Vertical caving terminology and methods > Rigging methods and equipment
A place where the rope makes contact with a rock surface, such as a bulge of rock, or a sloping lip of a pitch. Very bad for a rope, since the repeated small movements over that spot can wear through the sheath of the rope surprisingly quickly, first becoming furry, then exposing the cores, then damaging or severing the cores. This is particularly problematic with ropes that are long enough for bounce to happen, or where a pendulum is required. Must be avoided if at all possible, and a rope rub protector should be used if there is no other option. (In some areas, particularly parts of the USA, indestructible rope technique is used instead.) Rub points also damage the cave, and deep grooves are visible in many cases. In some cases, an anchor may be poorly placed, so that the knot in the rope will rub against the rock next to the anchor. This can be avoided in some cases by using a twisted maillon, or by using a chain of maillons, to move the knot further from the rock. Sometimes, a different knot can be used, a longer loop can be used, or the knot can be oriented differently, to move it away from the rock.
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