Chris Mac selling haul bag + bolt breaking story
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Chris McNamara

SuperTopo staff member
Topic Author's Original Post - Oct 16, 2015 - 09:50am PT

I just invented a haul bag elevator on El Cap! No, this is just an example of space hauling. Hauling gear up a big wall is rarely fun: this is the exception.

I’m auctioning my haul bag (nearly identical to this one) for the ASCA - http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/262097230041 Planet Granite - Climbing Yoga Fitness then doubles the proceeds. If you don’t need my sweet haul bag, we have over 60 other items in our Outdoor Gear SuperAuction here http://goo.gl/1uAo0A And you can bid on my portaledge here http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/262084739513

How this photo relates to the ASCA: just two month’s earlier in August 1998, I had done the first Girdle Traverse of El Capitan with Mark Melvin, a 75 pitch route that begs the question “Why?” At the end of day one, Mark and I were next to a lower anchor of the route in this photo: Tangerine Trip. Mark clipped a bolt and I began to lower him for another epic pendulum to join Tangerine Trip. After 5 feet, I stopped lowering Mark to re-arrange the rope. Suddenly Mark was falling into space. My belay device caught him and violently pulled me down. The bolt I had been lowering Mark off had snapped! And it wasn’t like Mark took a big fall! Just that little force of stopping the GriGri broke a bolt. Yikes.

I had always heard of bolts breaking, especially on Tangerine Trip in the section where this photo was taken. But I never thought I would witness such a dramatic failure. And I never thought they would break under such low forces. It was a sobering reminder that all these bolts need to eventually be replaced - some sooner than later!

Please support the ASCA before October 31 so we can keep the replacement going. Donate here - http://safeclimbing.org/help.htm

Photo by Corey Rich and Corey Rich Productions
overwatch

climber
Oct 16, 2015 - 11:24am PT
Two threads now referring to yourself in the third person?
Batrock

Trad climber
Burbank
Oct 16, 2015 - 11:26am PT
Bob Dole endorses this message.
Chris McNamara

SuperTopo staff member
Topic Author's Reply - Oct 17, 2015 - 07:15am PT
Reminder, you get a free Yosemite Big Walls book signed by me if you donate $25 or more before October 31. Donate here >> http://safeclimbing.org/help.htm
Messages 1 - 4 of total 4 in this topic
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