sheusche Posted June 5, 2008 Share Posted June 5, 2008 I heard that in europe ski mountaineers tie knots every 6 ft in their rope for glacier travel. Does anyone know what purpose the knots serve? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
builder206 Posted June 5, 2008 Share Posted June 5, 2008 Stops a fall into a crevasse. Sounds stupid and useless, doesn't it? I saw an Army training film long ago in which it was demonstrated. It works. As the rope digs into the crevasse lip, eventually one of the knots will grab. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bug Posted June 5, 2008 Share Posted June 5, 2008 (edited) They would be a pain in the butt during extraction. No thanks. Edited June 5, 2008 by Bug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
builder206 Posted June 5, 2008 Share Posted June 5, 2008 My understanding is that it is a solo technique. You trail about 30' or 40' of knotted rope behind you. Obviously you still have a hell of a problem to solve, but at least you are hanging from a rope not far from the lip rather than busted to pieces down at the bottom...all alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
korup Posted June 5, 2008 Share Posted June 5, 2008 Yup, it might work, and then what? Then you are totally hosed for any type of hauling, jugging, etc etc, which means you'd need to carry a second rope. I can imagine some variant of a Kiwi coil with knots on the inside, but you'd need to lower the free end down anyway, making a total nightmare of a rope system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bug Posted June 5, 2008 Share Posted June 5, 2008 So what is on the end of the rope to make it dig in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrmycarr Posted June 6, 2008 Share Posted June 6, 2008 It helps facilitate a catch with a two man team while traveling on glaciers. I do believe you would carry a shorter rope to extract. Never done it but I think the idea is to help catch a fall in a two man team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OlympicMtnBoy Posted June 6, 2008 Share Posted June 6, 2008 Bear Gryllis uses it when he's solo on a glacier, it must be the ticket! He drags his pack at the end of the rope to help weight it. Everything I know I learned on the Discovery Channel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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