Page 52 - D. Raleigh "Knots and ropes for climbers"

as necessary, which will be often if you treat your rope to the Munter Hitch or Lap Coil.

Your rope will naturally soften as it breaks in, but you must be on guard, as many evils will conspire
to destroy it. The common foils are sharp rock, dirt, ultraviolet (UV) light, and certain chemicals.
Avoid sharp rock by picking a line that lets the rope track away from the hungry edges. When this isn't
possible, use runners to draw the rope away from edges. Be especially careful when you are ''fixing" a
rope or rigging it for a top rope. Climbers have died because of the sawing action of a loaded rope.
Pad, tape over, or hammer down any sharp or rough spots the rope might rub over. And remember, it
doesn't take much to cut a loaded rope.

Dirt, besides griming up your hands and clothes, causes internal abrasion in your rope. Don't throw
your rope on the ground, and don't step on it. Use a rope tarp to keep your rope as clean as possible.
Many models of rope tarps are available; the best roll up, burrito-style, and have padded carrying
straps. Rope bags are doubly good, as they not only keep the rope clean, but because you keep the rope
flaked loose inside them, they also eliminate coiling, and thus kinking, the rope.

Most climbers needn't worry about the degrading effects of UV light, simply because their ropes are
never in the sun long enough to hurt them. Still, you can't be too careful. Store your rope in the shade,
and use any sun-bleached fixed rope with extreme caution.

The common chemicals that will destroy your rope are sulfuric (battery) acid, chlorine, and bleach.
Since your rope is most likely to contact these chemicals when it is in storage or being transported,
always pack your rope in a rope tarp or bag. Contrary to what you may think, oil does not damage a
climbing rope, which is made of oil. Oil does, however, attract dirt.

Battery acid, as well
as other chemicals,
can damage a rope.

Washing a Rope

Even if you take all the precautions, your rope will eventually get filthy. When that happens, wash it,
but do so carefully. The best way is to uncoil your rope, then weave it into an Electrician's Braid. The
braid will keep the rope from tangling or getting damaged in the wash. Next, drop the rope in a
washing machine. If you suspect that the previous load contained rope-eating bleach (always the case
at a Laundromat), run the machine through a rinse cycle before washing the rope. Set the machine to
delicate cycle and cold water (hot water will shrink the rope). Add a gentle soap, such as Ivory Snow.
Do not use a detergent, which will strip the rope of its necessary oils (detergents always say
"detergent" on the label). Let the rope run through a wash and rinse cycle. Then undo the braid and let
the rope dry in a cool, shady place. Drying can take several days to a week, so plan ahead.