Cabot had been through a few canyons with us ZAC-types, but is not knot-adept, so he had been ‘taken’ through the canyons. One of my themes for 2010 has been that the best overall experience in-canyon can be had by having the least experienced people do all the rigging – an opportunity to do so under adult supervision. Given the crisp temps, etc. Hank and I only taught Cabot, Jamie and Nan one method of rigging – the Stone Knot, each person can go single or double, last person pulls the knot and goes double. So this is what we used, throughout.
On the last Mystery Rap, it is not entirely necessary, but it does make things faster. At this rap, CAN have two people on rope at the same time (anchor is strong enough), but I think the tight rope of the first person gets in the way of the second person’s careful negotiation of the slippery features at the top. So the second person can get on rope, and swing out, and probably waits there until the first rope goes slack. Saves a bit of time, but not a lot.
Come to think of it, the first person’s rope runs to the downcanyon side, so CAN have two people on rap at the same time, just not side by side. The rap was incredibly slippery!!!
Tom
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, “Mudcat”
Great pics as always, Tom. Looks like the leaves were really pretty.
Can you describe the rig on the last rap in Mystery? Is that a stone knot–and were you thinking of doubling up there? (Seems like a tough place to start a second rappel.) Or a meunter/mule kind of thing? Or something else? It just caught my eye but I can’t identify it. > Bill
> — In Yahoo Canyons Group, “TomJones”
new stuff up on the Latest Rave
http://canyoneeringusa.com/rave
> Enjoy…
Tom
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