Good idea to inspect your halyards at least once a year. Not hard to pull them out. (I take them out, clean them in a tub, dry and store for the winter). They can chaffe on various things. Especially if you go up the mast on them.
Sorry - poorly worded - they don't chaffe more if you go up the mast... it's just very important to check halyards if you trust your life on them. (it's not a good feeling to see a chaffed halyard that you've previously hung from - saftey line not withstanding).
