The Beal Opera: An 8.5mm rope that is as strong and waterproof as it is light

After testing the Opera at the crags of Index, Washington, I embarked on a seven-week road trip in the Cascades, the Sawtooths and the Wind River Range. Before I took the rope into the mountains to try some technical and difficult alpine routes, I had my partner yank out the slack from the Grigri to simulate a lead fall, just to make sure the device locked up well enough on the thin rope. It passed the test. With a newfound confidence, we then hiked up to cast away on a sea of alpine granite. The rope was whipped on, rappelled on, and saw action on hundreds of difficult pitches, all the while showing little to no wear.