I don't and haven't used middle marks on my ropes, not ever really. It is a source of friction with my partners and I.

I recently needed to do a single rope rap down a new line. My partners were elsewhere, working a different route. When I tossed the rope ends I could not confirm the ends were on the ground, no matter the vantage.

I walked down, as it was possible. The ends were down, just.

I don't routinely tie knots in the ends of my rap ropes. In fact I would only tie knots in the end if I had to rap, I couldn't see the ends and the wind wasn't blowing much.

Rapping down the side of El Cap NO WAY I'd tie knots in the ends of the ropes, that's a recipe for a rescue imo.

Being sure. Having a backup plan in mind. Working it through mentally, ahead of time....


DMT

Your best bet is a bicolor rope, because even when you get the middle marked with a black marker, it wears off after a few climbs. To fix the problem of a mono-colored rope, simple take time to put stopper knots in the ends of the rope. It only take like 30 seconds max. Also if you can walk off, in my opinion, rapping has a larger possibility of mistake then climbing. Which this reminds me, back up your rap, it is too easy to accidently let go and fall to a serious injury or death.

Climb and Rap Safe
Michael

Is there an easy, cheap way to mark your middle and ends at home, I have looked everywhere (short of ordering online) for a blue water marker. I know the sharpies are dangerous, I have used tape, which is nice for night raps cause i can feel it pass, but it moves and gums up, I do use end nots but would like a simple middle marker.

Thanks

Is there any other sport, besides rock climbing, whose participants are becoming less and less knowledgeable with time?

So are you an asshole in real life, or do you just play one on RC.com.

Why is that an asshole comment? It's a fact. On the whole, the rock climbing population has become less and less knowledgeable over time.

Jay

Why is that an asshole comment? It's a fact. On the whole, the rock climbing population has become less and less knowledgeable over time.

Jay

If being an asshole cause you want to live is a bad thing...

btw, I received a prompt reponse to my email on this from Petzl and they said they "are looking into it and will be contacting the original poster."

This thread reminds me of that story about two guys peeing off a bridge. One turns to the other and says, "Damn, that water's cold!" Not to be outdone, the other guy replies, "Yeah, and deep, too..."

While bicolor'd ropes are great (yes, I own one) they are not a replacement for ensuring the ends are even. Period. This isn't complicated folks. Stop relying on short cuts and start relying on common sense and you are likely to live a lot longer. For all the spray and talk on this site, very few seem to understand that your best/worst tool is your brain.

Oh, and if you are headed up a long multi pitch route requiring raps to get off, make sure the middle mark is correct BEFORE YOU HEAD UP THE ROUTE.

And getting peanut butter all over the rope just adds to the risk of sliding off the ends!

Not marking the middle of the rope is willfully increasing the hazard of rappelling.

Cheers,
Rob.calm

I totally disagree with marking rope to avoid fatal mistake. This habit of marking ropes and color coding equipment is turning climbers to blind robots. Sir, you need to get your lazy as* in to work by pulling that 60 meter rope out, measure 30 +- meter rope out using your hand, throw it down with a nut at the end and rap . You need to do this every time.

..... throw it down with a nut at the end and rap . You need to do this every time.

I totally disagree with marking rope to avoid fatal mistake. This habit of marking ropes and color coding equipment is turning climbers to blind robots. Sir, you need to get your lazy as* in to work by pulling that 60 meter rope out, measure 30 +- meter rope out using your hand, throw it down with a nut at the end and rap . You need to do this every time.

I totally disagree with marking rope to avoid fatal mistake. This habit of marking ropes and color coding equipment is turning climbers to blind robots. Sir, you need to get your lazy as* in to work by pulling that 60 meter rope out, measure 30 +- meter rope out using your hand, throw it down with a knot at the end and rap . You need to do this every time.

edit; my mistake "knot"

I am not a climber