Pigtail

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Modern pigtail

A pigtail - other regional names are pigs ear, snail, ram horns, antlers - is climbing a piton , the deflection as for the securing and releasing of climbers in top rope used.

The classic shape is a coiled metal pin that is modeled on a swing hook and is reminiscent of a pig's tail. This was carved directly into the rock. Modern pig tails consist of a piece of metal that hangs from a rock hook.

Pigtails allow the rope insert without unbinding from the harness . The use of tails when lowering and top rope climbing is only considered safe if there is redundancy through a second belay . From abseiling to Sauschwänzen is discouraged by accidents caused by cable detachment. Pig tails are not suitable as an intermediate backup .

literature

Individual evidence

  1. Photo of a pigtail-like hook on a gate
  2. Beware of abseiling on the "pig tail"! Austrian Alpine Club , July 3, 2014, accessed on May 5, 2015 .
  3. Pig tails: Watch out! bergstieg.com, July 2, 2014, accessed May 5, 2015 .
  4. ^ Pit Schubert: Safety and risk in rock and ice . tape 1 , 2009, p. 116 ( preview [accessed May 4, 2020]).