Carry just a little extra gear for a whole lot of easy trouble-shooting.
If you are out on high, remote or even semi remote, multi-pitch climbs, it is good to have extra skills and a little extra equipment to help.
Cordelette/ abseil cord (tat). As in previous posts the uses of a cordelette were covered. But it is good to carry at least one that is made from 6mm accessory cord, tied with a double fisherman’s knot. Accessory cord is much cheaper than a similar length of sewn sling. Therefore if you need to make an improvised abseil, just cut up the cheaper accessory cord. But always have 2 prussik loops on you, even on Sport routes. They get you or your partner out of all sorts of jams, double up as slings or abseil cord etc. It goes without saying that you must know how to prussik and all members in a party must carry them. Carry a good, loud whistle. It can be used as a signal system between you and your partner when a ropes length between you and the wind is blowing. It can also be a means of signalling for help, (6 short blasts, a minutes silence, then 6 shorts blasts). A knife to cut abseil cord, cut plasters/ bandages or if very desperate to find abseil cord,
cut and end off your own rope. Tiblocs or Ropeboys are perhaps not essential gear and they are expensive, but very useful when needing to set up a 3:1 haul to get a Second through a hard move.
Lastly carry them all on a “leaver biner”, a karabiner you don’t mind leaving behind to help with retreating off a route.
For more information on a course like the MDT Multi- Pitch Supervisor Course contact gavin@peakhigh.co.za
