[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Rappelling (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 12/13/2010 6:23:43 PM EDT
| Anyone do this as a hobby? What gear is necessary, and what are some good brands? |
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22 years ago, I could have been informative. Now? I just remember it being fun.
Always pull slack from the anchor side, not the wall side. Latch part of carabiner faces your face, go straight down with it and hook into "swiss seat". Left arm really does nothing. Right arm controls just about everything. Don't go "possum". Try to be aware of where the ground is. 
Have fun. ETA: The guy who taught me was a Sgt. Maj with the 10th SF. I only did it 8 or 9 times. wish I would have gotten serious about it. |
I enjoy Canyoneering and that is part of the hobby. Will be doing this trip in April.
If you really want to get into the hobby, go do some classes at a climbing gym. Use the gym or websites to meet people who can teach you about what ropes to use, how to build anchors, etc. Once you think you know what you are doing, you will set everything up and have a knowledgeable person a long to tell you if your set up is safe or not. |
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If you do live in Arizona you should have no problem finding places to get the training you need. Look for a shop dedicated to climbing or camping, you can find people there or the shops will even offer outings and the training you need. Be prepared to get into real money if you do end up going out on your own eventually. |
Damn, that is eventually what I would like to work my way up too. Thanks for the advise everyone, I think I will start with a training session and work connections from there. I thought I was just going to get a few things such as rope, harness, and associated gear and be GTG, apparently not. 
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I enjoy Canyoneering and that is part of the hobby. Will be doing this trip in April. http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s35/glockguy/3e95281a.jpg http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s35/glockguy/c052575d.jpg If you really want to get into the hobby, go do some classes at a climbing gym. Use the gym or websites to meet people who can teach you about what ropes to use, how to build anchors, etc. Once you think you know what you are doing, you will set everything up and have a knowledgeable person a long to tell you if your set up is safe or not. |
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Damn, that is eventually what I would like to work my way up too. Thanks for the advise everyone, I think I will start with a training session and work connections from there. I thought I was just going to get a few things such as rope, harness, and associated gear and be GTG, apparently not.
Quoted:
I enjoy Canyoneering and that is part of the hobby. Will be doing this trip in April. http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s35/glockguy/3e95281a.jpg http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s35/glockguy/c052575d.jpg If you really want to get into the hobby, go do some classes at a climbing gym. Use the gym or websites to meet people who can teach you about what ropes to use, how to build anchors, etc. Once you think you know what you are doing, you will set everything up and have a knowledgeable person a long to tell you if your set up is safe or not. Buy quality. I fell 22 feet trying out some new rope and carabiners once. Get training. They know what you're doing wrong, you don't. That being said, it's a rush. |
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I will echo what everyone else says, get some professional training. Go to a rock gym and/or find a guide or class on rock climbing. They'll teach you the basics. Also, I THOROUGHLY recommend reading "Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills". While the book is focused on mountain climbing, it does contain useful information on basic rock climbing and technical ropework. Hardware: Rope - Static line (no elasticity) is preferable for rappelling. If you have more money, also get some dynamic rope (slight elasticity to absorb falls) for conventional rock climbing. Harness - Get one with maximum padding for rappelling. It will be holding your weight at all times, so you want it to be comfortable. For conventional rock climbing, you want something lightweight and unobtrusive. Carabiners - You want locking carabiners for rappelling. I like Petzl Attaches (gold, pear shaped). You'll need 3 - one for your harness, two for the anchor (with gates reversed). Anchors - You want flat or tubular webbing loops, in a number of different lengths. The anchor point is usually the weakest part of your rappel setup. If it fails, you fall...no ifs, ands, or buts. NEVER use a single anchor point. Two anchor points are the minimum that you want to use, and each anchor point should be able to independently support your weight. Truth be told, on some rappels I've used 3 or 4 anchor points simultaneously cuz I'm fucking paranoid about it. I can't go into the details of how to actually set up anchor points and distribute the load evenly among multiple anchor points because it would take too long (and I won't be held liable for any mistakes). This is where professional training comes in. Decender/Belay Device - there are a number of different ones on the market - Figure-8, ATC, racks, even certain knots (Munter hitch). Under professional supervision, learn to apply and use them properly. Other Accessories - prussick loops (for ascending back up the rope after you rappelled down it), boots (depending on the surface), helmet (depending on the surface), gloves (these can be a mixed blessing...can prevent rope burns if you want to speed-rappel, but you loose a tiny bit of control and dextarity). |
