UKBouldering.com
the shizzle => equipment => Topic started by: r-man on August 02, 2022, 11:08:08 am
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What do people use as anchors when there is nothing available, like on sea cliffs or moorland edges? Especially when it's too long a walk to bring a proper big stake. I've seen the odd thing being used - ground screws, short bent bits of metal. Interested to know what the options are.
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I think a friend used to/uses those corkscrew dog tethers, always seemed a little dodge to me but he's still alive!
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That would be Fiend. Screwfix also sell ground anchors :tumble:
I think there was an old Jack Geldard blog where he'd used a length of chain in a v shape with what looked like tent pegs at regular intervals!
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Dave Warb has a ground screw that think is designed for massive gazebo / circus tents. A bit of pry bar or something is useful to torque it in. Looks a bit more reassuring than the cheap DIY shop ones for dogs
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Not sure if a DMM Talon would be any good?
https://dmmprofessional.com/Journal/June-2015/Talon-Steep-Earth-Anchor
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It's never 'too far to walk to carry a big stake' - a 4ft length of steel and a lump hammer hardly adds anything to the overall pack weight for a day's climbing, especially if split between two. I've a couple of steel stakes in the garage that I got from a local steel fabricators. 2 lengths of re-bar equalised does a good enough job and is easier to hammer in than a stake. You could probably get off-cuts for free by asking around.
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I've used these before - https://www.diy.com/departments/spyrabase-green-steel-ground-anchor-l-250mm-w-50mm/782061_BQ.prd . But I always tied off to the bend in the bar below the weld on the underside of the top plate. That way you are minimising leverage and not relying on a weld. How safe they feel depends on how many you use, and what the soil is like. Like any piece of gear it's only as good as the risk assessment of the person placing it.
They also do a longer version, but I think you'd struggle to get placement that deep in most instances.
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https://leachs.com/products/big-ben-heavy-duty-hurricane-ground-anchor-choose-your-size?variant=42453390590151&msclkid=a0ff86b07b4919453045e4594aebb449&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=MS%20%7C%202021%20%7C%20Shopping&utm_term=4582420890842273&utm_content=All%20Products
This is what we use in the Moors. Better than the flimsy dog ones from B&Q. Can feel pretty solid in the right ground and you can get away with just twisting it in with your hands most of the time, although a thick tent peg works well to drive it in. Clove hitch a sling at ground level, rather than using the welded bit. I think it's the 3ft one that's the best.
Obviously use at own risk, dead dodgey etc...
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Pets At Home Dog Stakes all the way.
Gets the Paul B seal of approval, what more do you need?? :2thumbsup:
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Paul B could abseil off an empty coke can as a deadweight anchor though.
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I've got big legs these days (...sadly that's not true).
That root Carlisle Slapper got someone to sit on has to be up there...
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I use builders re-bar for temporary abseil stakes on sea cliffs.
I cut one piece of re-bar into three bits which are then plenty long enough. Depending on how soft the ground is you want at least three or four all equalised.
It’s only thin so I wouldn’t want to leave in situ in case it corroded. Instead I give them a good bash side to side with a hammer when done and take them home again.
Usual disclaimers apply!