Incident:Nearly Stuck Rope in Monkeyface Creek 2019/01/26

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Incident:Nearly Stuck Rope in Monkeyface Creek 2019/01/26
Date 2019/01/26
Location Monkeyface Creek
Severity No loss
Canyoneering-related Yes
SAR involvement No
Navigation problem No
Environmental problem No
Communication problem No
Planning problem No
Skills problem Yes
Body movement problem No
Rigging problem No
Rappel problem No
Insufficient gear No
Gear failure No

Summary

Pulled a rope out of reach with a knot

Accounts

We did have a bit of a snag when my team members started pulling the rope for R6 and then notice a loop knot going up the waterfall. They stopped pulling when it was about 12 feet up. I found a stick, taped a large gate carabiner to it with gate open and pull cord attached. I could not reach the loop standing in the pool but was able to reach it standing on a member's shoulders. After several attempts I pulled the loop through the knot and then we had just an overhand knot in the rope. Then, I taped a quick link to the stick and repeated to try and catch the rope just above the overhand knot. That was too hard to catch because of all the waterflow pushing the stick around and splashing in my vision. However, because I had pulled the loop through, I could almost reach the end. I swapped places with another member that is taller and has better reach than I and he was able to grab the end of the rope. Thus we were able to pull down the rappel side, remove the over hand knot and all was well.