Reply To: Near miss at Rockface

50ml is not but 50cm is a lot of extra rope. If you were making high steps you could step on it, it could get caught in cracks, etc. I think it’s more just to prevent those annoying moments than any real danger. That said a half hitch doesn’t take any extra effort and it just gets rid of unnecessary risk. I guess, with that much excess it could be likened to walking around with your shoe laces untied.

As an added point to get yelled at for, it’s considered basic climbing technique to be able to tie-in to the rope with minimal excess.

Adventure Out teaches you how to tie-in without much excess left and also, if there is excess, either tying it off with a follow thru back into the figure 8 or if there is heaps then a half hitch or two.

I tie any excess off. I do it because it is neater which doesn’t sound important, I agree. But, if/when you start climbing outdoor climbs, most especially trad climbs, and you’ve got all these slings, crabs, cams, and god knows what else hanging off your body. The last thing you want is another piece of rope swinging around and getting tangled up when a simple half hitch can be tied. It’s just good practice…

In the gym is it necessary? Probably not but as Toc said, The Rockface is a business with insurance and liabilities. If something goes wrong and you get hurt that one tie-off can cost them a lot of money. It’s not risking it’s future just because you can’t be bothered tying off.

Ben

(Climb smart – Climb safe)