Ascender failure?

highclimber30

highclimber30

Location
south carolina
I was using a handled ascender, the CMI expedition ascender, while in a tree-frog type system. Everything was fine until I was passing through some trunk sprouts. The particular CMI ascender has a little switch type lever that unlocks the toothed cam to allow the rope in and out. It sticks out some from the metal body of the ascneder. As I passed through these sprouts, right in the middle of moving upward, a sprout pushed the lever down and as I slid the ascender up, it just popped completely off the rope. I was using the croll and a pantin, I was not using a back-up hitch above the handled ascender. I didn't fall at all, I don't know if I was just in a balanced type stance because of the croll or what, but I was just left hanging there on the rope with a useless ascender in one of my hands. This problem would not have happened with a Petzl, due to the fact that the switch that opens the cam is rounded and hidden away a little more. Wondered what you guys think about this and wondered if anyone else has had a similar type thing happen to them before?
 
This isn't the ascender's fault. This isn't ascender failure, it's user failure. We have to be very careful to do everything in our power to let the gear function the way it was designed.

I've had it happen before and it's been my fault every time. The last time was from a sliver of redwood bark falling down between the rope and the teeth of the cam. I couldn't even see it. Everything looked fine. It wasn't until I set the backup prusik, lanyarded in, and took the ascender off that I saw the sliver fall out.

Gotta be careful up there.

love
nick
 
Yes, others have had this problem, or similar with CMI Expedition ascenders. Because of the locking mechanism on a CMI Expeditions, as you described, they are not that hard to unlock and release the cam. I would not use a CMI Expedition in a tree, and probably not anywhere else for the very reason you describe.

It's interesting that the CMI Ultrascenders have a very different cam lock and it would be more difficult to unlock, but not impossible.

The Petzl Ascension locks are much more resistant to unintentional release.
 
Did you have a biner through the top hole? This should be SOP for all handled ascenders. If the cam does get opened at least the ascender stays on the rope.

One of my baseline principles of using rope tools in trees is that the tool doesn't touch the tree.

I think of having a 'field' around each device that is sacred. Nothing comes inside and the tools don't get near anything.

Jamming ascenders through brush and sliding them over limbs is asking for failure.

When I got my CMI Expedition I used my hot air gun to warm up the release trigger and bend it over so that it doesn't stick out beyond the shell. Having it down there protects it from opening a little.
 
Aha! So, I have learned something again...which is the whole point. I did not know it was SOP to place a carabiner in the upper hole. I am about the only one at my company that even plays around with SRT. This happened in my own yard at home, fairly low. Thank you Tom and Nick and Ron. Lesson learned.
 
Highclimber30, this is nothing against your climbing abilities, but I am starting to think we should put a simpile vid up that shows the proper use of a hand ascender. This topic comes up too often and if not backed up properly or a climbing system not setup proper under the asender there could be good poss of injury.
 
Good points all around.

I find the petzl design generally more secure, but ANY similarly designed hand ascenders are an open system which can come off the rope in the situation you described, highclimber. A carabiner through the hole (clipped around the rope) is an important risk mitigation step, and having a VT on that carabiner is another good one. Most important is of course having a second ascender. Having one ascender come off the rope or fail to catch is fairly common, but two at the same time is very unlikely.

Also, I have used the CMI Expedition ascenders for some time, and have always had trouble with the cam not engaging on tighter weave ropes, especially the Sterling HTP (my favorite for long ascents). It has gotten worse with time, and I recently stopped using them altogether. The downward facing teeth on petzl ascenders don't have this problem.
 
I back'em up with a friction hitch EVERY time. There are times when you can't maintain that sacred area and have to push through stout twigs and stuff... willow oaks and water oaks come to mind. It takes 30 secs to tie on a backup and it costs you nothing in terms of performance.
 
I too put a hitch above the ascender now. I use a hitch-climber under the back up hitch as well to help advance the hitch. I kind of had problems with a vt getting tight and inhibiting the ascender. It was just hard to advance sometimes. I would love to see a video and/or pictures of ways others set up their systems. I'm sure it has all been shown before, but it couldn't hurt anything. Oh, and yeah, no offense taken. I have been climbing for 7 years, but I have only been using SRT recently. I've dabbled with it as a way for ascent for a while but I'm really trying to add it to my bag of tricks now. I know that I have much to learn and I want to learn as much as I can. The day I stop learnig is the day I will grow bored and look for another pastime. I don't expect that day to come any time soon, so all the advice I can get is much appreciated. A couple hundred heads is better than one.
 
..... I have owned and used Kong , Petzl , and CMI's ... you gotta be careful ... I wish someone would re-post the photo of the saddle on the fence (I think England) of the climber that laterally loaded his Kong with no locking carabiner or backup ./... He fell .... ...
 
Reading the hang tags that come with all of the better gear will give users an understanding of how to use any gear. Take the time to go to the manufacturers website too. When a new piece of gear comes on the market I always Google the tool and read as much as I can about how the tool is used in other rope access industries.

ON ROPE..the book and the company...have been a great resource for many years.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Reading the hang tags that come with all of the better gear will give users an understanding of how to use any gear. Take the time to go to the manufacturers website too. When a new piece of gear comes on the market I always Google the tool and read as much as I can about how the tool is used in other rope access industries.

ON ROPE..the book and the company...have been a great resource for many years.

[/ QUOTE ]


I agree, but what is it like 75% of people are visual learners that need to be shown in real time?
 
Jimmy, I swear I have some pics but I can't find'em. I'll either shoot more today or dig'em up somehow.

I use 5/16" Tech Cord (Allgear), it goes from my harness tie-in to above the ascender, bypassing the frame. It doesn't connect to the ascender at all.

On 11mm doubled rope I use two tautlines (cuz they're easy to tie one-handed). On 10mm single rope I uses a four finger prusik because the tautlines don't grip the skinny rope to my satisfaction. Tech Cord is a flattish braid and catches the rope quick if you tension it.
 
Here you go, DdRT version...

DdRTAscenderBU.jpg
 
[ QUOTE ]
Aha! So, I have learned something again...which is the whole point. I did not know it was SOP to place a carabiner in the upper hole.

[/ QUOTE ]

The Petzl design with two top holes is way better for capturing the rope with a biner than the single hole in the CMI.
 
nope, I dont think it is the manufacturers resposibiliy at all ( on any gear). I dont even think they should have to put pics in. I was just saying if we are talking about it and seem to want to fix the problem, then give the person some pics or vids of who we do it.
 
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