Ascenders

[DrewB]

Do the petzl ascentree ascenders need to be backed up? ive been told they dont but would like some more input. cheers

[Tom Dunlap]

Do the petzl ascentree ascenders need to be backed up? ive been told they dont but would like some more input. cheers

 

I'm speaking from a US knowledge base, not what is accepted in UK/Europe/etc.

 

Ascending with only one attachment to the rope should not be accepted.

 

The two attachments should be as far apart as practical. The simplest setup would have an upper ascender on a tether attached to the front d or bridge of the harness. If a handled ascender is used a locking biner should be clipped through the holes AND capture the rope.

 

The lower attachment should be a chest ascender or some other configuration that tails along without the climber having to actively raise it.

 

The idea that 'only' handled ascenders or any other rope tool is required to be backed up should be looked at carefully. In the same circumstances a hitch could fail and there is a huge faction of the profession that doesn't consider a need to have two attachments [for ascent].