Having to re-climb doubled rappel ropes is one of climbing’s most taxing situations. In my 30-something years of climbing, I’ve only had to do this twice, and both times were epic.

Sammy and I hunkered into the shade beneath the Weeping Wall, Suicide Rock, panting between pulls on a gallon jug of water. The sun had just crawled over Tahquitz Rock, a mile across the Sunshine Valley, and heat waves welled off the Suicide slabs. No big.

The ABC’s of Rating Dangerous Climbs.

Connecticut Yankee breaks from the pack

A tricky crux, a surprise pop, a very fast 15-foot descent. I was delighted to find myself dangling from my beloved little blue Metolius. But when doing a quick body inventory, I noted that my left foot was attempting an inward 180. Suddenly, explosively, it hurt like hell. My partner Peter quickly lowered me, winced, and suggested we call an ambulance.

This affordable, hardened steel carabiner was made for use in gyms, where repeated lowering and toproping quickly wear grooves in standard aluminum biners, but the Gym Pro is equally applicable for outdoor use on anchors in high-traffic areas and on popular routes.