- Joined
- Dec 25, 2018
- Messages
- 1,981
So I had a carbon rod crack on me today. For a little background: I don't bounce on my steps up or down, they have been taken good care of and I've never left them in a tree for any length of time and the cut ends are sealed on both ends with poly. The holes were drilled to the proper depth and rods were seated. They are the pultruded, 3/8" diameter 6" long variety and I weigh about 225lbs.
Now the situation: I was really close to the ground using a couple carbon rods near the base of a big tree before my rope was long enough to get around the tree for my stick. I hunted, got done and on the way back down I stepped onto one of the carbon rods. I heard a loud noise like a Black Cat firework going off and assumed it was the rod that fractured. Made my butt pucker but no other harm done.
Lesson learned: There are obviously associated risks with using these things. I was aware of the associated risks and was ready if/when a failure occurred. I have used these as my exclusive climbing method but probably won't anymore. I like that they are lightweight and easy to pack and hoped they would work out for me.
It wasn't a catastrophic failure but there is a definite fracture along most of the length of the rod. I understand being 225 lbs. is probably pushing the safe limits of these things but who knows? Be careful, just thought I would share for those of you using them.
Now the situation: I was really close to the ground using a couple carbon rods near the base of a big tree before my rope was long enough to get around the tree for my stick. I hunted, got done and on the way back down I stepped onto one of the carbon rods. I heard a loud noise like a Black Cat firework going off and assumed it was the rod that fractured. Made my butt pucker but no other harm done.
Lesson learned: There are obviously associated risks with using these things. I was aware of the associated risks and was ready if/when a failure occurred. I have used these as my exclusive climbing method but probably won't anymore. I like that they are lightweight and easy to pack and hoped they would work out for me.
It wasn't a catastrophic failure but there is a definite fracture along most of the length of the rod. I understand being 225 lbs. is probably pushing the safe limits of these things but who knows? Be careful, just thought I would share for those of you using them.
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