Rope Selection Tahquitz/Suicide
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Any reason to bring double/twins vs single ropes to climb Tahquitz & Suicide? Is a tagline even necessary? My main concern is if there are (generally) rap stations <35m apart (and off the deck) in case we need to bail before topping out. |
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Bring a 70m and you will be fine. Bailing from the middle of most routes is not a great option because most anchors will be on gear. Several of the first pitches have fixed anchors and then nothing further on the route. Make sure to do your research on the individual route. |
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Many/some/all of the slab climbs on Suicide have fixed anchors and a 60 will get you down. A 70 is going to give you more options. |
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Depending on the route, there are options to bail off natural protection, and there are some rap stations, but I would want to scout them out before I relied on them based on guidebook info. You will also find fixed gear at various spots, but don't know how you feel about bailing off a piton of indeterminate age. |
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70m IS the new 60m! |
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Be smart! |
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At Tahquitz it's gear anchors and a walk-off. There's some rap options but the walk-off is generally faster and easier. 60/70m doesn't matter much. Try not to bail, not worth bringing a tag. |
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FrankPS wrote:Hopefully, you have the guidebook, which is quite helpful and accurate"quite helpful" and "accurate" are not words that i'd use to describe any Tahquitz guidebook, including the latest Vogel/Gaines guide, which omits many of the less popular routes that were in older guides. I have copies of all of them, back to the original Wilts guide that you pick up for a buck at chessler books. Each is useful in some capacity, but as climbing areas go, I think Tahquitz is probably the most poorly recorded climbing area (of its magnitude) I've been to. Lots of mistakes and vagueness in all the different guides. |