- Location
- Columbus Ohio
I thought that I'd create a post about my experience today. While climbing, the bridge of my 3 month old Cougar saddle decided to give out. Yep, it failed, with my weight in it. Fortunately for me I had a hold of the rope.
Now, I'm not going to tell some grand story about being a hundred feet up over a pool of piranhas.... But here's the scenario; I'm about fifteen feet up in a locust over a patio removing a 6-8" limb. While walking back towards the trunk, I hear a jingling noise and feel a change in my center of gravity. Fortunately for me, I had a hold of the rope. After realizing what just happened, I clipped my carabiners into the rings, finished up my cuts and headed to the ground.
This is what I can tell you about the break... It broke from the middle of the bridge, where the crossover happens. The splices themselves did not break. It seems to be the material that failed. Also, if you look at the photos you'll notice that there isn't any excessive wear on the cover. It's just that the inner core's strands decided that they didn't want to stay together.
Now for my issue with what happened. I've been climbing for over seven years. I've become quite proficient at my job. Of all the mishaps that a climber has over the years, there is always a sense of control. In other words, as the climber, foreman, whatever... when something goes wrong, you usually can realize the error and make note of it and try to avoid it from happening again. You are responsible for what goes on. Not to sound dramatic but, your fate is in your hands. If you mess up, YOU messed up! Today, that bit of control was taken from me. It definitely changes ones perspective.
c'est la vie
Now, I'm not going to tell some grand story about being a hundred feet up over a pool of piranhas.... But here's the scenario; I'm about fifteen feet up in a locust over a patio removing a 6-8" limb. While walking back towards the trunk, I hear a jingling noise and feel a change in my center of gravity. Fortunately for me, I had a hold of the rope. After realizing what just happened, I clipped my carabiners into the rings, finished up my cuts and headed to the ground.
This is what I can tell you about the break... It broke from the middle of the bridge, where the crossover happens. The splices themselves did not break. It seems to be the material that failed. Also, if you look at the photos you'll notice that there isn't any excessive wear on the cover. It's just that the inner core's strands decided that they didn't want to stay together.
Now for my issue with what happened. I've been climbing for over seven years. I've become quite proficient at my job. Of all the mishaps that a climber has over the years, there is always a sense of control. In other words, as the climber, foreman, whatever... when something goes wrong, you usually can realize the error and make note of it and try to avoid it from happening again. You are responsible for what goes on. Not to sound dramatic but, your fate is in your hands. If you mess up, YOU messed up! Today, that bit of control was taken from me. It definitely changes ones perspective.
c'est la vie
