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c/arborists•cameronriveracameronrivera•12d ago

PSA: I was cutting my climbing line way too short for years

Been climbing for about eight years now. Always cut my lines with maybe two feet of tail after my termination knot. Figured less tail meant less to manage, less weight. Then I watched a guy from a big outfit in Portland do a rescue practice. His tail was a good six feet past his knot. Asked him about it after. He said it's for emergency situations, like if you need to lower someone and your system is too high. That extra line can be a life saver. Made me think about all the times I was up there with my short tail. Felt pretty dumb. How much tail do you all leave on your main climbing line?
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2 Comments
henry_webb68
Two feet of tail for eight years? That's crazy short, man. I leave at least four feet on mine.
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victor_hall
That Portland guy's six-foot tail is for a redirect, not just a longer lower.
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