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Bigest Rope Swing Video

Original Post
Andrew Arredondo · · Salt Lake City · Joined Jun 2011 · Points: 175

I recently saw this sick video made right in my home away from home, Moab, UT. I am sure some of you have seen it...

youtube.com/watch?v=4B36Lr0…

In another video they explain a bit about how they set this thing up. The guys says that they use twin ropes and a nest of five different anchors. Not that I am really considering trying this, but my curiosity has the best of me.

How do you think they rigged this thing up, and what do you think the damage is to the ropes? I mean, wouldn't each swing technically count as a factor 1 fall? I am hoping some of the more physics inclined on this forum will be able to give us some insite.

Also, I know this isn't technically climbing related, but I figured it was close enough ;) If there is a problem, mods, please take it down.

Austin Baird · · SLC, Utah · Joined Apr 2009 · Points: 95

Andrew - I'm the guy who organized this and I'm happy to answer any questions about rigging. Email me at bairdas AT gmail DOT com.

Austin

Andrew Arredondo · · Salt Lake City · Joined Jun 2011 · Points: 175

Thanks Austin- I will send you an email. But I am also curious about force applied to the rope. Anyone have any idea what kind of damage if any this causes to the equipment?

Bill Duncan · · Glade Park, CO · Joined Mar 2005 · Points: 3,410

Looks like fun! We did a more modest version of this in Colorado about 15 years back. Akiti Arch was used for the swing. It's nice in that you have a ramp from which to launch; no hurling yourself off of the cliff required. We simul-rapped to wrap the arch with ropes, instead of fixing anchors.

Not your average rope swing.

Buff Johnson · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2005 · Points: 1,145
Andrewprime1 wrote:Thanks Austin- I will send you an email. But I am also curious about force applied to the rope. Anyone have any idea what kind of damage if any this causes to the equipment?
Not any more than you would taking a minor lead fall, but they really aren't putting the rope(s) near to any limit of its safety, nor subjecting a participant to an injury as you might with a static system; this is a lot like a gravity trick with a clock's pendulum -- basically it is more like top-roping although you do get some points of disorder which will unload the rope and then load it again.

Nylon recovers its resiliency, yes there are limits to any system and you want ropes in good physical condition and inspected, but nothing concerns me here with the system. The main point was protecting from abrasion, which was handled and the anchor was fine.
Brandon Groza · · Bend, OR · Joined Jan 2011 · Points: 270

Set it up last week and did about 25 jumps on the system. Jumped on one line through a grigri with a back up line that was unweighted. Thought this would give us a softer catch and allow us to rap the main line and cut down on jump transition time. We protected the lines with fire hose. Very little appreciable wear to hose and none to ropes.

Fwiw, we jumped in very high winds and had no problems.

Buff Johnson · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2005 · Points: 1,145

Holy cow that's awesome!!

I stand corrected, certain people can fail any system

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

General Climbing
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