My climbing line snapped on a big oak removal in Springfield yesterday

I was about 30 feet up, making a cut on a dead limb, when the rope just gave way and I had to grab a branch to steady myself. Turns out the core was damaged from rubbing against a metal fence post over the last few months, which I completely missed during my pre-work check. What's your go-to method for checking older ropes for hidden wear?

3 comments

3 Comments

elizabethhayes19d ago

Yeah, bending it to feel for flat spots is key. But on an older rope, do you ever run it through your hands under some tension? I find that really shows up those hidden soft spots from internal damage that you might not see or feel just in a loose bend test.

patriciareed16d ago

That tension trick is so smart for finding the weak spots. Jesse_allen is right about the core check too, it's like how we miss the real problem if we only look at the surface of stuff.

jesse_allen19d ago

You should always bend the rope to check for core damage, not just look at the sheath.