Climbing/rappelling rope
Jack & John Wright (jwright@CHATTANOOGA.NET)
Fri, 27 Aug 1999 18:42:37 -0400
I'm hoping the recent thread about rope marking is caused by everybody
getting ready for the new BSA "1999 & 2000 Climbing/Rappelling National
Standards". In case anyone is unaware, these new standards require
(paraphrased, in part):
-Rope inspections prior to each use
-Written logs indicating details of each use, conditions of use, &
marking & history of each piece of rope, etc.
-Locked & controlled storage
-Standards of training for the program and/or activity supervisors
-And many other items, which are minimums for safe programs (my opinion)
These standards seem to mandate what COUNCIL programs and activities
must do. So what must units and TROOPS do? Anything? If we're smart,
at the Troop level, we'd also better be reading the new stuff, and
starting to do it too. It may require a lot of changes, from what your
Troop has been doing.
I'm afraid some Troops for too long have borrowed ropes and equipment,
and gone out to the nearest cliff, and rappelled right off, with minimal
training of anybody. And some still may be doing that. For many years
I participated in rescuing many such people around our city which is
surrounded by mountains and cliffs. I'll give a Hurrah to National, for
doing these standards. Now let's all read, learn, and apply.
Jack Wright, CSP Retired
Council Whitewater Program, founder & committee member
Cherokee Area Council, Chattanooga
Silver Beaver, 1998
jwright@chattanooga.net
