metres does yours hold?

My "personal" bag is designed to hold 40 metres of rope, but on many trips we take a "tackle sack" designed for 100 metres of rope for carrying bits and pieces, even if not an SRT trip.
 
tim.rose2

tim.rose2

Active member
I only carry it as an 'emergency rope' on proper trips / caves I don't know very well or with cavers I don't know very well and if expecting something to be tight and knobbly then I can obvious choose not to carry it or dump it part way (assuming I'm going back the way I came). Together with a box containing food, spare batteries and sometimes a camera, small first aid kit and bottle of water it all goes in a Warmbac SRT riggers bag fine (the smallest tackle sack they make). I've never thought of the rope as a nuisance to carry as it stuffs nicely in the bottom of the bag! It is fairly soft 9mm (i.e. not the cheap stuff that's like wire). A 120cm dyneema sling is also incredibly useful and generally hung on my belt / on the bag.

More often that not, the rope comes out, I go down and in the process realise it's fine and not needed, but it removes the doubt and speeds things up (only true if you're quick at spotting natural anchors / tying a knot of two).
 
Pitlamp

Pitlamp

Well-known member
JAshley73 said:
That's a fair point about grip strength on small rope. While I was thinking something in the 5-7, maybe 8mm range, I suppose one could always take a carabiner, and hitch it to the rope using either a girth-hitch, clove-hitch, or even a few wraps, and use the carabiner as a "handle."

Thankfully, my pack has 4 carabiners on it, so I always have a few nearby if needed. I've swapped the cheapo's out for DMM's.

View attachment 21583
Click to expand...

Never seen a bag like that; could you point me at where they grow? It looks like it has the makings of a "Scoff bag" (which is something that CDG members will understand).
 
Babyhagrid

Babyhagrid

Well-known member
Pitlamp said:
Never seen a bag like that; could you point me at where they grow? It looks like it has the makings of a "Scoff bag" (which is something that CDG members will understand).
Click to expand...
Looks like a swaygo to me
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