Here ya go :)
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Mixon Bill <[email protected]> List-Post: [email protected] Date: Tue, Nov 3, 2009 at 11:11 AM Subject: [Texascavers] rebelays To: Cavers Texas <[email protected]> I'm well aware of the arguments for rebelays. As far as safety is concerned, I can think of at least two fatal accidents caused by people screwing up at rebelays. Can anybody name a fatal accident caused by an American 11-mm caving rope breaking? I remain a fan of the "tie the rope to something and toss it down the pit" style. As for speeding up the ascent because several people can climb at once, I doubt it will be long before I hear of an accident caused by somebody dropping something on some sitting-duck climber below him in the shaft, rather than hiding well away from the falling-rock zone at the bottom. True, the 8-mm dental floss that the cavers use in the pit in China weighs a good bit less than an equal length of 11 mm, probably about half as much. But that pit isn't very far inside the cave. Passing one or two knots connecting reasonable lengths of 11 mm would be quicker and safer than passing 37 (!) rebelays on 8 mm. Some elaborate rigging is justified, especially in cases where the route will be used repeatedly during an expedition by cavers carrying loads. A lot of it, though, is a matter of religion. I've watched a bolt being placed halfway down a 15-meter pit that was bottomed by exactly one person, went nowhere, and will probably never be descended again before it erodes away. Basically, some people enjoy long free rappels, and other people enjoy doing fancy rigging. --Mixon ---------------------------------------- When sharing a dish with the devil, use a long spoon. ---------------------------------------- You may "reply" to the address this message came from, but for long-term use, save: Personal: [email protected] AMCS: [email protected] or [email protected] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: [email protected] For additional commands, e-mail: [email protected]
