Post accident discussion

[moss]

Probably don’t even have to argue that setting a hitch or any kind is a good habit, just not how the systems are “supposed” to work.

Prior to lift off with a rope hitch in SRS, I found that tying, dressing and setting on a slack system would have you thinking the configuration worked well. I also always found that subtle rope diameter reduction from elongation when rope walking would keep that same hitch from performing as it did on the slack rope before the climb.

It’s similar to what @treebing was saying…you have to be able to let go for the kit to work. It’s why I prefer footlocking on anything other than a long ascent…easy to let go. Also easy like @evo says to just set it manually, which I always did when standing on a foot ascender.

You were the first to point out to me that a loaded line has less diameter than a relaxed line, made tremendous sense and still does.

Often a low friction/smooth ascent tuned SRS multicender or hitch system will not set if the climber is loaded up on either their foot ascender or knee ascender while they're trying to load up their multicender/hitch.

 

[DSMc]

... Often a slow friction/smooth ascent tuned SRS multicender or hitch system will not set if the climber is loaded up on either their foot ascender or knee ascender while they're trying to load up their multicender/hitch.

A truth that many climbers either ignore or somehow, have not noticed. It is the reason I leave a small amount of friction set into my system for ascent and not chase the zero friction golden goose. The energy cost is nominal and well worth the added safety.

 

[moss]

A truth that many climbers either ignore or somehow, have not noticed. It is the reason I leave a small amount of friction set into my system for ascent and not chase the zero friction golden goose. The energy cost is nominal and well worth the added safety.

Typo corrected in my post, meant "low friction" not "slow friction". Thx!

 

[Bart_]

Spring loading the bird/RW takes up the fine adjustment needed to compensate rope diameter variation, albeit with a tiny extra ascent friction depending how strong the spring action. I've always run hitches on the draggy side. Except during my VT enthralment phase had a few need-tending specials - on lanyards only.

 

[Matias]

Spring loading the bird/RW takes up the fine adjustment needed to compensate rope diameter variation, albeit with a tiny extra ascent friction depending how strong the spring action. I've always run hitches on the draggy side. Except during my VT enthralment phase had a few need-tending specials - on lanyards only.

I went through a similar thing with the VT. Took me a while to even want to try other hitches, but eventually I got damn near stuck, and made myself learn new tricks.