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The why behind rope twist with side by side fixe anchors

Original Post
Dustin Helmer · · SLC, UT · Joined Feb 2015 · Points: 32

Lowering off those fixe anchors with rings twists the hell out of your rope when they're placed side by side, but why? 

Marc801 C · · Sandy, Utah · Joined Feb 2014 · Points: 65
RRR · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2020 · Points: 0

Pure speculation, as I couldnt find a true "Why?" in any of the links... I'd say that because ropes have spiraling cores, when a rope runs through a spaced anchor when weighted, the core strands are simply trying to "unwind" themselves because the force has to go somewhere. So, in my theory I'd say the rope always twists opposite the direction of the core strands' built in helix. Again, just a guess.

RRR · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2020 · Points: 0
Dan Daugherty wrote:

If that was the issue, then lowering on a single ring or two rings touching would also introduce the twisting, and they don't. The issue is when two rings are fixed and separated. I suspect that since the cores are twisted, the act of weighting the rope on two rings close together but not touching actually tries to straighten the core and twists the core even tighter on the belayer side of the rope, causing it to twist.

You discounted my points, then literally said exactly what I just said.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Fixed Hardware: Bolts & Anchors
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