close call

[Fairfield]

I am putting this up in this forum do to it being climbing related. Check your gear ladies and gents, and don't settle for just ok.
http://gripped.com/2013/02/sections/news/mike-doyle-close-call-with-fixed-draw/

 

[oceans]

Thanks for posting, Fairfield.

It looks like it broke right next to the beginning of the stitch. I wonder where the abrasion was that he noted before the climb...

I was just talking with moss about sewing needles, and whether or not they could cut/compromise the fibers of a rope while passing a lock stitch, whipping, etc.

I'd like to know more about that failure, and if it related to the stitch.

I worked with a guy that showed me his lanyard for the first time and I told him I never wanted to see him climbing on it, ever! It looked like a cat tried to kill it. We laughed about it, and he got a new CE lanyard out of it.

 

[Norm_Hall]

Does anyone know what the quickdraw was made of? Nylon or spectra/dyneema?

 

[wyoclimber]

Dyneema. Poor choice for a fixed draw. Fixed draws are kind of scary anyway. Rarely maintained or replaced and most climbers trust them blindly. While I'd say its fairly rare for a draw to break, it is far too common for people to continue to use biners that have a groove worn into them. Then they whip and voila, your rope doesn't have a sheath anymore. Lesson to be learned, inspect gear regularly and replace it any time there is a question. And don't climb at the VRG.
Just kidding about that last part.