Rigging for Caving - Natural Anchors 

I just recently came across your channel. It's nice to see some educational type caving videos.

Hahaha! Love the "Old" and "New" testament

Great video - I've really been enjoying your channel. I'm from the USA, but started caving in New Zealand. I've noticed some slightly contrasting practicing between the two caving cultures. Thanks very much.

Def the "hybrid approach"! Great video!

Another great video Derek!!!

Hi Derek, re: BFT backup Love your videos glade your doing them!!! I'm sure it is helping many people learn stuff so they can cave better and safer. At around the 10:00 and the BFT. By tying back to the same tree anchor point it is not a back up for that anchor, the tree. It is for the webbing and carabineer. To say it's an anchor backup you'd need to have at least one other anchor point like another tree. And yes having at least a second point is always a good idea. There is a reason a separate belays ropes system are need for rescue, because you just never know what could happen or be missed! Everyone says and hopes it never will happen or be missed but... I've heard... or see a belay system in action thankfully for the guy in the stretcher because someone missed the slack in the main line/rope. For your anchor to be called a back up anchor it would need to be a separate tree or anchor point IMO.. Preferably behind the first keeping the angle to a minimum form the applied force, or like a Y hang set up. I have seen people rig to what they thought were BFT and at inspection the tree is dead if they had looked up, but in winter it would look the same. Or has poor root systems. And some big trees & logs in B.C. for example can get dry rotten all the way through but look fine on the outside. People have walk along some big tree and fallen through up to there arm pits. Same with rocks and formation, a separate anchor point is good idea if available. Some formation grow on mud banks covering up the mud they are growing on for example and can be pulled lose. And if bolts are used there are usually two. Some use preloaded back ties to back up a tree anchor for example is another way to have a back up anchor to a tree anchor. Great your tell people to learn as much as they can from books and suggesting some good ones to start with, and working with other experienced people to learn more. It's always good to have another pair of eyes looking to help double check all the rigging after all. hopefully whom ever you are learning from can answerer the why questions too, Not just because that's how we always have done it or that someone else showed them to do it that way. Often there is more than one way to safely rig a spot after all, some being better depending on... or if it might be need if something bad happen on the rope or cave trip. Gravity is always on, no one wants to fall or have a friends fall after all. When some one new is learning and even others, you don't know what you don't know or have forgotten stuff too, or are tired. There is always more to learn, and more new cave to explore out there after all! Remember to have fun and be safety minded especially when dealing with rope and heights you could fall down. That's my two cents about what I see is a backup anchor and why one is a good idea to always have if you can. Thanks again for showing the various ways to rig and always keeping safety in mind, as you do!

Great video for a beginner thinking of starting caving !

Magnifico video Derek, siempre atento a tus aportes y observaciones, saludos desde Venezuela.

Wow, you've done caving in Oaxaca, what about in Taxco? There are some big big killers there.

Great video! Maybe a video about rigging and placing artificial anchors in less than ideal rock like in Binkleys

What do you recommend to do if you need to make a rebelay on a descent and have a solid natural anchor like a pillar but have to use only the middle of the rope? Would you recommend something like Petzl's anneau for creating a natural anchor or is there some way to tie the rope around the anchor safely and effectively?

I´m sorry I get lost on BFT, BFR shorts, could you explain to me what that means please ?

@ 7:07 you rig your stop in a weird way. can you give an explanation please. i also use a freino and stop. i also noticed you tied off your stop in another video with just a half hitch and a second loop through the freino, could you elaborate on that as well please. Love your video and have learned tonnes from you.

what sort of bend do you use for the webbing wraps around your natural anchors?

Great video as always Derek. I appreciate how you turn the music down during the times you're speaking, but I do think the music is a bit loud during non speaking parts. A little distracting and maybe just a tad out of place. Other than that, informative and to the point as always.