Weekend Whipper: Here’s What Happens When You Catch Your Foot Behind the Rope
Readers, please send your Weekend Whipper videos, information, and any lessons learned to Anthony Walsh, awalsh@outsideinc.com.
Whippers are a natural part of climbing hard-for-you routes. Sometimes they are inevitable—for instance when you’ve climbed cleanly through the crux but are too pumped to make it to the chains. Other times they are intentional—jumping off early so you don’t have to face an even longer runout. And sometimes they are completely unexpected, when a crimp breaks or a smeared foot pops.
When the latter happens, as it did to Alessandro on Kraftwerk Mensch (6c+/5.11c) in the Aktienbruch quarry in Löbejün, Germany, you’d best hope your feet aren’t behind the rope—and, even then, accidents can happen.
Kraftwerk Mensch is a long pitch, 115 feet, and according to the filmer Luke Walker, it’s sustained and demands “precise footwork on tiny cracks, nubbins, and plenty of smearing.”
The feet on Kraftwerk Mensch are tricky, no doubt. In the video, watch Alessandro suss out the slim options, crossing his left foot behind the rope as he does so, before quickly correcting course. His tensed right foot—stomped on a smear—blows just seconds later and it swings inwards, catching on both the rope and the quickdraw and flipping him upside down.
Alessandro was relatively uninjured in the fall, but we think he got away with something here. Aside from covering his head with his arms while hurtling head-first toward the deck, we’d encourage him to bring a bucket the next time he goes climbing. You never know what might happen.
Happy Friday, and be safe out there this weekend.
Watch More Weekend Whippers:
- Climber Rips Gear—Wait, Was That a Bolt?
- Here’s Why You Should Close Your Legs When You Whip
- Here’s What Happens When You Heel Hook Over the Rope
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