@Zach wrote:

As far as I could tell, this was a legitimately interesting conversation, until you and “HuFfer” decided that it was necessary to jump in and tell us all how wonderful you both are and how stupid that makes the rest of us.

Zach

Unlike yourself, I have never once on this forum said anything about my abilities or knowledge, I simply called someone on their lack of it.

Yeah but what about tying knots in the end of your rope, and what knot should you use to join ropes for a double-rope rappel?

😈

Back to the actual topic.

An old friend of mine who guides on rock had this to say about rapping off of Spectra slings:

1. Because of the slipperiness of Spectra, it is actually “easier” to pull the rope through, after rapping, without causing friction burns on the rope.

2. However, with Spectra or any Nylon Webbing, sling, etc.. The slightest tug or equalization on either side of the rope can cause enough friction to burn through the sling… consider the load on the rope, typically stretched to it’s static point by then, so the sheeth fibers are more taught and consequently more abbrasive.

Like I said; lot’s of people have gotten away with lot’s of things, but it doesn’t make them smart.

Zach

– Posting here from Little Rock, Arkansas… if anyone wants to know what hell is like; it’s negotiating a falling-out of a business partnership between your mother and sister, in Arkansas, while it’s snowing at home 👿 Though, the BBQ is damn fine.

Anyway, I just got an email from another friend who I posed this question to. Below is his response.. because of who he is, I’ve left his name out. Suffice it to say, he is one of the most respected and accomplished mountain guides in the world, right now, so I would trust his opinion with my life.

Text of his response:

Hey Zach,

Thanks for the note. I was away doing slide shows last week so I’m just catching up on emails.

The problem with rappelling off of a spectra sling (or any nylon sling) where the rope runs through the sling is that when you pull the rope you will heat up the nylon. It can heat up so hot and fast that you can burn through normal nylon slings. If you never plan to use the sling again that’s probably fine. There is more friction when you pull the rope too making the pull harder to do. If the sling heated up and then the rope got temporarily snagged before you freed it you could expose a part of your rope to a lot of heat. Spectra probably won’t burn though as quickly but it could still get rather hot.

Two rappel rings would ease the friction making for a smoother pull plus keep the rope away from the sling.

I have rappelled directly from nylon slings but if it is possible I try to avoid it.

Let me know if you have more questions.

yo, this post really needs to be hijacked. 🙂

damn, and by the looks of the subject title i thought this would be some stoopid poll about what rap music we’re all rockin’ in our ipods!

so i’m thumpin’ ludicris and old skool nwa. how about you guys zach and pbelitz?

I’ma start packing a 40 instead of my thermos, and drain it on the summit for tha Dead Homie, ODB.

*TRUE*

burn through that shit, beeeeotch.

Aight playaz, i muthafu@#$ stumbled on this bit#$ on tha prizzolowl fo sum gangsta-a$$ recent east side slizzide photoz. An, you know, bein a homie known fo doin quite a muthaf#$^n bit of rappin, both on stage an on in my native mutha@$n hood, you know, the seee-ierrahhh, I had to chiggity check out what tha f#% was goin on.
I read sum sh$% scarier than rollin down crenshaw on point, and sum sh#$ spoken by sum muthaf#$n o-geez’.
An I gots a muthaf@#$n solution to ya’llz problemz. If you trippin bout them slangs fo whateva b#%$@-a$$ personal muthaf#$n ethincal/moral reasonz…bring yo own muthaf$#n slang that you trust, an a deus of rangz, an fix that sh$% up right. Cut that old sh$% off an toss it at tha sto. Communitay muthaf#%$@n service. If you down wit tha game, show me tha money baby!
An if you coo rappin like Ren off nuthin but a slang thang, aight then.
An if you really got sum ethics thaz az tight az (whaaat?), cut all tha sh$% down and tie yo muthaf#$@n v-thread. O get a fat bollardizzle up in that steep shizzle. But playa, I gots ta say, when yo rollin deep on 50 pluz degreezy pow pow an its deep, I’ma say 3-2-1 see ya an tie that slang while yo a$$ is diggin ta China! Rappin off treez iz cool, betta to smoke, but if yo gangsta a$$ thinks friction ain’t doin sh$% to that stump ova time, betta akx sumbody, cuz if 50 foos each rap off, tha po piney foo goina get jacked. Few times, sho, you know. That treezy iz survivin, witout cho muthaf@#%n help, an sh#$, its helpin yo a$$ ab-muthaf%@#n-seil.
Ya’ll debatin ethicz, an that sh#$s worse than them busta-a$$ politicians. Only one muthaf#$@n thang to be said now. What’chall do in tha hillz iz fo yo self, an not fo no otha. Ain’t that why we in da hood in tha first part?
Word. SkiZius

And if this sh#$ iz inappropriate fo tha site, pleaz let a homie know. Just tryin ta spread sum love, you kno?

Dude! Google already has such a service at http://gizoogle.com. Click here to see an example!