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I do it to get down from things I have climbed, and I've taught it as a climbing instructor in the past. Get some training, and understand that if you screw things up you can easily die or contribute to the death of someone else. Rappelling accidents (especially at night or when someone is tired/scared/confused/rushing) are a significant component in climbing injury statistics. You can definitely do it safely, but get lessons. Learn the right techniques. |
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Climbing is done for fun. Rappelling is done out of necessity. I can't think of too many situations where rappelling was a necessity. Rappelling is usually how you unclimb whatever it was that you climbed. But it's not like you found yourself there by accident. We once left $700 worth of gear behind for anchors rappelling off a 2,200ft face. It was a remote wall with very few fixed anchors and no walk off. My half of that $700 was probably 10% of my entire net worth at the time. Ouch. To the OP: I cannot stress enough that you learn from someone who is very experienced, very, very experienced. |
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Climbing is done for fun. Rappelling is done out of necessity. I can't think of too many situations where rappelling was a necessity. Rappelling is usually how you unclimb whatever it was that you climbed. Fastroping is much more fun 
All of the guys I ever saw fastrope down a rock face or wall regretted it by the time they got to the bottom. |
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Quoted: Well that's why you do it out of a blackhawk. Duh! Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Climbing is done for fun. Rappelling is done out of necessity. I can't think of too many situations where rappelling was a necessity. Rappelling is usually how you unclimb whatever it was that you climbed. Fastroping is much more fun All of the guys I ever saw fastrope down a rock face or wall regretted it by the time they got to the bottom. |
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Climbing is done for fun. Rappelling is done out of necessity. I can't think of too many situations where rappelling was a necessity. Rappelling is usually how you unclimb whatever it was that you climbed. But it's not like you found yourself there by accident. We once left $700 worth of gear behind for anchors rappelling off a 2,200ft face. It was a remote wall with very few fixed anchors and no walk off. My half of that $700 was probably 10% of my entire net worth at the time. Ouch. To the OP: I cannot stress enough that you learn from someone who is very experienced, very, very experienced. No, but I think the point he was going for was that rappelling is not what you do for fun, but what you do to get back down from something you climbed for fun. |
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Check out-
http://www.summitpost.org/phpBB3/ Great site for mountaineering and climbing. Also has a regional board you could use to find info on your area. http://www.bogley.com/forum/ This one is mainly Utah outdoors focused, but has some good people on it. Many of them do trips down in your neck of the woods desert. |
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I used to own an indoor rock climbing gym here in Maine from 1999-2007 and have been climbing since 1993 indoor and out. Guided many a trip. Set up routes. Did just about all I could within those years
Once you learn the basics, and how to belay; I can set you up with just about anything you will need or want to build your rack. "Rack" = Climber's term for their gear collection. I have a whole store inventory in my basement, all new, everything ~ even rope by the Sterling Rope company. I have lots of new bags of rope from 150ft to 300ft- Lots. And again any type of gear you may want or need. I used to sell it on eBay till they went with the whole YOU HAVE TO USE PAY PAL TO ACCEPT PAYMENTS and I said FUCK U eBay and Pay Pal ...Anti Gun bastards |
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I do industrial rope access for a living.
Get some training, you die real fast with basic mistakes once you're up off the ground. If you're just into going down, and not climbing, get yourself a Petzl i'D. They are damn near idiot proof, but they are bulky, If you are rappelling around anything sharp, get a 2 rope system. Static line can cut quick under tension. If you're super serious about it, go take an IRATA level 1 course. It's gonna cost you about a grand, but it's the safest thing going right now in the rope world. Maybe overkill for your purposes however. Either way, get some hands on training. Learn your knots, be confident in your anchor skills, and get familiar with your equipment close to the ground. |
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I do industrial rope access for a living. Get some training, you die real fast with basic mistakes once you're up off the ground. If you're just into going down, and not climbing, get yourself a Petzl i'D. They are damn near idiot proof, but they are bulky, If you are rappelling around anything sharp, get a 2 rope system. Static line can cut quick under tension. If you're super serious about it, go take an IRATA level 1 course. It's gonna cost you about a grand, but it's the safest thing going right now in the rope world. Maybe overkill for your purposes however. Either way, get some hands on training. Learn your knots, be confident in your anchor skills, and get familiar with your equipment close to the ground. This! 
