MaxxiPad/Sandtraps

[sasteve49]

I have sold the last of the MaxxiPads I had in stock. Only Sandtraps will be available from Tom Jones from now on. As the inventor and manufacturer of the original device, it's a pleasure to see so many of y'all out there putting them to good use in canyons.
Be Safe.
South African Steve.
Zion.

[EvergreenDean]

You going to make any more Steve? I liked your idea of using two in some cases.

[sasteve49]

Yo Dean, using two works great for a rap/guideline combo anchor for getting over those keepers. Remember the last hanging pothole in Pegasus? An easy setup is to double them one on top of the other with a single retrieval going thru the top Pad but attached to the bottom Pad only. I can get into more detail if you want.
Looking to do Behunin tomorrow..........checked the final rap looking from the Lodge and no flow, but Heaps is.

[oldno7]

Steve
I would really appreciate your input on using the maxxi/sand doubled. I can see how it would work but tell me more about the reasons to double up like that.
I see no end to the utility of these devices.

[EvergreenDean]

Steve
I would really appreciate your input on using the maxxi/sand doubled. I can see how it would work but tell me more about the reasons to double up like that.
I see no end to the utility of these devices.

Steve can probably elaborate even more, but I know the issue we had in Pegasus was getting the trap/pad hung up on the pull. We ended up with a core shot on the rope after having to pull it with the boat, but the trap did come down. I believe it was the weight of the massive amount of sand we had to use to set up a guided rap over a huge keeper. Steve has suggested in the future using two sand traps stacked with less sand to facilitate an easier pull. On approximately three dozen raps off the trap now this is the only time I have seen a problem with the device sticking.

[ratagonia]

Steve can probably elaborate even more, but I know the issue we had in Pegasus was getting the trap/pad hung up on the pull. We ended up with a core shot on the rope after having to pull it with the boat, but the trap did come down. I believe it was the weight of the massive amount of sand we had to use to set up a guided rap over a huge keeper. Steve has suggested in the future using two sand traps stacked with less sand to facilitate an easier pull. On approximately three dozen raps off the trap now this is the only time I have seen a problem with the device sticking.

Perhaps the more obvious way to handle this is that the last person does not get the guide line, but goes into the keeper and out in a more traditional manner.

Could also STACK sandtraps to make the pull easier.

Tom

[EvergreenDean]

Could also STACK sandtraps to make the pull easier.

Tom

And that is different than what I just said...how? Perhaps "using two sand traps stacked, with less sand on EACH ONE" might be clearer. The original question was specifically how one might use two sand traps, not a better way to avoid the stick. Sir.

[ratagonia]

And that is different than what I just said...how? Perhaps "using two sand traps stacked, with less sand on EACH ONE" might be clearer. The original question was specifically how one might use two sand traps, not a better way to avoid the stick. Sir.

Captain Steve said something about combining the cleaning pull sides. I see this as an unnecessary complication.

Perhaps I should have only made the first statement, rather than repeating the stacking thing. :mrgreen:

T

[sasteve49]

When Jonathan and I did the last guide/rap off the two Pads over the hanging pothole, they were both "taco'd" with the one on top lying slightly back behind the bulge of the bottom Pad. The rap rope and the guide rope were attached to BOTH rap ends of the "taco'd" Pads, thus supplying twice the sand security but half the required pull. So nothing complicated there. The pull rope is only attached to the usual point on the BOTTOM Pad. Then goes in the normal route (BUT through the loop where it would normally be attached on the top Pad, then as normal round the top Pad. On the pull, the top Pad empties first, then the bottom. Much easier pull and result. It worked.
As for reducing friction over the rock edge, I recently experimented with pulling the rope over an edge through a 1" garden hose about 6 ft long laid over the max friction area. Have not had chance yet to try in a canyon.But the one end of the hose has a small hole through which a light 4mm "string" is attached. The other end is tied the right distance from the Pad for the hose to lie over the max friction point and prevent the hose from sliding with the pull. Carrying a 6ft piece of hose is minimal weight but worth it.