More mysteries.

A shaky clove hitch in the worst possible place, rubbing the carabiner on a rock edge.

An unnecessary sign and carabiner, but the real problem is the dead tree it is attached to. For future reference, the other trunks are alive.

 The flying tree and the loose block, plus, bonus, a couple of blurry fingers.

No, not halfway up the tree.

 

The leverage is really hard on the tree.

Necessity is the mother of something.

 

An anchor headed for Bethesda.

The extra long anchor means more stretch, so you aren't really on belay until you get about 6 feet up.

Carderock graffiti.

Looks like this was the tool.

 

For a top rope anchor, simple carabiners are best.

The 90 degree angle on the anchor weakens it, and leads to side loading. This anchor made a scraping noise as the climbing rope was pulled through. The fancy forged carabiner creates more friction than a simpler heavier carabiner made from round or oval bar stock. Steel would be even better. Camp makes a cheap steel locker, REI is carrying them again, Backcountry too.

Not smart, but creative.

Plenty of rope, but added runner and carabiners. Note the side loaded carabiner.

They are Swiss, but I don't think that explains this anchor.

Yard sale attached to two loose blocks. For their next anchor, these guys tried to tie a bowline following a YouTube video. When that didn't work, they called somebody. As the sun set, they were yelling into their phone, "What do you mean working end?

"

A new record for number of pads on Buckets of Blood.

If the tree falls over, is that root going to save the day.

 

Missed it by THAT much (with apologies to Maxwell Smart.)

He's about to drop the other side of the rope, but he came up short. The climbing rope is going to drag over those edges.

 

Two carabiners to do what?

Dunno, piles or rope were available. This was tied around a tree root. The trees take enough of a beating at Carderock, let's give the roots a break.

 

Find the smallest rock?

The rock is partially buried but probably weighs only 40 pounds. The nut behind it is acting to lever it out of the ground.

Another small rock.

 

A new bad idea.

9MM on a dread tree. This is a class getting bad instruction.

A new, stunningly stupid and pointless anchor. Two unnecessary unstable knots and a carabiner as a single point of failure. The gate is facing down so it could be forced open. All this to shorten an anchor which could be done safely at either end of the rope.

 

Is your kid tied to this dead tree?

The skinny maple isn't bad, but roots are never a good idea. Give the tree a break. This one is especially bad since it belongs to a tree to the right that was dead and cut down a YEAR AGO. Single strand webbing is a bad idea, it can cut.

Speaking of roots, they are great when they are in dirt, they hold the tree and nourish it. These roots are in AIR, not so good.

The tree is really dead, notice all the fungus on the trunk. The log in front was a tree standing in the same condition last year, it fell when a family was tied to it. There are few other people around, all that gear could disappear in a heartbeat. One kid was yelling at another "Life isn't fair." Only in Washington.

 

Does the tag mean the dead tree anchor is certified?

Five, count 'em, five knots.

The tie off knot could have been a backwards double fisherman, except that both sides are tied wrong.