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Party Climbing The rope converts two or three men into a team; they tie together whenever by so doing they increase their mutual safety and ability on difficult slopes. Although the rope is rarely used to pull on, it is, strangely enough, something to lean on. A leader who knows that his team, through proper rope handling, can stop his fall, will have moral support that materially raises his ability to lead. Before rope management can be adequate all members of the team must know the theory and have practiced so thoroughly that the rope is at no time a nuisance. The rope cannot boss the team; rather, the team should be able to dominate the rope, and more, to do so subconsciously. Three men who, roped together, can ascend a mere 500-foot slope of talus mixed with brush, moving at varying speeds, varying distances apart, jumping now and then from block to block; who can avoid dragging the rope on the ground, snagging rock points, or involuntarily throwing clove hitches around occasional branches; who at last reach the top with no snarls in their rope, having not once uttered "Wait a minute!" nor suffered any feeling of irritation, or are for that matter still on speaking terms—these three have achieved a good basic technique in the management of the rope. Should they learn belaying and rappelling as expertly, then moral support derived from their rope, if it is a good rope, will be based on a deserved confidence. |
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