LSD: It’s Not Just a Drug

August 6, 2018 fmg-adminGuides' Tech Tips Rock Climbing

The LSD (Load Strand Direct) lower is a safe and efficient way to lower an ambulant climber when using a plaquette or guide-plate style belay device.

When you clip the climber’s strand of rope you are defeating the plaquette device's braking properties. So now with no assisted braking feature, you have a normal style plate belay device. This type of lowering is similar to the redirected plate without having to change the system.

Remember when performing this technique a backup is recommended on the brake strand. You might also find the orientation of the loop on the plaquette to change the efficiency of this lowering method.

[embed]https://youtu.be/7vB7tMKLh-g[/embed]
Video: Austin Schmitz

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