Groove

Vertical caving terminology and methods > Rigging methods and equipment

Groove, gouge, dent, rut

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Fairly shallow grooves created at a rub point by 50 years of ladder use and 30 years of SRT. Entrance Pitch, Pant Mawr Pot.
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Deep groove created by 100 years of ladder use. The groove matches the width of standard ladders, and has dug over 30 cm deep into the flowstone bank. The Twenty Foot Pot, Swildon's Hole.

Indentations worn by abrasion at a rub point. These are caused by ropes or ladders moving, even in small amounts, over the rub point, and many of these in Britain are from the historical use of ladders and lifelines. Once a groove starts to form, ropes and ladders tend to fall into the existing groove, focusing the wear on that location, increasing the depth of the groove. This smooths out the rock, and reduces subsequent damage to ropes, but it constitutes significant damage to the cave, and in most cases is indicative of poor rigging style. Rope rub protectors mitigate the effect to some extent, but do not prevent it completely. The effect has almost been eliminated due to the use of Alpine rigging with SRT, but is highly prevalent in areas where indestructible rope technique is still used.


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