In cave rescue, we had been using the Double Sheet Bend for rigging – being easy to adjust, especially in the middle of a rope or cord and easier to untie after significant loading. I was recently (2021) undertaking testing to confirm our cave rescue setup (see the post Let’s lighten the load – update), […]
Category: Canyoning
Setting up your Prusiks for Lightweight Rescue
What’s in this post? We review how to set up 8mm Prusik loops for 10mm rescue rope. Context Prusik Loops are tied with 3-wraps (3-on-3) onto the rescue rope to form a progress capture or rope grab in a pulley system for rope rescue. Pulley system setup Prusik Cord The Prusik cord we choose to […]
Why is a sling 2x the strength of a single strand?
What’s in this post? This post is about the theory and testing behind why making a piece of webbing into a sling is 2x the strength of a single strand. We address the specific question about tension on a single section of sling around a carabiner at the end and draw vectors to show what […]
Lightweight Jigger Testing
What’s in this post? Testing of a lighter weight jigger (4:1CD/5:1 pre-rigged pulley system) using a 5mm Prusik and a 6mm high strength cord made with a Dyneema core with a polyester sheath. We also address the weight and volume of a jigger to compare the lighter weight version with a standard version using a 6mm Prusik […]
Webbing anchors: efficient rigging and 16mm testing
What’s in this post? The basics for webbing anchors: So you know why you are using webbing anchors, what to use, set up and four ways of rigging. How to rig webbing anchors efficiently: Get the right (minimum) webbing length, rather than halfway through a rigging job finding out you are short and have to start […]
Testing the Figure-8 Device Block for Canyoning
What’s in this post? Slow Pull testing the figure-8 device block variations with normal loading and incorrect loading. We also compare this to baseline methods such as the Munter mule overhand and figure-8 on a bight. Efficiency tests (speed) to find out if there is there any major differences in tying methods. Practical use comparisons […]
Canyon Rope Rescue Testing
Canyon Rope Rescue Testing 2021 In February 2019, a team of people from the NZ Canyoning Association got together for a weekend to discuss setting up CanyonSAR for New Zealand (as a specialist discipline under New Zealand Land SAR). As part of this weekend, we discussed and practised rope rescue in the canyoning context with […]
Rock Thread and V-thread Testing 2021
What’s in this post? The question we are going to answer in this post is: When you drill a hole through a rock and thread a cord what is the best setup for bends, cord and rock strength. We have used an 8mm Nylon cord for cave rescue and a 6mm Dyneema cord for canyoning […]
Webbing in hangers
Webbing in hangers The question we are going to answer in this post is: Is it ok to rig using webbing directly into new bolt hangers? I have rigged and used both inline and two-point anchors in a canyoning situation for years and never had any reason to be concerned. However, it was time to put […]
Floating anchors: But what if the anchor blows?
Introduction Floating anchor: but what if the anchor blows? Isn’t it going to rip the other anchor out? I hear this as a common statement quoted back to me when talking about a two-point floating anchor (aka self-equalising, magic X, etc.). I can only think it’s based on the assumption you have: Built or chosen […]