auto.scout

Rappelling Crews:

Our Mountaineering Venture crew had an unpleasant experience on our
last outing that We want to pass along to others and also to National.
The most recent guide to mountaineering and rapelling, indicates the
need to utilize a sholder mounted bowline for the safety line when
rappelling. Although we have been climbing for years, and have always
utilized a separate safety rope clipped into the harness, we dutifully
changed over to the "new method". Our aadvise to others DON'T use
this configuration. It is likely to cause injurry from very short falls.
On our last outing, one of our ASMs was beginning a rappell down a 30
foot face. she stumbled and was caught by the safety balay, tied about
her sholders. She now is recovering from a bruised rib. OUCH. I do
not know who came up with this idea, but We will no longer use it, as
it is much less safe than a pelvic harness tie-in. The harness has
multiple, separately supported loops, and spreads the force of a fall
to the STRONG and DESIGNED FOR SHOCK pelvis. A sholder bowline ties
around a very week portion of the body. One that is easily injured.
Additionaly, the sholder bowline is uncomfortable and awkward for the
rapeller as it separates the safety line, above the main line,
obstructing the climbers view of the line and making it impossible for
the climber to hold the safety line with the steadying hand. Safety
lines attached toproperly tied swiss seats or inspected harnesses
are MUCH MORE SAFE than this rope tie-in configuration.

Yours in Scouting. Yours in Service. - Home - (412) 722-3476 -
I used to be an Eagle--Wood Badge NE-V-19-20 - Work - 256-2563 -
Eagle Scout Class of 1967 Westmoreland Fayette Cncl - FAX - 1412 -
(Mr.) Gary W. Sherwin SM - Wagion Lodge #6 Vigil -
BSA Troop 461, Box 342, Yukon, Pa. 15698 sherwin@sunshine.pgh.wec.com

• Messages sorted by: [ date ][ thread ][ subject ][ author ]
• Next message
• Previous message