I have a project coming up which requires SRT but the only thing to rig the rope from is some timber which runs at a 45 degree angle. I was wondering if there is any way to tie into this or will I have to devise a way of getting a horizontal anchor in there?
Unfortunately due to the layout of the place, getting something in horizontal would be fairly difficult.
The present anchor is a piece of 6 inch square timber.

Any advice greatly appreciated!

As in the piece of timber runs at 45 degrees to the horizontal, above the shaft (?) you wish to enter?

If so, I'd be tempted to find some way of stopping the rope slipping down it by mechanical means - I suppose something like:
- a sling round the beam with a couple of maillons to join it together
- rig the abseil rope from the maillons
- rig a sling or a strop from somewhere around the top of the beam down to the sling to hold it in place
- rig a backup from another anchor to the maillons

In reality, there's no reason why you couldn't hold the sling around your anchor beam in place by a strop running horizontally under the beam and connect that into the maillons, so that you've got a sort-of Y-hang, although section will be holding the majority of the loading.

If you rig it right, the strop that holds the main sling in place will act as a back-up of sorts, but I'd still rig a proper back-up just in case.


Whilst you *could* hold the sling round the anchor beam in pace by putting in a nail and leaving the sling to bear on it, it risks the strength of the sling with a point loading (so a thick rope protector would be needed) and if the nail failed, you'd get a nasty shock loading as the sling slid, possibly with a failure caused by friction.

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Thanks Vanoord, it is a bit of a tricky one as there isn't a lot of space or anchors available. Its not actually a mine shaft, its an old well that is 150 feet deep. I am pretty new to all this SRT thing and I wasn't sure what the deal was about anchors that weren't horizontal. May have to re-think it. Thanks for the info.

It shouldn't be a problem, you just need to find some way of stopping the sling over the anchor beam from slipping by applying a horizontal force to keep it there!

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It is kinda obvious when you put it like that! I guess being new to this, I find it all a bit daunting realy, so many knots and so mnay ways of anchoring! Hopfully it will get easier 🙂

Can you put in a deviation on the main hang attached to something else to stop it slipping.

I take it you have got yourself an SRT rig now?

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I'm ashamed to say that a Figure of Eight is about the limit of what I can tie, but I can be very creative. Mind you, I can also do an Alpine Butterfly, but I've not released one into the wild yet!

A Y-Hang is rather useful - I have to thank the good Kernel for the one time I needed one 🙂

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Can you put in a deviation on the main hang attached to something else to stop it slipping.

I take it you have got yourself an SRT rig now?

Yes that seems the way to do it. And yes I have my SRT kit now. Got a good deal actually for the basic set-up, saved 50 quid!