{{Short description|Technique used in climbing}} {{See also|Simul-climbing}} {{Multiple image|perrow=2|total_width=370 | header=Examples of rope teams | image1=Bbb-MBl-Spalte-XIII A 01-b.JPG|caption1=Several rope teams descending Mont Maudit | image3=Ortler Ascent - South Tyrol.jpg|caption3=A rope team ascending the Ortler in the South Tyrol }}A '''rope team''' (sometimes also called '''moving together''') is a climbing technique where two or more climbers who are attached to a single climbing rope move simultaneously together along easy-angled terrain that does not require points of fixed climbing protection to be inserted along the route.<ref name=CL1/> Rope teams contrast with simul-climbing, which involves only two climbers and where they are ascending steep terrain that will require many points of protection to be inserted along the route. A specific variant of a rope team is the technique of {{ill|short-roping|fr|corde tendue}}, which is used by mountain guides to help weaker clients, and which also does not employ fixed climbing protection points.<ref name=AAC>{{cite book | publisher=American Alpine Club | title=Accidents in North American Climbing 2018 | chapter=Know the Ropes: Safer 4th Class Climbing | url=https://americanalpineclub.org/news/2020/4/8/7emfrby0qk8mew5spzimu4ckm7deb6 | first=Tico| last=Gangulee| date=September 2018 | accessdate=8 July 2024 | isbn=978-0999855614}}</ref>
Rope teams are commonly used in alpine climbing, particularly for moving across glaciers and traveling along snow slopes and ridges.<ref name=CL1/><ref name=REI/> Members are typically spaced {{Convert|30|ft|m|adj=off|abbr=off}} apart with any surplus rope coiled and carried by the first and last members.<ref name=CL1/><ref name=REI/> The weaker members of the team are placed in the middle, however, it is important that the team can move together in a way that the rope does not become excessively slack or taut.<ref name=CL1/><ref name=REI/> Rope teams can accommodate many climbers, which gives greater "holding power" if a member falls into a crevasse or slides down a snow slope.<ref name=CL1/><ref name=REI/> However, large teams are also less flexible, which is a problem on more varied terrain where the rope team might want to quickly change to a short-roping or even a simul-climbing format.<ref name=CL1/><ref name=REI/>
Some rope teams will simply tie each member directly into the rope via a climbing knot (e.g. figure-eight on a bight attached to a screw-gate carabiner), however, members can also be attached via prussik knots or progress capture devices for greater flexibility.<ref name=CL1/> When crossing glaciers, some rope teams will pre-apply prussik knots and loops to the rope to speed up the rescue of any member who falls into a crevasse, however, some don't as these knots and loops can make the rope more difficult to manage.<ref name=REI/> When small rope teams of 2-3 climbers are crossing glaciers, additional knots can be added to the rope to act as a partial brake against a crevasse lip in the event of a fall.<ref name=VD>{{cite book | title=Glacier Travel and Crevasse Rescue: The Climber's Guide to Accessing Alpine Terrain | first1=Mike |last1=Thomas | first2=Neil | last2=Chelton | date=2020 | publisher=Independently Published | isbn=9798641119205 | url=https://www.vdiffclimbing.com/glacier-travel-using-rope/ | accessdate=10 July 2024}}</ref> On exposed snow slopes, rope teams may use snow anchors as points of climbing protection — as in simul-climbing — to prevent a falling member from dragging the entire team down the slope before they can self-arrest.<ref name=CL1>{{cite web | magazine=Climbing | url=https://www.climbing.com/skills/traveling-on-a-rope-team/ | title=Traveling on a Rope Team | first=Shannon| last=Davis| date=24 February 2014 | accessdate=8 July 2024}}</ref><ref name=REI>{{cite web | website=REI | url=https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/glacier-and-roped-travel-for-mountaineering.html | title=Glacier and Roped Travel for Mountaineering | first=Katrina | last=Bloemsma | date=2024 | accessdate=9 July 2024}}</ref>
Various records have been set for the longest ''climbing'' rope-teams at various altitudes.<ref>{{cite web | website=DW News | url=https://blogs.dw.com/adventuresports/index.html%3Fp=21835.html | title=Rope team of 193 | first=Stefan | last=Nestler | date=16 September 2013 | accessdate=9 July 2024}}</ref> In July 2017, the Italian Alpine Club set a Guinness World Record for the world's longest ''static'' rope team when 2,846 climbers were connected to a single rope in Bergamo in Italy.<ref>{{cite web | website=Guinness World Record | url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/100119-most-people-connected-by-rope | title=Most people connected by rope | date=9 July 2017 | accessdate=9 July 2024}}</ref> In 2022, eighty female mountaineers set a record for the world's longest women's ''climbing'' rope team by summiting the Breithorn.<ref>{{cite web | magazine=Travel + Leisure | url=https://www.travelandleisureasia.com/in/news/switzerland-creates-record-for-worlds-longest-womens-rope-team-at-breithorn-mountain/ | first=Ralan | last=Kithan | title=80 Women—Including 3 Indians—Create A World Record Atop Switzerland's Breithorn Mountain|date=20 June 2022 | accessdate=9 July 2024}}</ref>
== See also == {{commons category}} * Alpine climbing * Rope solo climbing * Simul climbing
== References == {{reflist}}
==Further reading==
* {{cite book | date=2020| first1=Mike |last1=Thomas | first2=Neil |last2=Chelton | title=Glacier Travel and Crevasse Rescue | publisher=VDiff Climbing | isbn=979-8641119205}} * {{cite book | date=2018 | title=Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills | edition=9th | isbn=978-1846892622 | publisher=Quiller Publishing | author=The Mountaineers}} * {{cite book | date=2013 | first1=Mike | last1=Zawaski | title=Snow Travel: Climbing, Hiking, and Crossing Over Snow | publisher=The Mountaineers | isbn= 978-1594857201}}
==External links== *[https://www.ortovox.com/uk/safety-academy-lab-ice/chapter-2 YOUR INSURANCE: THE ROPE TEAM], {{ill|Ortovox|de}} (2024) *[https://www.lacrux.com/en/alpinism/rope-or-not-rope-security-options-at-full-speed/ Rope or not rope? Backup options at full speed], LaCrux (Dec 2021)
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Category:Climbing techniques Category:Ski mountaineering Category:Mountaineering techniques