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Climbing is done for fun. Rappelling is done out of necessity. This 100% QFT. I have been a climber for over 15 years and to this day I would rather tackle a 2k foot face then rappell 100 ft from a tree, anchors, solid boulder etc etc. Rappelling is actually more dangerous then climbing is. You dont have as many safety back ups if your equipment fails. Black Diamond has quality gear from biners to slings and Edleweiss has outstanding ropes. Get proper training before you invest and Id be particular about where you anchor into. |
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Get the book "On Rope" as a starter. Once you get educated a little then you'll have a good sense of what you need.
http://www.amazon.com/Rope-American-Vertical-Techniques-Rappellers/dp/1879961059/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1292309553&sr=8-1 Quoted:
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fuck climbing I rappel for fun. Dorm windows work the best. Those are fun...as are tall stairwells and abandoned bridges. Don't forget hotel atriums 
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22 years ago, I could have been informative. Now? I just remember it being fun. Always pull slack from the anchor side, not the wall side. Latch part of carabiner faces your face, go straight down with it and hook into "swiss seat". Left arm really does nothing. Right arm controls just about everything. Don't go "possum". Try to be aware of where the ground is.
Have fun. ETA: The guy who taught me was a Sgt. Maj with the 10th SF. I only did it 8 or 9 times. wish I would have gotten serious about it. About the same here. Did a lot of it as a teen and in NROTC, but hardly never after that. Little items here and there. Army helicopter rappelling is like a flower opening up; Marine, they give you a loop of rope and tell you to jump back....must be hell on the pilot to have to balance that. Marine style is easier on the person, Army style is easier on the pilot, IMHO......almost took a "skid" in my face because when I leapt back, I didn't release the brake. Aussie style, going down face first. Jordanian style, going down face first with rifle butts to the shoulder, firing. Essentially, it's a RUSH and I loved doing it. __________________________________________________________ ("Don't bother to buckle up - you may not want to survive this."––Qualen, (w,stte), "Cliffhanger") |
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Climbing is done for fun. Rappelling is done out of necessity. This 100% QFT. I have been a climber for over 15 years and to this day I would rather tackle a 2k foot face then rappell 100 ft from a tree, anchors, solid boulder etc etc. Rappelling is actually more dangerous then climbing is. You dont have as many safety back ups if your equipment fails. Black Diamond has quality gear from biners to slings and Edleweiss has outstanding ropes. Get proper training before you invest and Id be particular about where you anchor into. There is 0 black diamond gear in the industrial world. That's not to say their stuff isn't solid, but it's considered to be on the budget end of things, IMO. That said, my rock harness is a black diamond. If you want a killer caving, rappelling harness, get a Petzl Croll Fast. They are designed for hanging in, not for rock climbing, Rappelling is certainly safer than rock climbing, if done correctly. Using a figure 8 or an ATC is not doing it correctly; those devices have been antiquated by devices like the grigri and i'D. Plus, there is minimal dynamic activity while rappelling. Taking a whipper off a wall can put thousands of lbs of force onto your anchors, and put you into contact with rocks. Zippering bolts off a face is much more likely during a fall than during a controlled decent. |
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Had to do it down the side of the ROTC building in college. Twice. Never again. Bet I set the world record for slowest descent. As a side note, one of the funniest things I've seen in my life is one of my classmates who thought he was about two feet closer to the ground than he actually was. WHAM!!! Face plant into the side of the building! 
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Quoted: You mean CH-53? Quoted: Well that's why you do it out of a blackhawk. Duh! Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Climbing is done for fun. Rappelling is done out of necessity. I can't think of too many situations where rappelling was a necessity. Rappelling is usually how you unclimb whatever it was that you climbed. Fastroping is much more fun All of the guys I ever saw fastrope down a rock face or wall regretted it by the time they got to the bottom. Nothing like screaming out of the hellhole! |
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Climbing is done for fun. Rappelling is done out of necessity. I can't think of too many situations where rappelling was a necessity. Rappelling is usually how you unclimb whatever it was that you climbed. Fastroping is much more fun
Unless you have to haul that fucking hauser to the top! Then it SUCKS! If you have a helo handy then it is the tit! |
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I'm not huge into ice/rock climbing but I've done my fair share of each. I highly recommend going to climbing school. Personally I like the guys at EMS (Eastern Mountain Sports) as they offer a wide variety of climbing classes in the northeastern part of the United States.
