Flutterby™! : Vertical Caver - Me?

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Vertical Caver - Me?

2003-03-18 23:26:03.453408+00 by meuon 5 comments

It's been a long journey.. starting with deciding to live, and go to _)^(_ last year. The latest installment is becoming a 'real' vertical caver thanks to a great course by Steve and Bruce at On Rope 1. I remember when we bought the Virtual Building, and Dan seriously made comments like "..could rappell off the roof and fix the windows.." and I thought he was completely insane. Now I understand, and can do it myself, with a rack.. with an 8.. with a Munter hitch and a 'biner.. and can climb back up a few hundred feet of rope, using nothing but knots.. as well as ascenders. It is possible to self-evolve, overcome a fear of heights, and like it! Note: The caving/climbing world is making efforts to "Americanize" a lot of the French and European words used for things.. the new Political Correctness issues are at work.

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comments in ascending chronological order (reverse):

#Comment made: 2003-03-19 21:52:39.936319+00 by: Dan Lyke

The nice thing about vertical caving is you can't see how far down it is... [grin].

Yep. Climbing did wonders for my confidence around edges, and helped a lot in teaching me what my limits really are, rather than what I thought they were.

Never rapp'ed with a Munter hitch. Used it for belay, though. A little tough on the line, but you can lock it off like nothing else. And I've used a Gibbs ascender a little bit, but only know in theory how a Prussik knot works. Every time I've been going up the rope's just been there in case I screw up.

#Comment made: 2003-03-19 23:17:42.49605+00 by: TC

Gawd guys I didn't know you were rock hounds. Meuon maybe you should come out early for the burn and we could head up to Moaning cavern or something. They have a 165ft rappell that scares the hell out of me. I got some photos somewhere I'll dig up. They have stairs to get back out so you don't have to ascend for half a day. That part of the carvern has lighting so once you drop out of the hole into the cavern it's brown trouser time till you get to a safer altitude.

#Comment made: 2003-03-22 00:41:08.362308+00 by: meuon [edit history]

165 down is a warm up..My first drop was 160. and takes 10-12 minutes to climb up.. I'm using a double bungee system ie: rope walkers, and can also use Mitchell, Frog, Texas.. Almost worst case, a pair of triblocs in my pocket do wonders.. and for the WORST case: Prussics. Gibbs ascenders are "old school" are are a pain to get on and off the rope.. 200plus is a work-out though.. It gets slow though when you are going over the rock face, you have to be careful with the ascenders catching and other things. I was suprised how much easier it was to rappell and climb 'free'.. I'm hoping to hot some places on the way out.. Utah? (note: racers do 100ft in under 30 seconds.. )

#Comment made: 2003-03-22 02:21:40.397845+00 by: topspin

I guess you COULD rapell Zion, if you have 600-800ft of rope. That ascent, though..... <grin>

#Comment made: 2003-03-22 19:13:43.645689+00 by: meuon [edit history]

Clem carries some BIG ropes, I only have a 250 right now. 'Fantastic Pit' is over 600 feet.. I intend to make it this fall.. but I have to get into shape: I figure 200 lbs and some serious prep work-outs. Good story: http://poc.purdue.org/galleries.php?g_id=65 and the most recognized photo is at: http://www.onrope1.com It's a multi-time exposure, thats the same guy at multiple places on the rope, carrying lights and strobes.