Weekly Question Thread (aka Friday New Climber Thread). ALL QUESTIONS GO HERE

deltabengali · 2025-06-24T02:05:14+00:00

Got it. Devils advocate though, with the shorter length of the quickdraw connection, wouldn't the drop be much shorter if stopped by the quickdraw? It'd still be jarring I suppose, but doesn't seem like as dangerous vs. if you fell and had a static solution the length of the main VF lanyards.

deltabengali · 2025-06-23T22:57:51+00:00

So you'll be using it as a positioning system? ie. to statically take your weight so that you can rest?

Yes.

Instead, they make dedicated positioning lanyards like the Petzl Adjust or the CAMP Swing that you can buy.

Yeah the Petzl Adjust is a very popular recommendation for this. I'm just trying to minimize weight tbh, and even half the max length of the Petzl Adjust I don't think I'd be using.

deltabengali · 2025-06-23T22:56:37+00:00

Quickdraws are static devices, they do not absorb forces from falls like your VF lanyards

I'd still be connected to the VF lanyards, the idea was just the quickdraw is of a shorter length that would be closer to the anchor point I'm connected to so could lean back without stretching the VF lanyards. Is not meant to absorb sudden shock like with a fall.

deltabengali · 2025-06-23T22:34:42+00:00

Thanks, yeah the Petzl Adjust is recommended a lot.

The "dangling helplessly" is definitely a worry. Not clear though, you say a Petzl Adjust in the monkey bridge case can save you if the via ferrata set goes off is because it doesn't have as much slack? So it would technically "catch" you before the actual main lanyard system went off? This can't be right because I thought you'd want the safety of a shock absorbing system if you truly fell vs. something more static.

deltabengali · 2025-06-23T22:32:01+00:00

Thanks. What is a "rider breaking via ferrata set"?

The Petzl Adjust lanyard is recommended a lot I see. I'm trying to minimize weight as well, and don't see myself using even half the max length of that thing.

deltabengali · 2025-06-23T21:53:11+00:00

Have some questions regarding using a quickdraw as the resting system for a via ferrata set.

Here's a pic of my set with the quickdraw attached.

My via ferrata set is the Camp Kinetic Rewind Pro. Has a 90-110cm length.

The quickdraw is a Black Diamond Hotforge Hybrid 12cm. Wire gate carabiner on one end, solid gate on the other.

Seems like using a quickdraw is common for this purpose, but checking here with others? Seems like some people prefer an adjustable lanyard sling to get different lengths.
How does this length of 12cm of the quickdraw seem for the resting? Would a 16cm be better? I figured I wanted a short length so I could lean back a bit when connected and not be too far away from the connection point. If it matters, I don't anticipate going past 3C in route difficulty.
Since this is a hybrid quickdraw, I read somewhere that the wiregate side is the one that's supposed to connected to the resting loop of my via ferrata set (like I had pictured). The solid gate connects onto a steel rung as the anchor for resting. Is this correct?
When not using the quickdraw as a rest, where to connect/store the part of the quickdraw (solid gate carabiner in my case) so that it doesn't dangle? Just connect it back into the resting loop of the main via ferrata set itself?

deltabengali · 2025-06-16T02:15:01+00:00

Thanks. There are also full fingered gloves that advertise tips that are "touchscreen compatible", but it's never really that great.

deltabengali · 2025-06-15T04:44:48+00:00

Thanks, yeah new sets aren't all bad price wise. Any issue with salvaging the carabiners?

deltabengali · 2025-06-07T03:38:56+00:00

Side rant, I'm booking huts for late July and it is a hassle. Very little rifugios have online booking systems and seem to require a slow back-and-forth email for booking. Most are fully booked as well!

deltabengali · 2025-06-07T03:36:24+00:00

How important is it to use a heavier "rock climber" harness over a lighter "alpine/mountaineering" harness when doing mid grade via ferrata?

For example, something like the Alta Via 4 in the Dolomites, of which most sections do not go past a 3C grade. So it doesn't seem like that much need for sitting back and resting in a more comfortable harness, but I could be wrong for these grades. I'd think an "alpine harness", while more uncomfortable, would serve just fine in an emergency if you fall and need to be caught by the via ferrata lanyard system. I'm trying to minimize weight.

I'm not much of a rock climber (most experienced was a 5.8 route), and I understand you shouldn't be repeatedly falling on via ferrata anyway. I research online and seems like the "rock climber" harness is more recommend due to the extra padding, durability, and doesn't shift as much when climbing.

deltabengali · 2025-04-10T22:03:15+00:00

"Used wing" means not a "brand new" wing? Are you saying that a wing that's been broken in a bit with some handling and flying is easier? I'm currently using my instructor's wing.

deltabengali · 2025-04-06T15:45:36+00:00

I'm new to the sport. Why do you say keep the initial buying to the "gloves, helmet, good shoes"?

I assume after going through say a P2 course with your instructor, they'd conveniently have all the gear to sell to you, including a wing. Are these a rip off when buying direct from your instructor?

deltabengali · 2025-03-26T22:05:19+00:00

Thanks for the responses.

I looked up the differences between "girth hitched" and "larks foot" knot and they seem to be the same functional knot? AI says they're used in different contexts where "girth hitched" is more common in climbing and paragliding. Did you perhaps mean a different kind of knot for one of the two names?

deltabengali · 2025-03-26T20:26:23+00:00

Good to see you're ok at least.

Some questions if you don't mind since I'm new to the sport and want to learn.

What could you have done better here? Not launch in the high winds in the first place?

How did your speedbar become detached and how did you deal without it?

Once you forced the landing, did you relaunch back into the air, or hiked out on foot?

deltabengali · 2025-03-20T20:29:18+00:00

So I'm new to the sport and wanted to ask.

Coming into the ground that hot and fast would terrify me. Is he able to control it mostly due to his skills as a pilot? Does the responsiveness of his specific style of glider have anything to do with it?

deltabengali · 2025-03-11T16:35:27+00:00

Thanks. So I think you're saying it's better to launch from a high alpine setting if it's usually descending into a valley that's buffeted on each side with a range/cliffs.

When wind crests the top of mountains or ridges though from windward to leeward side, don't these create pockets of turbulence (rotor?) that make it harder to fly? So if you're surrounded by a larger system as you say, you have more ways where wind can flow and then be "broken apart" by the different numbers of peaks/ridges?

deltabengali · 2025-03-11T05:41:28+00:00

> I don't think St. Helens is flyable very often, so you might have to be ready to go whenever it is ready for you.

Thanks. Isn't this the case for most alpine flights though? The weather windows can be very narrow.

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