With a day off work looming, I contacted Rod and Min and said let's go
abseil the Mirraball! But Rod said how about we go try his new rope on a
single 195m pitch at Pierce's Pass. Shit yeah, me and Min said. So I
arrived at the picnic area to find Rod and Min unreeling 200m of 11mm
rope and stuffing it into a pack.
With Rod now lugging two packs, we were at the anchor point after only a
10 minute walk. The abseil today was from the point where basejumpers
like to jump and there was a steel reo stake in the rock at the edge
that we could use as an anchor. We backed this up to a huge bollard
about 20m back. The boys quickly had the rigging under way as I sussed
out a good vantage point for photos above a huge amphitheatre a little
further around the cliffline.
The boys rigged the rope as a single line and Min went first and very
quickly observed that the new rope was "fast". And this was at the top
where the rope drag was at it's greatest! Min abseiled with a rack (I
think), and when he found he needed extra friction as he descended, he
just wrapped the rope around his volleys. The melt mark in the sole of
his shoe was impressive!
Rod was next cab off the rank and rapped on a Petzl Stop. A smooth and
slow descent, then it was my turn. I used my Pirana and stepped over the
edge for my first very long abseil. My longest pitch previous to this
was 70m. I quickly found how different this stuff is. I used a self
belay which I normally don't bother with, and rapped slowly, very aware
of the the heat generating in my abseil device. I noticed too how much
harder it is physically on such a long drop. The strain on the
abdominals as I held my body upright, and being aware of maintaining the
blood flow from my legs back into my upper body to prevent harness hang
syndrome. I touched down beside Rod and Min to hear how Rod had made
about 6 landings. He'd touch down on the stretch of the rope, which then
acted like a rubber band and lifted him back off his feet several times
before he stayed down!
With no de-rigging to do from down here, we set off bashing through
thick scrub. Min executed a beautiful pirouette before pausing, and
tumbling head first down an incline. it was so elegantly done that I had
to sit down to appreciate the spectacle (and recover from laughing). The
fresh gashes oozing blood from behind both knees inflicted by the loya
vines that resulted in that impromptu dance, Min led the way and found
the basejumpers track that took us to the main walking track and back to
the cars. Then back to the cliff edge where we de-rigged and soaked the
the awesome views for a while.
Excellent day, top rap, and even better company . Safer than than
teaching, eh Min!
http://imageevent.com/jburton/abseiling/longdroppiercespass160408Julie
