Lowered Off Gear Loop And Other Dangerous Behavior

More risky behavior, as if climbing the proper way isn't dangerous enough.

August 11, 2022 Kevin Corrigan

Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.

When doing a regular risk assessment at my climbing facility, I watched a girl reach the top of one of our taller routes (85 feet). When she let go to be lowered to the ground, something looked very off. She was facing backwards, almost as if she were rappelling aussie-style. When she reached the ground, it turned out she was clipped into a gear loop.—Submitted by Morgan Gerville-Reache, via Climbing.com

LESSON: 85 feet is a long way to depend on a gear loop. Some gear loops, like those on the Metolius Safe Tech Harness, are made to withstand 9 kn of force. Others are only made to hold 12 lbs. Regardless, the strongest points on your harness will always be the belay loop and the tie-in points. As the name implies, the tie-in points are the best place for tying in. Use them. Furthermore, errors like this can be avoided by simply double-checking your partner’s knot before leaving the ground every time you climb.

Unbelayvable — Harnesses only work if you can’t slide out of them.

Seen at Foster Falls, TN. Some guys tyed an extra small girl into one of their extra large harnesses (see right). Her waist could’ve fit through the leg loop!—Submitted by Clayton Astroturf, via Facebook

LESSON: Oh boy. Harnesses only work if you can’t slide out of them. The general guideline is no more than two fingers worth of space between you and the tightened waist loop. The leg loops are a little more up to personal preference, but tighter legs will be more comfortable when hang dogging. If your harness fits like a hula hoop, go bouldering instead.

I took some friends who had never climbed before to a local crag. I was belaying one friend while speaking to another, when I looked up to find a bowling ball-sized rock hurtling towards us. I yelled “ROCK!” and the bystanders had just enough time to dodge out of its path before it exploded on the ground next to us. The climber knew the rock had fallen, but didn’t give any of us a signal. If I hadn’t been looking, someone might’ve been seriously injured.—Submitted by Devin, via Climbing.com

LESSON: As I’m sure you’ve realized Devin, this one’s on you. When you introduce someone to climbing, they’re only aware of what you’ve taught them. Falling rock is a serious danger. Everyone at the cliff should know to yell “rock” when they see any falling rock. Also, while it won’t make you invincible, a helmet will protect you from most smaller stones. Just don’t look up when you hear “Rock!” You want the projectile to deflect off your dome protector, not cream you in the face. Bonus tip: If you’d been watching your climber like a good belayer, you would’ve seen that rock the second it came off the wall.