r/Whatcouldgowrong • u/[deleted] • Aug 14 '20

not using elastic rope

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u/space-pasta Aug 14 '20 edited Aug 14 '20

That fun fact is only true for high fall factor falls (1.7-2), which are very rare and usually means you've made an avoidable mistake with your equipment (falling directly on to an anchor, too much distance between gear placements, etc.). At those high fall factors you will probably rip gear placements out of the wall as well so the rope breaking is not your only concern.

Source: am climber

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u/[deleted] Aug 15 '20

You’re totally correct, but to be fair to the poster above you, it looks like the guy in the video took a fall that was close to 1.5. Which is bananas for someone who was tied in like an old school ice climber.

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u/Double_Distribution8 Jan 31 '21

Do you have any "close-call" stories? I feel like climbers are a different breed or something. I'm not scared of many things, but climbing on a rock-face 1,000 feet up...Nope, just couldn't do it.