We tied the clothes and non-fragile items into bundles, and threw it down ahead of us. We then climbed down on the rope ladders. But then I realised another problem. How do we get the ropes down after us?

Maybe we could only use half the rope each time, and dangle the other end down so we can pull the other end up? Or we could devise a clever knot that comes apart if you pull it in a certain way? Or do something else? And let's not think about how we're going to get the ropes up again on the return journey. I still think we're going to die down here.