Does PURCELL PRUSSIK save you If you fall on an ASCENDER???

PATRON BEHIND THE SCENES: I edit in batches what I filmed in batches so I'm excited to do a whole bunch of drop tower stuff.  Matt is a local-to-the-lab fire fighter who came down and shared gear fear among some fire fighters.  Falling on ascenders crosses over in a lot of sports so here you have it.  I'm 95% done with 6 of 12 big wall episodes, cover of Big Wall Bible is designed, and a really cool el capitan fractal design is being made for a shirt.  I had high expectations of how I wanted it to turn out which can lead to disappointment but it turned out better than I hoped.  I'm even editing Iceland break tests though its best to release those in December because I have so many other things to get out and it would be best to be seasonally relevant for the first time.  New website design is 60-70% done, courses are 75% converted to blog form, and we have 20 episodes blogged.  I think written material for every episode will really add to the content.  Since working on all this right now is a lot, I just added the data in the description for now and called it good.  Bobby just spent 2 days at the lab breaking over 60 things and found some perma draws breaking below 10kn!  Your support helps me help pay him when he solos at the lab so thank you.  Now onto the video...

DESCRIPTION: Does a purcell prusik shock absorb enough as a personal lanyard to prevent an ascender from desheathing a climbing rope if you were to take a short fall while passing an obstacle? A little is the answer but 1/2" ropes are so burly that they won't desheath even with a static sling in our tests.  However, your spine may not appreciate 5kN+ so just don't fall.  

1/2" rope with purcell - 4.10kN - Did NOT desheath - purcell slipped half way 

1/2" rope with purcell - 5.18kN  - Did NOT desheath - purcell slipped half way 

8mm rope with purcell - 5.36kN - Did NOT desheath - purcell slipped a little 

8mm rope with dyneema sling - 5.69kN - Rope Desheathed! 

1/2" rope with dyneema sling - 5.8kN - Did NOT desheath  

Our guest: Matt O’Donnell from Ebbetts Pass Fire District - modonnell@epfd.org