What are the uses for rappelling rope?
 

It seems that many people own it for emergencies, but what can it be used for? I'm just trying to figure out if it is worth putting $100 into some rope instead of food or other supplies.

Re: What are the uses for rappelling rope?
 

It depends: do you like in an Anasazi town? Rappel to work? You might need two.

They would be good for pulling cars out of ditches, fixing roofs, getting out of burning windows, but overall, a chain a contractor, and a ladder would be better. I can't really think of any use for one, but I'm usually not in western mesa country. If I was hiding in the Four Corners, I could think of a lot of uses.

TS

Edit: MacD reminds me to tell you if you use this rope for pulling cars or something non-rated, it is technically NOT TO BE USED for rappelling/safety anymore. You cannot tell by eye if a rope (especially kernmantle) is internally damaged. That said, a new rope could tow a bus, so there's a lot of steam in it. You just never want to find out the hard way, which is the only way you can tell. This makes ropes even less useful than before.

Re: What are the uses for rappelling rope?
 

It's good for rappelling and other line rescue tasks and that is it. A good working length of mountaineering quality rope is between 100-150 feet. Put it in a rope bag and forget about it till you need it.

That said, if you want to get other rope for training or other tasks, do it, but don't touch that previously mentioned bag until you absolutely need it. Keep your master rope clean, dry, away from pests, mice in particular, and out of sunlight. Closets are the best storage. If you keep it in a vehicle, keep it away from chemicals and excessive heat.

Treat it as though your LIFE depends on it.

Re: What are the uses for rappelling rope?
 

There are 2 main types of kernmantle rope: static and dynamic. If you saw it in a sporting goods store in a precut 100' length, it was almost certainly rock climbing rope, which is dynamic (static rope is used for caving, where the ropework is a lot more complicated and the height involved in a climb/rappel is often much greater than in rock climbing). Dynamic rope is designed to absorb the shock of a falling climber. In other words, if you use it for pulling down a tree limb or towing a car or something, expect it to stretch. It will also need to be padded at rub points. If you do buy the rope, intending to use it to rappel, you should go ahead and get a hardhat at the same time. Never rappel on rock faces without a hardhat, unless you prefer a closed-casket funeral. Once you've used it for hauling something or someone has taken a fall on it, it's tensile strength should be considered shot, and it's not a reliable rope anymore. Cut it into short sections (too short for some idiot to save it from your garbage and try to rappel on it) and throw it away.

In other words, as others have said, it's not really useful for utilitarian purposes. There are less expensive ropes that work better for hauling and pulling. Dynamic rope is best for rock climbing, and if you intend to do that, you should get some training in rope technique. If you intend to use it for high-angle rescue, you should definitely get training and get static kernmantle instead of dynamic.

I know a lot of people get climbing rope "for emergencies." I suspect they've seen too many Army commercials that try to make rappelling look cool. Given the horror stories a lot of them tell me about their adventures in untrained rappelling and what I've actually seen, I'm guessing natural selection is going to get them if they ever have to use those ropes in an emergency.

Re: What are the uses for rappelling rope?
 

Ropes rescue ?

400 feet straight down to the rocks below.

What would you do ?

One thing you would not do is use questionable rope.

I am an EMT on the high angle ropes rescue team for our area.

This was one of our least bloody rescues.

Re: What are the uses for rappelling rope?
 

Got some proof of that statement? That pic has been circulating on the net for sometime.

Also, I believe it was determined to be a PhotoShop hoax a while back.

Re: What are the uses for rappelling rope?
 

Sure I can take pictures of that rock wall behind the boat. Its just down the road.
Note the layer of black at an angle in the rock wall behind the boat.

The photo angle will be different because that picture was taken by the lifeflight helicopter hovering over the reservoir before we showed up.



I am leaving to float the Main Salmon in the morning. Will be gone for several days.

I will take a picture and post it on this thread when I get back.

Re: What are the uses for rappelling rope?
 

SO YOU'RE THE GUY that has been un-doing all that Darwin has been working for! You're as bad as OSHA! *laugh* (just kidding!!)