What is back-clipping and why is it dangerous?

• A. Back-clipping refers to clipping the rope behind the protection or behind the body.
• B. Back-clipping occurs when the rope is clipped to a carabiner that has a lock.
• C. Back-clipping is the act of tying a knot to second rope.
• D. Back-clipping occurs when the rope runs behind the protection or behind the body instead of in front, increasing friction and risk of unweighting the protection or failing to catch a fall.

Answer: (D)

Back-clipping is when the rope runs behind the protection or behind your body instead of in front as you clip. This changes the direction of force during a fall and can cause the rope to rub against the rock or the piece in a way that doesn’t seat the protection properly. The result is more friction and a real risk that the protection is unweighted or pulled from its placement, so the rope may not arrest the fall as intended. In short, the fall can load the wrong side of the piece or even pull it out, which is why this setup is dangerous. To stay safe, keep the rope clipped from in front of the protection so the load travels correctly into the piece.