Fixed rope

A fixed rope is firmly anchored in the rock or ice rope that is used in mountaineering to secure and as an aid in climbing up and down. Normally tied to fix the rope while rock climbing mountaineer, the rope thus moves with the climbers. In contrast, fixed rope, the climber moves along the rope.

Sometimes the ropes of climbing routes are referred to as fixed ropes.

Use

Fixed ropes are particularly useful when a track fast, must be overcome and several times by several people, since in such cases the saving with a movable rope may be too cumbersome and time consuming. Disadvantages of Fixseils are expensed in previous attachment and the higher material requirements.

Mainly fixed ropes are therefore used in high altitude mountaineering expedition in style. Here large groups of people often have to cope with difficult terrain several times under problematic conditions and with a lot of luggage ( set up high camps, material handling ) and the possibility of a rapid descent can be vital. Especially for large, commercial expeditions are frequently used fixed ropes. For example, is secured a route with fixed ropes in the Khumbu Icefall on Mount Everest Sherpas in the spring and this route is then used by expeditions throughout the year. Many of these mountaineers climbing style is rejected, the so-called Alpine style calls for the abandonment of fixed ropes.

Outside the expedition climbing fixed ropes are rarely used. In higher cliff faces can be temporarily installed at the big wall climbing or in the context of setting up of new routes to quickly rise again to a certain point can. Another application is the alpine mountains technology. Even with difficult work in alpine terrain (eg construction of trails and climbing routes ) are fixed ropes are used. In sport climbing, they sometimes find use in the development of new climbing routes. In some climbing areas, the approach routes are provided to difficult to reach access points with fixed ropes.

Inspection technology

For fixed ropes static ropes should be used with a diameter of 8-10 mm. Depending on the characteristics of the terrain (for example, slope), the tension of the rope and the number of fixing points at which the rope is fixed vary. The technique of moving the rope is adapted to the conditions: It can backup carbine ( similar to a via ferrata ), ascenders or Prusik knot can be used. The descent can also steep terrain in the descender or flatter terrain the " Sherpatechnik " ( wrapping an arm with fixed ropes ) are used.