Talk:Using parachute cord to abseil down a cliff

From BearWiki

While I agree using parachute cord to abseil is a bad idea and no trained climber would consider it, the article discusses forces generated in a fall not those found in abseiling. Important to an abseiling discussion are the 2 strands (allows cord retrieval) typically available to absorb the energy, the full weight of the climber is only on the cordage if the climber is hanging free (which may not occur) and parachute cord typically stretches 30% at failure (stretching absorbs energy.) On rocky terrain the more likely failure mode would be abrasive destruction to the cord from the rock as the cord stretches and contracts "sawing" in response to the force varying from hanging versus being supported by the climbers feet.

Abrasion resistance -- which, of course, parachute cord isn't designed for, either  ;)