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Had a climbing line snap on me yesterday in a big oak

It was a 5/8 inch line, about two years old, and it gave way just as I was shifting my weight to a new anchor point. I managed to grab a lower limb and get down okay, but it was a real scare. What's a good rule of thumb for when to retire a rope, besides just looking for obvious wear?
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3 Comments
fionafoster
My cousin's old tow rope did that in his garage. Just snapped one day, no warning.
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iris_carter
That kind of thing happens way more than people talk about. We get used to gear and forget it's just material that breaks down over time, sun, and stress. A two-year-old work rope that sees regular use is probably past its safe life, even if it looks fine on the outside. The fibers inside get tired in a way you can't always see.
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laura486
laura48622h ago
Holy crap, that's terrifying. Glad you're okay.
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