6mm Hauling System?

I was just poking around on rock and ice and came across this article: climbing.com/skills/advance…  which talks about top rope soloing on big walls but I noticed a section about a third or the way down that mentions hauling on a 6mm static line.

"For hauling, I like to use a 6mm static tag line to keep weight low, and foot-haul the pack with this simple system. "

Almost all of the PCD's that I have come across dont work down on 6mm ropes reliably. Any thoughts?

I would love to ditch my 9mm haul line for a thinner 6mm cord if there is a good system for it. Thanks!

Microtraxion works great on 5mm and 6 mm for light loads. I have a 5 mm tag line I use for 1-day multipitch routes, when the climbing is steep and difficult enough that it is best for both members of the party to climb without a pack. So, use the skinny tagline and a 25 L haul pack.

It looks like this is also the context that the article is refering to - lightweight alpine ascents, or long 1-day free routes.

I can't comment on how well it works (or how well such a skinny haul line works out in general) for larger (multi-day big wall; hauling water) loads. Not as well, I would assume.

I have hauled a 35L haul bag filled to the brim with a 6mm tag line and a microtraxion. It worked....

Almost all of the PCD's that I have come across dont work down on 6mm ropes reliably. Any thoughts?

Though many toothed pcds aren't recommended down to 6mm but they will work for a 6mm. If you find it slipping a bit with your chosen pcd then incorporate a slight pause and slower release before releasing the tension on the slack side if the rope which will help the toothed cam to reliably catch. 
Nontoothed pcd (such as the microcender) shouldn't be used as a hauling device anyways due to their function of letting the rope slip under heavy instant load 

It is scary AF hauling loads on such a skinny rope. I have done it, and ... it's scary AF!  Why not buy a skinny mountaineering half-rope in the low-8mm-range?  

"Pass the Pitons" Pete Zabrok wrote: It is scary AF hauling loads on such a skinny rope. I have done it, and ... it's scary AF!  Why not buy a skinny mountaineering half-rope in the low-8mm-range?  

you would prefer the more dynamic half rope to a 8mm static?

Pretty sure Josh is referring to the Esprit personal alpine escape rope as that is what I've used with him in the past.   I've mostly used it on long day missions but have also hauled shorter overnight missions.  I wouldn't want to be hauling much more than 50lbs with it though.   

Butt Cracks wrote:

you would prefer the more dynamic half rope to a 8mm static?

No, definitely not. An 8mm static would be better as a zipline.  It's just that I can get a better deal on a mountaineering half-rope than I can on a static rope!  Otherwise, I would always use static for hauling. 

Mikey Schaefer wrote: Pretty sure Josh is referring to the Esprit personal alpine escape rope as that is what I've used with him in the past.   I've mostly used it on long day missions but have also hauled shorter overnight missions.  I wouldn't want to be hauling much more than 50lbs with it though.   

I bought the alpine escaper based off your recommendation to me in another thread. 

Awesome tagline. 

Imlay 6mm pull cord

This is the most bombproof rope I have ever owned.  Seems nearly indestructible.   Easy to get.  Cheap.  Super-light.  It's Poly not Nylon.  Still rated to 2200 lbs.   I've rappelled on just it though not recommended by seller.   It's only short-coming is, if used as a pull cord, should your lead line hang up you really, really wouldn't want to lead out on this.

IMO that whole article is pretty out there technique-wise.  Sure I guess if you're completely dialed and cutting edge doing some cutting edge thing.  But 99.9% of the time no one needs to be doing that.

For foothauling, if you use a 5mm cord that is supple (the dyneema and spectra cords are a little stiff), you can use a garda hitch w/ footloop (made from a alpine draw) and redirect it at the anchor. This makes the process of hauling anything up to about 45-50 lbs relatively straight forward and reduces arm fatigue. Even if you use a second PCD, redirecting through the rope to the anchor is very helpful. 

Kerwin Loukusa wrote: For foothauling, if you use a 5mm cord that is supple (the dyneema and spectra cords are a little stiff), you can use a garda hitch w/ footloop (made from a alpine draw) and redirect it at the anchor. This makes the process of hauling anything up to about 45-50 lbs relatively straight forward and reduces arm fatigue. Even if you use a second PCD, redirecting through the rope to the anchor is very helpful. 

Could you post a pic of the setup because I am mentally challenged?

A few extra notes:

• The garda hitch works best with smaller lines and identical carabiners
• Pull down on the right side and it will "reset" the system by moving the garda up the haul line. 
• You will need to carry the extra sling and carabiner, but IMO its worth the weight to avoid hauling with your hands (if combined with the follower on the min-trax follow  system, multi-pitch climbing is quite a civilized affair).

Kerwin Loukusa wrote:

A few extra notes:

• The garda hitch works best with smaller lines and identical carabiners
• Pull down on the right side and it will "reset" the system by moving the garda up the haul line. 
• You will need to carry the extra sling and carabiner, but IMO its worth the weight to avoid hauling with your hands (if combined with the follower on the min-trax follow  system, multi-pitch climbing is quite a civilized affair).

That is sick.

Kerwin Loukusa wrote:

A few extra notes:

• The garda hitch works best with smaller lines and identical carabiners
• Pull down on the right side and it will "reset" the system by moving the garda up the haul line. 
• You will need to carry the extra sling and carabiner, but IMO its worth the weight to avoid hauling with your hands (if combined with the follower on the min-trax follow  system, multi-pitch climbing is quite a civilized affair).

yeah this is neat. thanks for the image. will definitely have to mess around with this. 

Butt Cracks wrote:

yeah this is neat. thanks for the image. will definitely have to mess around with this. 

Shout out to my friend Max who suggested the Garda, I used to carry two micros if I was hauling a moderately heavy bag.