[Nmcaver] Powered Ascender

[Minton, Mark]

      Years ago some cavers made a gasoline-powered ascender called MAD (Motorized Ascending Device), which I believe was actually used in Golondrinas.  There may have been other homemade powered ascenders over the years as well.  Now there is a commercially available device called PowerQuick by Bonanza Products, <http://www.bonanzaproducts.com/>.  It was developed under DARPA for military use, and the price shows it:  around $9000!  The small version weighs 18 pounds (unclear whether or not that includes the 15-lb battery) and can travel at a speedy one foot per second.  It also has reverse for descending.  It is only good for 500-600 feet per charge, however, so it wouldn't be of much use in really deep pits.  They even mention caving in the catalog/brochure.

Mark Minton