Thoughts whilst ascending· Page 2

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pwhole
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

#21

I did the top pitch of Titan a few years ago on 8mm accessory cord, as I'd been reassured that it would be 'fine'. The rope's owner weighs about 60kg at most, whereas I'm more like 80kg. Needless to say 'fine' wasn't an apt description. My Stop became a Simple, and as my braking krab in those days was a normal steel oval, my descent was rather quicker than planned, accompanied by shrieking and swearing back up the pitch until they could no longer hear me. I managed to stop halfway down and wrap the rope around my leg and shoulder before squealing down to the Event Horizon in a rather sweaty state.

Climbing back up was not much improvement, as 8mm is more like 7mm when it's loaded, and my Croll was literally creaking under the strain of trying to grab this tiny, tiny rope.

That was probably the most nerve-wracking 15 minutes of my life, especially near the top. 😮

Roy Morton
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

#22

"pwhole" wrote:
I did the top pitch of Titan a few years ago on 8mm accessory cord, as I'd been reassured that it would be 'fine'. The rope's owner weighs about 60kg at most, whereas I'm more like 80kg. Needless to say 'fine' wasn't an apt description. My Stop became a Simple, and as my braking krab in those days was a normal steel oval, my descent was rather quicker than planned, accompanied by shrieking and swearing back up the pitch until they could no longer hear me. I managed to stop halfway down and wrap the rope around my leg and shoulder before squealing down to the Event Horizon in a rather sweaty state.

Climbing back up was not much improvement, as 8mm is more like 7mm when it's loaded, and my Croll was literally creaking under the strain of trying to grab this tiny, tiny rope.

That was probably the most nerve-wracking 15 minutes of my life, especially near the top. :o

I tend to go out on nothing under 10.5mm. 8mil in Titan? :blink: Copper bracelets and seasickness pills spring to mind, :lol:

"You Chinese think of everything!"
"But I''m not Chinese!"
"Then you must have forgotten something!"

legendrider
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

#23

Recalling Gary & Boxy's slightly under-thought and cavalier descent of Skears D2 Main Rise from Firestone level horizon, late 1980's

There is a big dog-leg in the shaft 20ft below the Firestone D2 vein inset, which caused the rope to rub. Gary came up OK first, then we heard a scream from Boxy "GET THAT F:o:o:o:o:o SAFETY LINE DOWN HERE NOW!!!!"

Part of the outer casing had rubbed off the rope leaving a few strands of the inner spaghetti separating him from a gravity-assisted and terminal bath.

Fortunately he was extracted without further incident, and his somewhat agitated Thoughts Whilst Ascending are indelibly preserved for posterity in my memory :lol:

festina lente[i]

Wormster
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

#24

In depths of Cwm Orthin a few BB's ago Darkstar was heard to say:

"Err Fellas, I'm going to get off this quick! - The Rope's about 1/2 way through!"

We hauled the rope back up, some 20 feet or so from the "Y" hang it had gone, sliced on a nasty little razor sharp edge of slate. The razor was removed by the use of a Vanoord, the rope re-rigged onto abbot 5 shonky anchors and we carried on!

Better to regret something you have done - than to regret something you have not done.

Graigfawr
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

#25

Thirty years ago I had a rope sheath disintigrate every six feet or so when abseiling a pull through trip - the edge of the coil of rope had been in contact with acid from a spare car battery in the boot of a friend's car. The last person down landed amidst multiple folds of sheath, having abseiled much of the way on the core strands.

4737carlin
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

#26

The main thing I think about is not getting my hair caught up in anything i cant get it back out of!! :-[:lol:

Roy Morton
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

#27

"4737carlin" wrote:
The main thing I think about is not getting my hair caught up in anything i cant get it back out of!! :-[:lol:

The older you get the less of a problem that becomes :lol:

"You Chinese think of everything!"
"But I''m not Chinese!"
"Then you must have forgotten something!"

J25GTi
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

#28

"4737carlin" wrote:
The main thing I think about is not getting my hair caught up in anything i cant get it back out of!! :-[:lol:

You're not a real mine explorer until you are worried about your beard getting stuck in the descender....

Tamarmole did exactly that are while back. I haven't laughed so hard for a long time.

Margot
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

#29

Well, I'll never be a real mine explorer then. :(

Margot
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

#30

On another note, I have once thought "why do I seem to be ascending a rope which is attached to another rope by means of a mere reef knot?"

lazyjason
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

#31

Sort of on topic but going downwards...
"Hmm dark in here, isn't the rope supposed to go to the bottom?" :confused: :lol: 😉

When the going gets tough.... Hide!!!

Margot
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

#32

Oh dear. At least it had a knot! 😞

Tamarmole
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

#33

"Margot" wrote:
Well, I'll never be a real mine explorer then. :(

I think those of us who have been underground with you would agree that you have earned an honorary beard many times over :flowers:

RAMPAGE
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

#34

"Tamarmole" wrote:

"Margot" wrote:
Well, I'll never be a real mine explorer then. :(

I think those of us who have been underground with you would agree that you have earned an honorary beard many times over :flowers:

Oh please no :glare:

Beneath my steely exterior beats the heart of a dashing hero

RAMPAGE
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

#35

"Wormster" wrote:
In depths of Cwm Orthin a few BB's ago Darkstar was heard to say:

"Err Fellas, I'm going to get off this quick! - The Rope's about 1/2 way through!"

We hauled the rope back up, some 20 feet or so from the "Y" hang it had gone, sliced on a nasty little razor sharp edge of slate. The razor was removed by the use of a Vanoord, the rope re-rigged onto abbot 5 shonky anchors and we carried on!

It wasn't half way through - the sheath was damaged. and the anchors were the finest in all of Christendom.

Was an epic trip that day! And has never been repeated since. I think that was about 12 Years ago.

Beneath my steely exterior beats the heart of a dashing hero

Margot
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

#36

A honorary beard! 😮 That made my day.

And Miles; you might not like it, but I suppose it would give me beard amplification! We might need that for chamber X...

RAMPAGE
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

#37

I'm not that keen to get through Chamber X.

Besides, I'm sure it was a Stubble Powerup rather than a Beard Amplification. I'm not sure a beard amplifies anything except a desire to join the Campaign for Real Ale and a fear of Descenders.

Beneath my steely exterior beats the heart of a dashing hero

Margot
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

#38

Damn you remember. Anyway; as it is I can't have a stubble; if I had a beard I could! And even if we proceed avoiding chamber X I am sure we can do with the rock-throwing and drilling amplification...

Apologies for going :offtopic:

Tamarmole
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

#39

"sinker" wrote:

"Roy Morton" wrote:

.....I noticed my D maillon open 😮.....

:lol: We've all been there!

Easily done.

Last night was my first time on rope for fifteen months (knackered Achilles). When I got off the rope at the top of the shaft Big Dave casually asks me if I was aware that my harness maillon was undone ;(;(

TheBogieman
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

#40

Quote:

Last night was my first time on rope for fifteen months (knackered Achilles). When I got off the rope at the top of the shaft Big Dave casually asks me if I was aware that my harness maillon was undone ;(;(

:o. Strewth Rick, you're not safe to let off the lead!!

Explorans ad inferos