Running out of rope and not tieing a knot

TJG

TJG

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Berkshire's Mass.
I have heard several stories were climbers have been descending only to find they just passed the end of the rope. One climber I think is an excellent climber. I forgot if I saw it on a DVD and or read it in climbers companion. Basic safety is to tie a knot a slip knot 8 to 10 feet from the ground. I personally for get to do this but last fall I was coming down from a tree I was working for my neighbor and tied the knot forgot it was there because I was to busy chatting. I had plenty of rope but wasn't sure how far up I was gong so I through one in any way. Forgetting it was there it stop me it jammed up good and tight into my tending pulley. So I simply climbed up until I had enough slack and untied it. Came down no problems. How may of you tie this 2 second knot that could save your life or how many forget or just figure they will have enough rope. I personally don't tie one because I normally have enough rope. But what if my hitch failed or a mechanical device a knot 10 feet from the ground would at least slow you down or stop you. Let's be honest how many of you tie that knot. And if not why not. KNOT KNOT
 
Levi.CO said:
Yep, sometimes I miscalculate how much I'll need after redirects and I come up short, then I tie a knot for sure! You just gots to pay attention.
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This was my thought I can understand the knot getting in the way when you are doing redirects. But if you rushing you may knot notice that your rope has gone through one to many redirects.
 
Knot in my rope, Everytime.

I tie a stopper 3-4' from the end, never a Slipknot. Ground crew never untie my knot to have enough for to tie stuff (rope, pole hook, pole pruner, chainsaw) on, to send it up.


I can't honestly recall a stopper knot jamming. Surely I've don't it.

I've jammed against my knot plenty (generally about 5' or less off the ground).
 
I tie a knot about 10 feet from the end of my rope every time I climb, even when I have lots of excess rope on the ground. I don't as of yet do so many redirects that it has ever been an issue. Maybe when my skills improve I'll have to make a change.

Tying the knot is to protect oneself from oneself. Climbers get hot, tired, distracted, rushed, etc. The knot is the one failsafe that can save your life. I tie mine 10 feet from the end so that I have plenty of room to get a knee or foot ascender on it, to allow me to be able to easily gain elevation. Having it too close to the end of the rope means you might end up having to use arm strength alone, or set up a mechanical advantage, in order to gain height. Allowing for the use of the legs just seems easier to me.

Tim
 
Banguts said:
This just makes me imagine being bent backwards and broken :[

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My back has already been broken in a motocross race. But I think if you have contact with the rope your first instinct would be to reach up. But I see your point if you had no time to react you might hit that knot hard. But your saddle and rope should take some of the shock before you are bent in half. And if you are taking your afternoon nap don't lay on your back
 
A Double Overhand Knot is a good stopper for the end of the rope. The slip knot stopper is intended for facilitating new climbers DdRT on a rec climb. The slip knot is tied midline and directionally so the facilitator can take it out from the ground when the climber is descending. I believe that was a Tom Dunlap innovation for facilitating first time climbers DdRT.

For experienced climbers having a stopper on the tail can cause a lot of problems, depends what you're climbing. I always have a stopper on my lanyard. As mentioned it's the climbers job to keep track of how much rope they have. For inexperienced climbers a stopper is a good idea.
-AJ
 
When I climbed ddrt, I wouldn't use a stopper knot. However, if there was ever a chance that wasn't going to have enough rope to make it back to the ground on my last decent, I would always pull the tail of the rope up to me. If the loop of rope touched the ground, I knew I was good to get back down. If it didn't, I changed my TIP and descended from there.
 
Please don't take this topic too lightly.
I know of 3 different "world class" climbers that have run out of rope at TCC's. (Canada, UK, KY-USA)
No harm incurred; each caught the problem near the end of the rope; then re-ascended.

1. During event set-up. (using a borrowed rope)
2. Work climb event during comp.
3. During tear-down after the Masters.

Be Careful !
 
I agree Greg, a top climber died a year or 2 ago after running out of rope, I think he was working a crane removal or maybe just a really tall tree.
 
It's just one of many things that can kill you if you have a lapse in your situational awareness. I agree with @TimBr and others, it's a good fail safe. But we all know, the best fail safe is a keen awareness both of yourself and your surroundings.:)
 
The tail end of all my climbing lines, stick out the top of the rope bags w/ a double over-hand stopper knot. (tight, tight, tight !)

I tie about 1 ft from the end.
 
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