Ascender backup ?

[PUClimber]

Well I had a few beers last night and it came to me about using a hand ascender in conjuction with a foot ascender. If you have the foot ascender on aren't you technically backing up one with the other? I mean everyone says its okay to back up an ascender with another ascender. you have two cams on the rope that are in line. I know it'd be stupid to assume that you could back up the hand ascender with a pantin. I wonder if anyone has ever done this and had a problem with the cam going out on the hand ascender. Technically though you're backed up. Any input on this or anyone do this and have it fail?

 

[Jesse]

You may technically be backed up but I would not want to be caught hanging by one foot. I guess it would be better than nothing. I have only used the pantin a few times and did not like it very much. In my memory of using it seems that the rope sliped out of it very easily.

 

[TheTreeSpyder]

Foot cam is not part of 2 count/ method of safe attatchmeant. Pantin can take getting used to; can chaeat and use a keychain krab; but then can't remove instantly.

 

[jamie]

Pantins are not back ups! Pantins are climbing aids not part of PPE.

dont back up witha pantin, use one just not as life support, there is no locking mechanisim

Jamie

 

[Mark Chisholm]

You also have to have the "back-up" in a position that is appropriate for a back-up. Meaning that if there is an ascender that is being used at the ankle, and even if you run a tether from that to your harness, the amount of fall in that system would overload it and possibly cause it to fail. A knee ascender could be suitable, but the ankle is not good in my book. Of course you could use load limiting gear to compensate, but that would take careful thought.

 

[TheTreeSpyder]

Still a thinner part of the body; at a leveraged distance from own CG?

 

[PUClimber]

I'm not saying I would use it as a back up. I always throw a vt in my system using it as a back up. This was more of a hypothetical type question. I was just curious on the legality if it as far as following standards and to see what kind of responses I would get. Now Mark brings up an interesting idea with an ascender attached around the knee area.

 

[No_Bivy]

Pantin would most likely pop right off.