I’m new to the e-group, so if I’m asking question that has been pondered and discussed many times, sorry for the redundancy.
I was wondering if some of you could share your prefered methods for ascending rope. There seems, for instance, to be a split among my friends about the use of mechnical ascenders and the use of bachman/prussik knots.
I’ve started practicing ascending recently with bachman knots tied around locking carabiners and both ropes. I make the top bachman knot with a shoulder length sling wrapped three times around a carabiner, and then I girth hitch another sling to that one. I take the girth hitched sling and hook it into my harness via a carabiner.
With the bottom ascending knot, I make a rewoven figure-8 loop in the center of a strand of cordelette, and rig a bachman knot with that loop. Then I take one end of the cordelette, make another figure-8 loop, and loop that into my carabiner on my harness, next to the girth hitched sling. Finally, I take the other end of the cordelette, and make a foot loop for one foot.
So far, I have not had the greatest success with this system. My lower bachman keeps locking up too quickly, and then I find myself unable to reach the upper ascending knot. Hence, I’m dangling in the air (luckily, I’ve been practicing fairly close to the ground).
Any suggestions?
Joseph P. Wood
PS–Hypothetically, when one reaches the snag in the rope with the ascenders, how does one go about getting back down the rope? In other words, how does one rig the rappel device mid-way up the rope?
I hope this posting isn’t too elementary for this e-group.
s_mestdagh
The pursell prusik system is shown @ http://www.compusmart.ab.ca/resqdyn/articles/knots/Knots.htm steve
— In canyons@y…, “Bo Beck” wrote: > Thank you! > Bo
—– Original Message —– > From: the
Technical Riggers Guide for a diagram about the Pursell Prusiks.
Walter
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Bo Beck
Thank you! Bo
—– Original Message —– From: wpick87506@aol.com> To: Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2002 3:31 PM Subject: Re: [from Canyons Group] Prefered Methods for Ascending
> Hi
In regards to the pursell prusik system, check out a small booklet called the > Technical Riggers Guide for a diagram about the Pursell Prusiks.
Walter
>
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wpick87506@aol.com
Hi
In regards to the pursell prusik system, check out a small booklet called the Technical Riggers Guide for a diagram about the Pursell Prusiks.
Walter
Bo Beck
5 years ago Kirk Mauthner (Rigging for Rescue. com) showed me the Purcell Prussik System, 1 short foot prussik, 1 long foot prussik, and 1 med. harness prussik. I don’t have the diagram here today, but will try to remember to bring it in, scan it and post it. Basically they are prussiks on prussiks; work equally well on 1 strand as they do on 2 strands. I have used them numerous times to ascend a single strand, until I could incorporate the 2nd strand. The foot prussiks make beautiful adjustible daisy chains, can be used as an emergency sling, etc. They dont weigh much, and are inexpensive. Bo
—– Original Message —– From: jwoodcanyon jwoodcanyon@yahoo.com> To: Sent: Wednesday, March 27, 2002 3:42 PM Subject: [from Canyons Group] Prefered Methods for Ascending
> I’m new to the e-group, so if I’m asking question that has been > pondered and discussed many times, sorry for the redundancy.
I was wondering if some of you could share your prefered methods for > ascending rope. There seems, for instance, to be a split among my > friends about the use of mechnical ascenders and the use of > bachman/prussik knots.
I’ve started practicing ascending recently with bachman knots tied > around locking carabiners and both ropes. I make the top bachman knot > with a shoulder length sling wrapped three times around a carabiner, > and then I girth hitch another sling to that one. I take the girth > hitched sling and hook it into my harness via a carabiner.
With the bottom ascending knot, I make a rewoven figure-8 loop in the > center of a strand of cordelette, and rig a bachman knot with that > loop. Then I take one end of the cordelette, make another figure-8 > loop, and loop that into my carabiner on my harness, next to the > girth > hitched sling. Finally, I take the other end of the cordelette, and > make a foot loop for one foot.
So far, I have not had the greatest success with this system. My > lower > bachman keeps locking up too quickly, and then I find myself unable > to > reach the upper ascending knot. Hence, I’m dangling in the air > (luckily, I’ve been practicing fairly close to the ground).
Any suggestions?
Joseph P. Wood
PS–Hypothetically, when one reaches the snag in the rope with the > ascenders, how does one go about getting back down the rope? In other > words, how does one rig the rappel device mid-way up the rope?
I hope this posting isn’t too elementary for this e-group.
