Flutterby™! : Vertical Caver - Me? 2003-03-18 23:26:03.453408+00

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.

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.

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.. )

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.