Page 54 - D. Raleigh "Knots and ropes for climbers"

Throwing a Rope

I'm including a bit on throwing a rope down a cliff because I've watched too many climbers make a
mess of it and spend pointless effortsometimes risky effortstraightening things out. No doubt many
overnight epics owe themselves to the bungled rope throw.

The first thing to get straight is that you should never pitch off the rope without first checking that the
end is tied to the anchors. Sounds basic, but you'd be surprised at how many climbers assume their
partners have secured the ends, when they haven't. Make it a point to always check this yourself, even
if your partner says he has done so.

Signs of a worn or damaged rope.

After ensuring that the rope is anchored, stack the rope loose on the ground, with the anchor portion on
the bottom and the end on top. Never throw off the entire rope. Instead, throw the rope down in
sections, starting with the tail. A bulky Stopper Knot tied in the end will help the rope fall straight.
When you have two ropes, toss them down one at a time, again making sure they are tied together and
run through the anchor.