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Kurt Ettinger
Trad climber
Martinez, CA
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Topic Author's Original Post - May 10, 2013 - 07:17pm PT
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I always thought this was poor etiquette. So last night I was told by an (ahem)experienced climber that "when climbing on multi pitched routes outdoors I have to do it all the time". He then proceeded to tell me of some belay technique he used which involved stepping on the rope. So am I behind the times on this thinking of avoiding rope stepping?
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labrat
Trad climber
Auburn, CA
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May 10, 2013 - 07:23pm PT
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No
Maybe sleeping on it is ok........
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tradmanclimbs
Ice climber
Pomfert VT
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May 10, 2013 - 07:59pm PT
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It is an old wifes tale that stepping on the rope will ruin your rope, work dirt into it and make it so weak that you will die. in real life the rope wears out from the friction of rapelling , lowering and falling. a little bit of dirt has no tangible effect on this process. Long after the rope is retired from climbing duty you can still drag huge oak trees out of the woods with it. Logging really works the dirt into the rope ;)
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Fletcher
Trad climber
The great state of advaita
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May 10, 2013 - 08:03pm PT
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I've slept on my rope before! Not comfortable and no, I was not getting kinky that night... just was a bonehead and somehow forgot my sleeping bag! Doht!
Eric
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Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
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May 10, 2013 - 08:29pm PT
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One of the things which I recall from my first day climbing is "never throw a good rope in the dirt, and never step on the rope."
Don't tread on my rope.
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TGT
Social climber
So Cal
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May 10, 2013 - 08:35pm PT
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just don't do it with crampons on!
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10b4me
Ice climber
Soon 2B Arizona
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May 10, 2013 - 08:35pm PT
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just was a bonehead and somehow forgot my sleeping bag
I would never do anything like that :-)
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tradmanclimbs
Ice climber
Pomfert VT
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May 10, 2013 - 08:36pm PT
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I have used my rope as a pillow quite a bit over the years.
it is critical to keep the rope away from chemical contamination which makes the parking lot a band place to dump the rope at the end of the day while you look for the car keys. Reguler dirt is not a big deal. it washes off when you get caught in the rain or go ice climbing;) i ty to not step on the rope but out of courtesy but do not have a fit when someone does. I remember a few BINTD cursing and throwing bad vibes out there at the noob who stepped on the rope. Just big fish in small pond puffing out their chests..... In reality it does no real harm to your rope.
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tradmanclimbs
Ice climber
Pomfert VT
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May 10, 2013 - 08:38pm PT
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actually crampons don't do anything to the rope unless you put it on the pavement and stomped the crap out of it. crampons on snow does absolutly zero damage to a rope.
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johntp
Trad climber
socal
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May 10, 2013 - 08:45pm PT
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Just try not to do it when the leader is making a dyno. Things could get testy.
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apogee
climber
Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
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May 10, 2013 - 10:05pm PT
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I don't think this is a troll. It's a pretty good example of one of those old practices ('wives tales', if you must) that has been fairly debunked in recent years.
If someone has demonstrated science showing how Rope A, subjected to heinous trampling abuse, consistently failed well before Rope B, treated with princess-like care, I'd love to see it.
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jabbas
Trad climber
New River, AZ
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May 10, 2013 - 10:26pm PT
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I just scream and then remember Kern -Mantle ... no problem. If ropes were that fragile we would all be dead or mangled. I still tippy toe about the snake pit !!
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kaholatingtong
Trad climber
Nevada City
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May 10, 2013 - 10:43pm PT
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stepping on rope, ok. puking on rope, not ok.
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Ken M
Mountain climber
Los Angeles, Ca
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May 10, 2013 - 10:43pm PT
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actually crampons don't do anything to the rope unless you put it on the pavement and stomped the crap out of it. crampons on snow does absolutly zero damage to a rope.
This might -might- be true of an unweighted rope on unconsolidated snow, however, I would never consider this to be true of a weighted rope on a harder surface, such as ice. A sharp edge, like many crampons are, can cause a weighted rope to separate instantly. It's usually rock edges, but it is the only reason for a good rope to fail in something like 30 years internationally, I remember reading at one of the certification sites.
Get above me, and get a sharp metal edge near my weighted rope, and I'll consider it attempted murder.
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kennyt
climber
Woodfords,California
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May 10, 2013 - 10:46pm PT
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It's better than stepping on yer dick
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tradmanclimbs
Ice climber
Pomfert VT
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May 10, 2013 - 10:48pm PT
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how the heck would you step on a weighted rope? HUH? Never stepped on a weighted rope in 30 + years of climbing.... never seen a weighted rope get stepped on.
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kaholatingtong
Trad climber
Nevada City
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May 10, 2013 - 10:50pm PT
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a weighted rope get stepped on. would that be like slack lining? but more difficult?
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kennyt
climber
Woodfords,California
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May 10, 2013 - 10:53pm PT
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Actually crampons don't do anything to the dick unless you put it on the pavement and stomped the crap out of it
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limpingcrab
Trad climber
the middle of CA
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May 11, 2013 - 12:30am PT
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An engineering kid in one of my stats classes did a project on climbing ropes breaking. Old dirt stomped on ropes weren't significantly weaker than clean ropes, but basically every kind of knot made the ropes WAY weaker.
Climbers should step on ropes, but NEVER USE ANY KNOTS!
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