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Topic Date User

Why rope access kooks have no place in climbing 5-May-2015 At 4:22:50 PM Snacks

Message

On 5/05/2015 One Day Hero wrote:
>On 5/05/2015 Snacks wrote:
>>You're the only bolter I have heard of that uses a safety back-up line
>>while bolting, what gave you that idea? ...
>
>Started doing this prior to starting rope access. A backup rope isn't
>some kind of genius idea invented by irata, although they probably think
>they did.

But you admit that it's a good idea? Clearly. And one that rope access workers should be encouraged to follow for the reasons you presumably do it and not simply because it is IRATA...

You sound like you have a bone to pick with IRATA... that's of no concern to me.

>>Instead, they often get volleys of illogical abuse spewed back at them
>>from what they collectively refer to as "the climbing community" which
>>doesn't seem to help much.
>
>Most of it isn't illogical abuse, it's very sensible suspicion of an industry
>which sees itself as the only authority when it comes to doing things safely
>on ropes. I really hope you don't get your irata on like this when coming
>into contact with land managers. I can't think of anything worse for climbing
>than having it go down the rope access road.

True, but that's not my aim and it would never happen.

Get my IRATA on? Any land owners I have spoken to about accessing their land for climbing has been done in private and I don't relay their permission publicly. I also tell them that they are free to forget our conversation ever took place if I was in an accident and they can claim I was trespassing without their permission. The responsibility is entirely my own.

Unqualified volunteers should not be doing bolting or de-bolting work on the direct or presumed say so of NPWS. If climbers were be called on to help in this way they should be officially recognised and included under NPWS insurances or similar. I believe this is fair given the risks involved.