> To change your options, go to the Canyons Egroup page on yahoo: > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/canyons/
> This will require logging into Yahoo. Click on the “Edit My > Membership” link, and change your delivery option. Press “Save > Changes”.
DAILY DIGEST OPTION will deliver one email > to you each day summarizing that day’s messages.
WEB ONLY OPTION will not deliver email; you > must visit the web site to view messages.
Your use of Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
kv5476
Well worth the investment if you anticipate doing much > ascending. The smaller devices like the Tibloc, Ropeman, and > even the Petzl Basic don’t take up much room in a pack and > weigh very little.
Carefull with using a Tibloc as a chest ascender, it shreds the rope if not handled with care. Great for hand-held use.
Koen
rcwildone
Joseph,
Sounds like you’ve figured out the basic mechanics. One “rope grab” from which you hang in your harness and one rope grab with sling for foot loop. Stand up in foot loop, move harness rope grab up the rope. Hang in harness, move foot loop sling up the rope. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.
For rope grabs you can use mechanical ascenders, hitches, or a combination. As Tom mentioned, it is important that everyone knows how to use hitches in case of an emergency, but you will find mechanical ascenders smoother to operate and much more efficient. Well worth the investment if you anticipate doing much ascending. The smaller devices like the Tibloc, Ropeman, and even the Petzl Basic don’t take up much room in a pack and weigh very little. Personally, I carry a Petzl Shunt and a Ropeman.
There are two factors that will have a big impact on your efficiency. One is your body position. Before you step up, position your foot right under your butt and push straight up, keeping your body as vertical as possible. Another factor is the length of your slings. Make them too long and you struggle to reach them. Make them too short and you don’t get much upward movement for each step and burn unnecessary energy. A good “stroke” length for each step will be around 18″. Practice with various lengths for both foot loop and harness until you find the right combination for you. I think you’ll find that these two factors will make a bigger difference than the type of rope grab you are using.
There are quite a few different ways to pass a knot while ascending and/or rappelling. The classic method involves using three rope grabs. There are much simpler ways, but I don’t think I could give you an easy, safe explanation via email. I’ll make it one of the illustrated how-to’s in the near future.
Rich
ratagonia
A great question. Extremely challenging to answer with just words (hopefully Rich has some pictures).
An excellent set of skills to practice and have solid. The full set is:
Ascend a rope; ascend past a knot; convert from ascend to rappel; convert from rappel to ascend; rappel past a knot.
Breaks down to two categories: technique and hardware. The technique is simple, but hard to explain. So I’ll let Rich take the first crack at that. To really get the story, show up at a Rendezvous and ask for a demo.
Hardware is a matter of personal taste. Using sling knots is definitely high on the list of skills to know, so good start there. I prefer the Wild Country Ropeman I (not the II) as a small widget to carry, and I use 2 of them. Works pretty well down to a 9mm rope, and works most of the time on an 8mm. The most important thing about widgets is having them small and light enough that you will carry them all the time.
For crossing an edge, it sometimes takes a third ascender, in which case I really should carry a tibloc or something. I can improvise a webbing knot, if I remembered to grab enough slings and biners before I headed up.
Hope that helped.
Tom
— In canyons@y…, “jwoodcanyon” wrote: > I’m new to the e-group, so if I’m asking question that has been > pondered and discussed many times, sorry for the redundancy.
I was wondering if some of you could share your prefered methods for > ascending rope. There seems, for instance, to be a split among my > friends about the use of mechnical ascenders and the use of > bachman/prussik knots.
I’ve started practicing ascending recently with bachman knots tied > around locking carabiners and both ropes. I make the top bachman knot > with a shoulder length sling wrapped three times around a carabiner, > and then I girth hitch another sling to that one. I take the girth > hitched sling and hook it into my harness via a carabiner.
With the bottom ascending knot, I make a rewoven figure-8 loop in the > center of a strand of cordelette, and rig a bachman knot with that > loop. Then I take one end of the cordelette, make another figure-8 > loop, and loop that into my carabiner on my harness, next to the > girth > hitched sling. Finally, I take the other end of the cordelette, and > make a foot loop for one foot.
So far, I have not had the greatest success with this system. My > lower > bachman keeps locking up too quickly, and then I find myself unable > to > reach the upper ascending knot. Hence, I’m dangling in the air > (luckily, I’ve been practicing fairly close to the ground).
Any suggestions?
Joseph P. Wood
PS–Hypothetically, when one reaches the snag in the rope with the > ascenders, how does one go about getting back down the rope? In other > words, how does one rig the rappel device mid-way up the rope?
I hope this posting isn’t too elementary for this e-group.