Alpine coil
Encyclopedia
The Alpine coil is a method used by climbers
for carrying a rope, such that the rope remains attached to harnesses and ready for use. It is also known as a mountaineer's coil.
Starting with the rope clipped-into a climbing harness
, wrap coils of the rope over the shoulder and diagonally across the body. The coil is then wrapped with a bight
of rope which is attached to the harness using a carabiner
. The final clipped-knot needs to be strong enough to hold a fall, since the "actual" attachment of the rope to the harness can no longer take any weight.
The alpine coil is often used by the lead climber
in a group which is walking over flat ground. When climbing steeper ground, the lead climber needs a lot more rope (typically half the coil) to climb to a safe position before bringing up the rest of the group.
Climbing
Climbing is the activity of using one's hands and feet to ascend a steep object. It is done both for recreation and professionally, as part of activities such as maintenance of a structure, or military operations.Climbing activities include:* Bouldering: Ascending boulders or small...
for carrying a rope, such that the rope remains attached to harnesses and ready for use. It is also known as a mountaineer's coil.
Starting with the rope clipped-into a climbing harness
Climbing harness
A climbing harness is a piece of equipment used in certain types of rock-climbing, abseiling or other activities requiring the use of ropes to provide access or safety...
, wrap coils of the rope over the shoulder and diagonally across the body. The coil is then wrapped with a bight
Bight (knot)
In knot tying, a bight is a curved section, slack part, or loop between the two ends of a rope, string, or yarn. The term is also used in a more specific way when describing Turk's head knots, indicating how many repetitions of braiding are made in the circuit of a given knot.-Slipped knot:In order...
of rope which is attached to the harness using a carabiner
Carabiner
A carabiner or karabiner is a metal loop with a sprung or screwed gate that is used to quickly and reversibly connect components in safety-critical systems. The word comes from "Karabinerhaken", meaning "hook for a carbine" in German.-Use:...
. The final clipped-knot needs to be strong enough to hold a fall, since the "actual" attachment of the rope to the harness can no longer take any weight.
The alpine coil is often used by the lead climber
Lead climbing
Lead climbing is a climbing technique used to ascend a route. This technique is predominantly used in rock climbing and involves a lead climber attaching themselves to a length of dynamic climbing rope and ascending a route while periodically attaching protection to the face of the route and...
in a group which is walking over flat ground. When climbing steeper ground, the lead climber needs a lot more rope (typically half the coil) to climb to a safe position before bringing up the rest of the group.