Loading...
Activity
Sport rock climbing
When
Threading for descent at the top of the climb
Injury
No injury
Incident
I’d completed a sports climb. Mine was the second ascent so I was to strip the gear on the way down. I attached my sling to one ring of the lower,, threaded the rope and re tied. Ready for descent I discovered that the screwgate carabiner holding my sling to the lower off would not unlock. This left me trapped at the top of the climb. I tried off loading it, tapping the carabiner with my fist and gear to no avail. Neither my partner nor I had a knife to cut the sling with and we were the only climbers at the crag. In the end I bashed the carabiner with a piece of loose rock from the top of the climb and it unlocked, so saving me from dangerous heroics in terms of leaving the harness or an embarrassing rescue call out
The carabiner I’d been using was relatively new and seemed in good condition. Presumably some grit had got into the screw mechanism
Lessons
1 I’m going to use a clip gate carabiner in preference to a screwgate to attach to the lower off when threading and make sure the gate is upwards and I hang below it. This was always my habit until a climbing guide in Spain told me to use a screwgate!
2 Take a sharp knife to the crag
Causes
Equipment failure
Anonymous?
Yes
Reported By
Participant
Wearing Helmets?
Yes
Rescue Services Involved?
None
Author
17 March 2022 at 09:32:07
For more advice and guidance on good practices visit BMC skills
All reports are self-submitted and have not been edited by the BMC in any way, so please keep an open mind regarding the lessons and causes of each incident or near-miss.
If you have a concern regarding this report please contact us at incidentreports@thebmc.co.uk