What is the strangest ascending system you have seen used?

[gillip]

I recently saw a caver ascending with a Petzl ascension rigged as a chest ascender and a stop as a foot ascender. The stop was rigged the same as for descending but attached to the foot with webbing and a krab and the tail end of the rope was run through a krab attached to his harness, which was a tied webbing harness. He had done an excellent job tying the harness. At any rate, he would hang by his chest ascender and bend his knee while pulling on the tag end of the rope to raise the position of the stop, then he would stand. He wasn't extreemly slow, but not fast either. To make this stranger, you don't need to climb rope out of the particular cave. You can easily climb along the wall. He told me has also used a mini triaxon (sp?) pulley in a similar fashion, using the progress capturing feature to move it up the rope while attached to his foot. I would hate to do a changeover using that system.

This was the strangest system I have seen. What is the strangest ascending system that you have seen?

[fuzzy-hair-man]

Um, what was the pont of his system? did he tell you what he was trying to achieve? Was he just trying to save weight by not using a chest ascender?

As far as wierd ascending systems go, sorry I don't have too much to add, the wierdest I guess have been when we have had supposedly experienced vertical cavers show up and they have no attachment from thier hand ascender to thier harness so they were relying on thier chest ascender as thier only attachment . We pretty quickly told them the problem and that they had better fix it before they can come on another trip.

We don't have very much variety in ascending systems here pretty much everyone uses a frog. A couple of ropewalkers but nothing else.

[gillip]

He told be that he had to buy a descender and he might as well use it in his ascending system. Obviously he was not too concerned about safety. If his chest ascender became detached, he would be left hanging by his foot. At the car, I showed him my frogging setup, explaining how it functions better and is safer than the system he was using. He seemed insulted by my advice and told me that his present system was safer than what he used to do: climb a manilla rope with no assistance. Also, the rope he was using had a tag on the end that said not a lifeline, breaking strength 2,000 lb, working load 200 lb. He was a steel worker. I have heard that alot of steel workers don't like any safety because it limits their mobility.

[adleedy]

He told be that he had to buy a descender and he might as well use it in his ascending system. Obviously he was not too concerned about safety. If his chest ascender became detached, he would be left hanging by his foot. I showed him my frogging setup, explaining how it functions bettern and is safer than the system he was using. He seemed insulted by my advice and told me that his present system was safer than what he used to do: climb a manilla rope with no assistance. Also, the rope he was using had a tag on the end that said not a lifeline, breaking strength 2,000 lb, working load 200 lb.

WOW

[fuzzy-hair-man]

I guess some people are determined to kill or injure themselves.

If he had a mini Traxion he could have used that as his chest ascender and used the Ascension for his hand ascender and he would have had a frog.

[NZcaver]

He told be that he had to buy a descender and he might as well use it in his ascending system. Obviously he was not too concerned about safety. If his chest ascender became detached, he would be left hanging by his foot. At the car, I showed him my frogging setup, explaining how it functions better and is safer than the system he was using. He seemed insulted by my advice and told me that his present system was safer than what he used to do: climb a manilla rope with no assistance. Also, the rope he was using had a tag on the end that said not a lifeline, breaking strength 2,000 lb, working load 200 lb. He was a steel worker. I have heard that alot of steel workers don't like any safety because it limits their mobility.

That's one of the more interesting climbing systems I've ever heard of, that's for sure. Not to mention that non life-safety rated rope he was using! Judging by your description he's obviously not a caver - at least not in the vertically competent sense of the word. Unfortunately he might make a good candidate for a rescue though.

Sounds like if he just bought a Croll for the chest, swapped the handled ascender to his hand, and changed around the rigging of his system (adding a safety), he'd be all set. Pity he seemed insulted when you offered advice. Some steel workers might not like safety gear cramping their style, but if they get caught without it by OSHA or other site safety inspectors... bad news for them and their company.

[Ralph E. Powers]

He told be that he had to buy a descender and he might as well use it in his ascending system. Obviously he was not too concerned about safety. If his chest ascender became detached, he would be left hanging by his foot. At the car, I showed him my frogging setup, explaining how it functions better and is safer than the system he was using. He seemed insulted by my advice and told me that his present system was safer than what he used to do: climb a manilla rope with no assistance. Also, the rope he was using had a tag on the end that said not a lifeline, breaking strength 2,000 lb, working load 200 lb. He was a steel worker. I have heard that alot of steel workers don't like any safety because it limits their mobility.

Guess we're just going to have to read about this guy in ACA and Darwin Awards.

[hank moon]

What is the strangest ascending system that you have seen?

Double-bungie ropewalker

[baa43003]

What is the strangest ascending system that you have seen?

Climbing up a dead tree that had been pushed into the pit.

[Dane]

What is the strangest ascending system that you have seen?

Double-bungie ropewalker

You are SUCH a traditionalist, Hank!
What about us poor old, fat guys????
Actually I am seriously thinking about getting a Frog - after a couple of pull-down trips, you really start to appreciate the simplicity!

[Bobatnathrop]

What is the strangest ascending system that you have seen?

Climbing up a dead tree that had been pushed into the pit.

Bwhaha, Hey whatever gets ya out of the cave.

-Jeremy

[Adam Craig]

My aunt is the state forensic anthropologist for Kentucky... On one investigation, she was lowered in and out of a pit by tow truck

[Princess Butterfly]

My aunt is the state forensic anthropologist for Kentucky... On one investigation, she was lowered in and out of a pit by tow truck

They used to winch the base jumpers out of Golindrinas.

[Rick Brinkman]

I've heard of people being lowered on a rope into a 200'+ pit. Then to pull the "spelunker" out, 8-10 people would grab the rope and run down the hill.

[baa43003]

Trespassers once used a long piece of chain link fencing to climb into and out of one Arizona cave.