That should be demonstrated with fully loaded rope for example in a hourglass shaped pit. It would not be so easy to transfer a load on descender when caver is fully suspended as it is shown on an inclined surface. In that case the personally adjusted length of the cowtail makes a big difference. You may practice this successfully on a slope but when you have a few inches incorrect length of the cowtail attachment you may get in trouble stuck in a freezing waterfall somewhere.
I would advise staying out of freezing waterfalls whether or not you plan to perform a changeover. I agree that the long cowstail should be the appropriate length - usually 60-70 cm - such that it can still be reached with the footloop ascender fully weighted. I personally don't find it any more difficult to perform a changeover whether on a free-hanging rope or against a wall.
Great tutorial! In rappel to climb process I would only suggest, before untying the rappel device, rising up the upper ascender after attaching the chest ascender. This way, if anything goes wrong with your chest ascender while removing the rappel device, the impact force on the rope caused by the chock load of the top ascender would be lower. By the way this goes for any "stand by" moment on the chest ascender, right?
Why don’t use a shut? Two questions please... are importante for me. Why do climbers use the descender above the shunt ir similar ? And Why do speleologists use the shunt ir similar above the descent? Thanks for your answers
It appears that you go hands-free while detaching the upper ascender while only half-locked during the first demonstration. I thought that in your other video you said not to take your hand off the brake rope while only half-locked. Is this an exception or did I miss something?
You are correct in catching this safety issue. When "soft-locking" a bobbin descender you should not consider it to be hands-free. I should have done a full or "hard" lock in this situation. Some cavers favor using a handled upper ascender with their Frog system, and one advantage is that it's easier to keep a brake hand on the rope while removing the upper ascender thus avoiding the need to lock-off.
Derek, thank you for all the superb videos. They constitute "Vertical Caving University!"
Thank you
excellent
Very clear -- thanks.
That should be demonstrated with fully loaded rope for example in a hourglass shaped pit. It would not be so easy to transfer a load on descender when caver is fully suspended as it is shown on an inclined surface. In that case the personally adjusted length of the cowtail makes a big difference. You may practice this successfully on a slope but when you have a few inches incorrect length of the cowtail attachment you may get in trouble stuck in a freezing waterfall somewhere.
I would advise staying out of freezing waterfalls whether or not you plan to perform a changeover. I agree that the long cowstail should be the appropriate length - usually 60-70 cm - such that it can still be reached with the footloop ascender fully weighted. I personally don't find it any more difficult to perform a changeover whether on a free-hanging rope or against a wall.
Great tutorial! In rappel to climb process I would only suggest, before untying the rappel device, rising up the upper ascender after attaching the chest ascender. This way, if anything goes wrong with your chest ascender while removing the rappel device, the impact force on the rope caused by the chock load of the top ascender would be lower. By the way this goes for any "stand by" moment on the chest ascender, right?
Why don’t use a shut?
Two questions please... are importante for me.
Why do climbers use the descender above the shunt ir similar ? And
Why do speleologists use the shunt ir similar above the descent?
Thanks for your answers
It appears that you go hands-free while detaching the upper ascender while only half-locked during the first demonstration. I thought that in your other video you said not to take your hand off the brake rope while only half-locked. Is this an exception or did I miss something?
You are correct in catching this safety issue. When "soft-locking" a bobbin descender you should not consider it to be hands-free. I should have done a full or "hard" lock in this situation. Some cavers favor using a handled upper ascender with their Frog system, and one advantage is that it's easier to keep a brake hand on the rope while removing the upper ascender thus avoiding the need to lock-off.