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Bellbird Wall rescue 22-Aug-2016 At 11:28:53 AM Dr Nick

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On 21/08/2016 jrc wrote:
>Wandering right might have been easier (just a suggestion)

Do you mean at the 2nd rap anchor, half way down? My read is that they ended up at the P1 anchor, which is 5m left of the rap anchor. It's narrow enough and loose enough that I can see the aversion to trying to adjust their position.

When I did BW I raided the old rope cupboard, left a static from the rap anchor to the top of P1, then left an old dynamic to rap beside P1. The static also extended up above the rap anchor to a tree so that we were safe while getting set up on the edge - the rap anchor itself is quite exposed. That way we had a retreat available if required. For a large group it'd also mean we could be starting up P1 while people were still descending beside it. Downside was rapping on a single for the 1st pitch, but an 11mm static has plenty of friction.

On the way out I tied the two rap ropes together when I reached the top of P1, and then hauled the lot once we topped out. That was good for a pump, but it'd be easy enough to rig a haul system if I'd had too much trouble. It's close enough to the car that even carrying three ropes between the two of us wasn't an issue.

Admittedly I had the advantage of a cupboard full of ropes that are too old to trust on lead, but are still more than good enough for abseil or toprope, but I'd be surprised if the club didn't have those as well.