- Location
- Retired in Minneapolis
A couple of weeks ago moved my lanyard to a new work position. I've done this thousands of times in 40 years of climbing. Marv, the guy who taught me to climb was a lineman for Bell System. He was taught the right way to climb and he passed that on to me. NEVER just hear the click of the snap. it has to be seen. That has paid off more than once. On this day the click I heard sounded right. Before I unweighted my climbing line and transferred to my lanyard I did the visual. I'd clipped into the paddle biner on my right that is my chainsaw hook. It startled me of course. Then I reclipped to my right d-ring.
This visualizing that I was taught is something that should be done all of the time. After the AR class yesterday I was talking with Scotty Olson about lanyards. He shared stories from a couple of companies that have changed their SOPs. Whenver there is a changeover the climber has to singout and let others know. Sure, the climber might not be able to be seen and double checked but it makes for a 'hard stop' and check.
A lanyard/d-ring mod that I'm making to my TreeFlex harness is to use the brightest PlastiDip or liquid electrical tape coating on the side d's to brighten them up. It will also change the surface texture so I can feel the difference. I expect that the metallic click will change too because of the coating. That should add another difference to my routine. Even if I have to reapply the coating on occasion...so what.
Changeovers are a dangerous part of climbing that isn't emphasized or focused on as much as it should be. Some SRT ascending systems require a complicated changeover. I'd like to see these systems come under a critical review and maybe change to simpler and safer systems.
Like someone just wrote in Cameron's thread...a simple think like not using a lanyard lead to a death. Let's not have any more.
This visualizing that I was taught is something that should be done all of the time. After the AR class yesterday I was talking with Scotty Olson about lanyards. He shared stories from a couple of companies that have changed their SOPs. Whenver there is a changeover the climber has to singout and let others know. Sure, the climber might not be able to be seen and double checked but it makes for a 'hard stop' and check.
A lanyard/d-ring mod that I'm making to my TreeFlex harness is to use the brightest PlastiDip or liquid electrical tape coating on the side d's to brighten them up. It will also change the surface texture so I can feel the difference. I expect that the metallic click will change too because of the coating. That should add another difference to my routine. Even if I have to reapply the coating on occasion...so what.
Changeovers are a dangerous part of climbing that isn't emphasized or focused on as much as it should be. Some SRT ascending systems require a complicated changeover. I'd like to see these systems come under a critical review and maybe change to simpler and safer systems.
Like someone just wrote in Cameron's thread...a simple think like not using a lanyard lead to a death. Let's not have any more.
