Practioner Challenge Course Day 2: Leading Edge Climbing

Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Hardware. We need to know the various pieces of hardware used in building challenge courses.

GAC = Galvanized Aircraft Cable and the 3/8" diameter, 7x19 (7 major bundles each with 19 inner strands increasing flexibility) has a tensile strength or break point of 14,000 lbs or 7 tons. Challenge courses only tax the cable to 20% of its capacity, 2800 lbs. We need to know this information so that we can ease anxieties about safety. And then there's the myriad of bolts, nuts, clips, washers, ferrule (oval sleeve), anchors, strandvise (outdated in the industry and to be phased out in the next year or two), climbing staples, etc. And don't forget the glossary of terms; dynamic rope (has some stretch used for belay) vs static rope (no stretch used on anchors), shear reduction device eases the shear or cutting force by creating a large bend for directional changes, SAG vertical deflection in a horizontal cable, Leading Edge climbing alternates clipping into anchors with "lobster claws" and the UIAA vs the CE.

I did some Leading Edge climbing today on the Bridge which is considerably higher than the Catwalk. A zorber with the "lobster claws" is basically 2 claws at the end of 2 prusiked ropes, both of which are connected to a package of webbing that is sewn to fail--rip apart to ease a potential fall. The whole deal is clipped onto your harness and as you climb you must always be aware of keeping one claw clipped in while you unclip the other claw and climb up. Austin said I did it properly without messing up the order that assures you're clipped in at all times. He had suggested we all try to get up to the foot cable but I stopped a few feet shy of the goal. I had had enough fun and began my descent.

On the ground again, I took pictures of Coquette who traversed the Bridge, and Kristie and Laura who climbed with the claws.

Then I ran up to the Pamper Pole to give it another try. Maybe because I knew what was required and because I hadn't really prepped my mind, I just couldn't get my feet up on the top of the pole again. No cigar. Eventually, I jumped off near the top and Sarah Levy belayed me. I was laughing as I swung around but was disappointed that I couldn't manage it again. . . despite Sarah Maney, Jake, Ian, and Sarah L doing their best to get me to jump for the punching bag again.

What gems are in store tomorrow?