New Rope
- Thread starter Mr Cosmic
- Start date
cap n chris
Well-known member
Yep, `cos they're in the right order of use for the trip.
Christian_Chourot
New member
They are if you've packed them in the right order.
cap n chris
Well-known member
Yes; yes, they are. Why would anyone pack ropes in the wrong order?
Christian_Chourot
New member
I had the page open before you'd added your reply... I was making the same point!
cap 'n chris said:
If I have three or four bags going on one trip, I get very confused as to what ropes are where and the only way I can remember what order the sacks need to be used in is by putting on hauling cords in alphabetical order of colour i.e. bag 1 = black, bag 2 = blue, bag 3 = purple, bag 4 = yellow.
If I didn't do this and I didn't label my ropes, I wouldn't have a clue!
There's sometimes a point in packing bags in an interleaved order where bag/carrier numbers are low and the pitch lengths don't conveniently fit capacities if done in-order. That still requires that you know the necessary pitch lengths in order to work out what to do, but having length information on the ropes does at least give more information for little obvious cost.
There can also be the "Which is the next bag?" situation, assuming caves that require multiple bags, and length markers can help in that.
In any case, even if someone tried to only have ropes of lengths 12.5*2^n metres, ropes can easily end up being cut at some point due to wear, ending up outside the scheme, and given that necessary rope lengths vary hugely, if on a proper vertical trip, it can save a lot of rope if a good spread of lengths is available.
If ropes are going to be marked anyway, (which is useful for someone who caves (or even shares a hut) with other people who have ropes, and for identifying ropes on multiply-rigged pitches, etc) there seems no obvious reason not to stick a length on them.
There can also be the "Which is the next bag?" situation, assuming caves that require multiple bags, and length markers can help in that.
In any case, even if someone tried to only have ropes of lengths 12.5*2^n metres, ropes can easily end up being cut at some point due to wear, ending up outside the scheme, and given that necessary rope lengths vary hugely, if on a proper vertical trip, it can save a lot of rope if a good spread of lengths is available.
If ropes are going to be marked anyway, (which is useful for someone who caves (or even shares a hut) with other people who have ropes, and for identifying ropes on multiply-rigged pitches, etc) there seems no obvious reason not to stick a length on them.
cap n chris
Well-known member
On multi-bag trips I use the krabs as my code D, H, O (alpha code), similarly.
cap n chris
Well-known member
potholer said:
Entirely agree. However, the OP seemed to infer marking one's own ropes - and my contention is that one person can own a lot of rope bundles before finding that they need to mark the lengths on them (e.g. I've got 16 and know the lengths of all of them without needing to write it down).
damian said:
cap 'n chris said:
Interesting. At the risk of hijacking the thread, anybody have any other methods?
I take it this means, Cap 'n Chris, that you label your krabs but not your ropes? I guess it's easier to lose a krab .. but I just use electrical tape rather than bothering with letters. I guess you use yours professionally, though.
C
chacharlee
Guest
Cover the end of rope with insulation tape with kit colours, and then write the length on the tape with marker pen? Then heatshrink to finish so it doesn't fall off.
Isn't that standard procedure for most club ropes?
Now, who reckons the glue from the tape will do some damage?
Isn't that standard procedure for most club ropes?
Now, who reckons the glue from the tape will do some damage?
cap n chris
Well-known member
D-shape, HMS, Oval. No marking required. The krabs are clipped to the bags.
chriscastle46
Member
I've heard of heatshrink catching in a P-hanger and preventing a pull-through; I don't know if it's true but this could be serious for someone who had not taken the precaution of having a spare rope.
Depends somewhat on how well it's shrunk on, and what the rope washer's like.Les W said:Which then pulls off in the rope washer
The rope washer I use, there's no obvious advantage to pulling the rope end through rather than unloading it from the scrubbers first - it cleans right up to the entry point, so not pulling through only ends up with the last few inches being unscrubbed.
Cave_Troll
Active member
sadly some of us live in clubs that have odd rope lengths like 60m which is quite hard to tell from 50m.
Also when visiting a popular cave, it helps if you can tell which rope is yours
And we can track rope usage and retirement ages
And we can chop 5m off the end of a 50m rope without ending up with a rope we think is 50m when its actually 45m
Also when visiting a popular cave, it helps if you can tell which rope is yours
And we can track rope usage and retirement ages
And we can chop 5m off the end of a 50m rope without ending up with a rope we think is 50m when its actually 45m
paul
Moderator
cap 'n chris said:
Unless you have several ropes of the same length, bought at different times...
My Club numbers each rope individually and records date of purchase etc. (I think Pitlamp is familiar with the story of an old Orpheus rope found in Peak Cavern's Far Sump Extensions, whose age we were able to determine due to this system of labelling and recording ...).
Also, for one reason or another, some of our ropes are of similar lengths visually while coiled up in the tackle store but can be very different in actual length (say 30m vs 45m) so rope labelling does have its place.
beardedboy
Member
cap 'n chris said:
What if someone in your team decide that the HMS is in fact a Pear-Shape?
