Lowering on anchors.

[milspecmark]

So I read 2 articles today on facebook. One from American Alpine club and one from the RRG Fixed gear initiative. Both are recommending us lower from the anchors now rather than Rappelling. I have been climbing in the Red for about 8 years now and I have always heard it is more ethical to Rap than Lower. I just wanted to get your all thoughts on this issue. Do you Rap or lower?

[Rotarypwr345704]

This topic hasn't been beaten like the proverbial dead horse.

[Cromper]

To say it is more ethical to rappel on a one pitch route is completely stupid when quicklinks are a dollar and easily replaceable.

[milspecmark]

I dont worry about the cost as much as I worry about people actually keeping up with it.

[lena_chita]

I don't worry about the cost as much as I worry about people actually keeping up with it.

"People" include you. Do your part to make sure the anchors are good on the routes you climb. Even if just a small minority of people does that, everything is fine, because those chains can take thousands of lowerings before they become dangerous. So ~1 person in a thousand carrying a couple of extra quicklinks in their bag is good. Be that person.

[clif]

quicklinks or the missing link?

[captain static]

Don't you just love revisionism

[lena_chita]

Don't you just love revisionism

Well, when the revisionism is in the right direction... The ability to change your mind in the face of solid reasoning/facts is a rather valuable, and rare, thing these day. I'm all for celebrating it.

[EricDorsey]

Climbing in the Red almost a decade and you really don't know what the general consensus is yet?

This topic has been beat to death several times already but to answer your question I lower 98% of the time. It's easier, faster, and generally safer.

[climb2core]

Don't you just love revisionism

This is not revisionism. This is evolution based upon best practice to mitigate risk. Less people decking or dying beats out the traditionalists need to preserve a piece of metal.