Very often I wondered if by some possibility I ever traveled back in time, would I be able to recreate advanced or even simple modern day technology from raw elements? Or even have the skills and knowledge how to.

This project made me realize how much we depend on society, manufactured materials and even technology to obtain some knowledge. It makes me think how easily we can return to stone age affected by the chain reaction of some dramatic post apocalyptic scenario.

“Once upon a time, man learned to master fire; something no living creature had done before him. Man conquered the entire world. One day, he found a new fire. A fire so powerful, that it could never be extinguished. Man reveled in the thought that he now possessed the powers of the universe. Then in horror, he realized that his new fire could not only create, but also destroy. Not only could it burn on land, but inside all living creatures; inside his children, the animals, all crops. Man looked around for help, but found none. And so he built a burial chamber, deep in the bowels of the Earth; a hiding place, for the fire to burn, into eternity.”

Finally the long awaited GRIGRI 2 from Petzl is available at the local climbing store, or was, until they run out of stock on the second day of sales. Fortunately I managed to get myself one and eager to test it.

This little bugger is nice and light, and can now take ropes as low as 8.9. Wondering how they got this gem to take such a skinny rope? Well first is the progressive descent control, which basically means as you first start to lower, instead of releasing the spring of the cam at a 1 to 1 ratio, it only releases 1 degree for every 3 degrees you pull. The thinner the rope, the longer it maintains this ratio. after the initial part of the lower, it clicks back to 1 to 1. the new design is better suited for the belay method and its faster at braking and feeding.

Unfortunately haven’t done much testing yet but will post my impressions after it passes the great trials of Kalymnos.