Once measuring in at 50 meters -- roughly 150 feet -- the standard climbing rope has gotten longer over time, with 70-meter ropes no longer uncommon. Managing that much rope can quickly turn into an embarrassing series of tangles. Keeping your rope bundled or coiled when not in use makes it easier to manage. A coiled rope is also easier to keep clear of hazardous sharp items and corrosive chemicals, and coiling your rope is also the first step to packing it up to carry for any distance.
Butterfly Coil
Think of the butterfly coil as the most basic way of bundling your rope up, making it easier to carry. Grasp both ends of the rope and pull out two double arm-lengths of rope. Then grasp the remaining rope and drape it over your neck and shoulders. Continue draping the rope over your head and shoulders, one double-arm length at a time, until you run out of rope.
Grasp all the coils together behind your neck and pull them off your shoulders, holding the bundle by the middle. Wrap the two arm lengths of free rope tightly around the bundle, midway down. Pull the two ends of the rope through the loop formed just above where the rope winds around the bundle.
Backpack Coil
One of the easiest ways to carry your rope once it's bundled is to make a butterfly coil as directed above. Leave about a double arms-length of rope free once you complete your coil. Position the coil on your back, and bring one end of the free rope down over each shoulder. Cross the ends of the rope around behind your back and over the bundle, further securing it to your body. Bring the crossed ends around to your front and tie in a knot around your waist. Obviously, this won't work very well if you're wearing a backpack as well.
Stuffed
Large climbing packs are made to readily accept one or more coiled ropes. But any sharp items in your pack -- particularly crampons, if you're mountaineering or ice climbing -- might shift around and damage your rope, potentially endangering your life. One way of circumventing this is to pack your backpack, cinch the inner closure shut, then drape the rope crosswise across the top of the pack before securing the main top flap across the rope, holding it in place.
Rope Bag
Specially made rope bags come with a shoulder strap so you can store the rope in the bag -- flaked out and ready to climb right away -- then sling the bag over your shoulder and go. This solution is ideal for short approaches and short climbs, for which you don't need to carry anything beyond your rope, climbing shoes, helmet and any other gear you need for that climb. Try to juggle a rope bag along with the backpack that you need to carry more extensive gear and you will end up looking like an idiot -- unless you can talk a friend into carrying one or the other for you, in which case you will look pretty smart.
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