Very interesting.d_baker wrote:
Ropes don't break article.
Little Bear fixed ropes
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- screeman57
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Re: Little Bear fixed ropes
“To be is to do”—Socrates.
“To do is to be”—Jean-Paul Sartre.
“Do be do be do”—Frank Sinatra.
“To do is to be”—Jean-Paul Sartre.
“Do be do be do”—Frank Sinatra.
- crossfitter
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Re: Little Bear fixed ropes
Just as a counter point:d_baker wrote: Ropes don't break article.
Ropes from a couple years ago:There was always severe and detectable damage (such as the tearing of the sheath) before subsequent drops produced complete failure.
- A mountain is not a checkbox to be ticked
- Alpinism and mountaineering are not restricted to 14,000 foot mountains
- Judgment and experience are the two most important pieces of gear you own
- Being honest to yourself and others about your abilities is a characteristic of experienced climbers
- Courage cannot be bought at REI or carried with you in your rucksack
- Alpinism and mountaineering are not restricted to 14,000 foot mountains
- Judgment and experience are the two most important pieces of gear you own
- Being honest to yourself and others about your abilities is a characteristic of experienced climbers
- Courage cannot be bought at REI or carried with you in your rucksack
- screeman57
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Re: Little Bear fixed ropes
Not a counterpoint--it is the same point the above article makes (that failure occurred only when the rope was already damaged by tearing, chafing, or other damage to the sheath).crossfitter wrote:
Just as a counter point:There was always severe and detectable damage (such as the tearing of the sheath) before subsequent drops produced complete failure.
“To be is to do”—Socrates.
“To do is to be”—Jean-Paul Sartre.
“Do be do be do”—Frank Sinatra.
“To do is to be”—Jean-Paul Sartre.
“Do be do be do”—Frank Sinatra.
- Jim Davies
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Re: Little Bear fixed ropes
In the past ten years or so, I can recall five fatal accidents on LB. Only one was in the hourglass, due to a fall from iced-up rocks on the side (Kevin8020).screeman57 wrote:Just curious: have any of the serious injuries or deaths in the hourglass resulted from a fixed-rope failing? Not the point, I know, but I am curious if there's a cautionary tale out there...
Two separate incidents were falls that occurred while descending the wrong route to Lake Como in storms (the ridge below the hourglass).(Dave Boyd and John Boyles).
One death from an avalanche on the slopes below the hourglass. (Lygon Stevens)
One from a fall on the northwest face route, apparently due to a foothold breaking off. link
Climbing at altitude is like hitting your head against a brick wall — it's great when you stop. -- Chris Darwin
I'm pretty tired. I think I'll go home now. -- Forrest Gump
I'm pretty tired. I think I'll go home now. -- Forrest Gump
Re: Little Bear fixed ropes
In my opinion, every party attempting Little Bear should carry a rope and know how to use it. A freak hail or ice storm could roll in with limited notice and leave you stranded. I suspect that majority doesn’t follow this guideline, but do the fixed ropes on Little Bear lead to this behavior? For people that have done Little Bear, how did the fixed ropes impact your decision to attempt the route?
For me, the fact that there were fixed ropes (of questionable quality) reinforced my desire to bring a rope of known quality. In other words, if people think that rope is warranted, I want access to a rope with a known history.
For me, the fact that there were fixed ropes (of questionable quality) reinforced my desire to bring a rope of known quality. In other words, if people think that rope is warranted, I want access to a rope with a known history.
- rickinco123
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Re: Little Bear fixed ropes
The article says sharp edges and acid exposure cause ropes to fail, anyone ever notice any ants crawling on those ropes? Ants secrete formic acid.d_baker wrote:Ropes don't break article.
- DeucesWild
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Re: Little Bear fixed ropes
Little Bear is known for its ant and termite infestation. Maybe someone should hose the rope down with Raid.rickinco123 wrote:The article says sharp edges and acid exposure cause ropes to fail, anyone ever notice any ants crawling on those ropes? Ants secrete formic acid.
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- DaveSwink
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Re: Little Bear fixed ropes
[color=#FF0080]My rope is DDT-impregnated to protect it from rope-destroying vermin! [/color]
- Neil
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Re: Little Bear fixed ropes
I fall into, and advocate for, the bring your own rope argument. I would feel awkward even borrowing a rope from someone I know -- there is no way I'm trusting one set my an unknown climber, even after inspection. We are heading up to Little Bear Friday with two 60m ropes. We will tie the ropes together in a way we trust, set an anchor in a way we trust, and use ropes we trust to make a full 60m rappel, thereby allowing us to retrieve our ropes and take them with us. If, for some reason, we feel more comfortable downclimbing, then we got a good workout with the extra weight and were responsible for our own safety and decision making. I don't begrudge anyone their opinion, but I feel strongly about mine in this case.
"On the edge of the porch in the warm evening night
Throwing the bone for the dog I see two passing lights
Well, I wonder where that driver's bound
Is there someone, somewhere, someway out there that I've not found"
-Driving Song
Throwing the bone for the dog I see two passing lights
Well, I wonder where that driver's bound
Is there someone, somewhere, someway out there that I've not found"
-Driving Song
- rickinco123
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Re: Little Bear fixed ropes
Are you crazy? That stuff might damage your rope.DeucesWild wrote:Little Bear is known for its ant and termite infestation. Maybe someone should hose the rope down with Raid.rickinco123 wrote:The article says sharp edges and acid exposure cause ropes to fail, anyone ever notice any ants crawling on those ropes? Ants secrete formic acid.
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Re: Little Bear fixed ropes
this is exactly why i pack my own chute riggins as well. I want to know that the idiot that does it is doing it right...and then i am the only idiot to blame if it does not open. i left a rope on little bear 2 years ago. it was the purple blue one that many folks on here i am usre used. it was a solid rope that i had retired after taking a 50 foot whipper on it. not that it needed to be retired, but more from a superstition standpoint. personally i think climbing fairly straightforward class 4 should not require a rope, but i brought this one for my wife and left it for good use. that said, i would not have used it even a week later had i been back up there. hail, rain, fat people, marmots goats, pika, texans and especially the SUN all take their toll on nylon and that is not something i would bet my life on!Neil wrote:I fall into, and advocate for, the bring your own rope argument. I would feel awkward even borrowing a rope from someone I know -- there is no way I'm trusting one set my an unknown climber, even after inspection. We are heading up to Little Bear Friday with two 60m ropes. We will tie the ropes together in a way we trust, set an anchor in a way we trust, and use ropes we trust to make a full 60m rappel, thereby allowing us to retrieve our ropes and take them with us. If, for some reason, we feel more comfortable downclimbing, then we got a good workout with the extra weight and were responsible for our own safety and decision making. I don't begrudge anyone their opinion, but I feel strongly about mine in this case.
"Come on, you sons of bitches-do you want to live forever?"
-Gunnery Sergeant Dan Daly, USMC, 1918.
-Gunnery Sergeant Dan Daly, USMC, 1918.
Re: Little Bear fixed ropes
Then why did you leave it?blazebo wrote:...but i brought this one for my wife and left it for good use. that said, i would not have used it even a week later had i been back up there. hail, rain, fat people, marmots goats, pika, texans and especially the SUN all take their toll on nylon and that is not something i would bet my life on!
"A couple more shots of whiskey,
the women 'round here start looking good"
the women 'round here start looking good"