Creaking Rope?

So today I'm out toproping with my son and some friends of mine, and one of the friends mentions a "cracking" sound she was hearing while being lowered. Then my son pipes up and says he heard the same thing. Sure enough, when it was my turn, I heard it as well, and it can best be described as a cracking or creaking sound seeming to come from the climbing knot at moments the rope is most weighted.

Yesterday, both ends of the rope got wet when I was solo TRing at a riverside crag. Could the rope have stiffened as it dried, explaining this sound as it was bent and took pressure?

Anyone experience anything like this before?

I was going to retire the rope this fall. Should I retire it pronto instead?

Never heard of this before. Noisy rope syndrome! Did you inspect the rope (run your hand along the length while looking at it) afterward for soft spots or deformation that might indicate a problem with the core?

Edit: Could the noise have just been the knot tightening? If the rope looks OK, I wouldn't worry about a knot noise.

RMS wrote: Yesterday, both ends of the rope got wet when I was solo TRing at a riverside crag. Could the rope have stiffened as it dried, explaining this sound as it was bent and took pressure?

I believe this is the reason. Nothing to be alarmed about.

FrankPS wrote:Never heard of this before. Noisy rope syndrome! Did you inspect the rope (run your hand along the length while looking at it) afterward for soft spots or deformation that might indicate a problem with the core? Edit: Could the noise have just been the knot tightening? If the rope looks OK, I wouldn't worry about a knot noise.

The rope feels fine. I don't think it was just from the knot tightening since I've never heard the sound before after using the rope for a few years now.

My gut is saying it's related to stiffening after drying, but I thought I'd throw it out here in case others have experienced this.

Stuff creaks as it settles and weights. Knots, biners, etc, your system is always moving. Doubtful your rope was the source. My guess is they weighted the anchor to lower the anchor settled and made a noise. This is definitely not unusual. A pretty vivid memory of creaky rope I have is rapping of a pretty frozen cord wrapped around a small pillar. As my partner moved around during his rappel the rope made quite a loud and rather unnerving sound. I don't think you have much to worry about so long as you visibly inspect your gear

It'll likely go away when the sunscreen / sweat / peanut butter / etc. builds back up. :-)

Maybe it's haunted

its a chalky knot tightening. Nothing to worry about. Its always good to check out your rope and make sure its OK, but you should be all good.

Mark E Dixon wrote:Maybe it's haunted

I think you're onto something. Is it possible the rope is possessed?

I always hear that when ropes get chalky, especially on caked up gym ropes. It's the fibers settling into place when it gets weighted, but with a snappier movement because of the chalk and dryness of it. Nothing to worry about.

FrankPS wrote: I think you're onto something. Is it possible the rope is possessed?

I think RMS is from Maryland.
I'll bet this is a Blair Rope Project kind of incident.
blairwitch.com/

Mark E Dixon wrote: I think he's from Maryland. I'll bet this is a Blair Rope Project kind of incident. blairwitch.com/

Scary to think about. I hope I can sleep tonight.

RMS - yes I had this happen with a brand new rope and it never really got better. The manufacturer didn't believe me until they themselves experienced it with one of their own ropes a few months later. I guess a bad batch?

It's the sheath. I used the rope for a long time until it needed replacing in its own right but it was always scary and most of my friends didn't like climbing on it. The sheath bunches up and then releases. It was super noticeable when my partner and I simulrapped on it with gri-gris. I used it for almost a year before I replaced it and nothing bad happened besides it being a little "spoooky". It held lead falls etc just fine.

Alss, I wish that creaking sound at the crag was my rope, mostly it's just my joints.

RMR - I tend to agree with the others that it could be a wet/dry rope just working out the stiffness. My rule on replacing ropes is that whenever I have any doubt I go ahead and replace. I am probably throwing away a lot of good rope, but I would rather that than find one bad rope.

I've noticed ropes creak a lot when you get deet on them. Just saying. I would try to rule out contamination before trusting it with your life. Might be too cautious but better safe than sorry.