As for rappelling, yeah I've had a small incident coming down from an ice climb. I was top roped so no damage was done. I skidded off an ice wall (laterally, to my right) as I was coming down from a climb. Looking back at the pics from that climb (and others) it appears I was more pensive about the descent than going up. PS I use Black Diamond gear as well but I am not a professional climber or anything. I have some Petzl gear but not a lot ... mostly locking carabiners. YMMV. |
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Quoted: Get the book "On Rope" as a starter. Once you get educated a little then you'll have a good sense of what you need. http://www.amazon.com/Rope-American-Vertical-Techniques-Rappellers/dp/1879961059/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1292309553&sr=8-1 Don't forget hotel atriums This! On Rope is an excellent book. I'd advise that you buy new gear, at least your harness, rope & 'biners. I started with 300' of 1/2" static line, a figure 8 with ears and a rack for long drops. Harness & rope has a limited life span if you follow the mfr's instructions, I think 5 years on the harness and 3-5 yr's on the static line depending on abrasion & use. Don't fuck around trying to go cheap & used, your life literally depends on it. Lots of fun, your first long drop will cure you of the fear of heights |
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I'm not a pro but here is what i used. It's been years and there was probably better ways of doing it.
1" tubular webbing to tie off with. http://www.rei.com/product/472006 Bluewater static line. http://www.rei.com/product/737302 A rescue 8 http://www.mtntools.com/cat/rescue/cmi_rescue8.htm I have some black diamand and petzl but for instance these would work. A couple locking carabiners like http://www.rei.com/product/722353 A couple non locking http://www.rei.com/product/710228 For a harness try a couple on. Some want to pinch your nuts something fierce. I never bought a set of ascenders but my buddy had some like these. http://www.campman.com/jumar-ascenders-p-744.html?zenid=62643932ceaed47db32fa40e6e8a463c and i think the other was a petzl set. |
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I enjoy Canyoneering and that is part of the hobby. Will be doing this trip in April. http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s35/glockguy/3e95281a.jpg http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s35/glockguy/c052575d.jpg If you really want to get into the hobby, go do some classes at a climbing gym. Use the gym or websites to meet people who can teach you about what ropes to use, how to build anchors, etc. Once you think you know what you are doing, you will set everything up and have a knowledgeable person a long to tell you if your set up is safe or not. 
Where is that? |
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There is 0 black diamond gear in the industrial world. That doesn't mean they don't make good gear. Industrial use rope access gear necessarily needs to be different from recreational climbing gear. Climbing gear needs to be light and typically doesn't need all the bells and whistles industrial gear needs. Industrial gear might be used everyday, which rec gear is used occasionally. I trust Black Diamond gear. That said, ALL equipment needs to be inspected prior to use. |
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Quoted: In person training is a good idea, but really everything you need to know about setting up a rappel or anchor is in Mountaineering: the Freedom of the Hills. Great book. You are correct: it is a good book, a textbook even. But I cannot tell you how many beginning climbers set up "bombproof" anchors that are absolute crap. You want to learn anchor building from an experienced person. Directionality, redundancy, equalization, dynamic/static loading –– all concepts that can be picked up in books. But if you misunderstand something and set it up wrong, who will correct you? St. Peter at the Pearly Gates? |
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No, but I think the point he was going for was that rappelling is not what you do for fun, but what you do to get back down from something you climbed for fun. This is correct. When I was into climbing a long time ago I was taught by very experienced folks that the rappel down is the most dangerous part. I'm sure yall will debate that to death but it's how I learned and it is my experience as well. |
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In person training is a good idea, but really everything you need to know about setting up a rappel or anchor is in Mountaineering: the Freedom of the Hills. Great book. You are correct: it is a good book, a textbook even. But I cannot tell you how many beginning climbers set up "bombproof" anchors that are absolute crap. You want to learn anchor building from an experienced person. Directionality, redundancy, equalization, dynamic/static loading –– all concepts that can be picked up in books. But if you misunderstand something and set it up wrong, who will correct you? St. Peter at the Pearly Gates? Sir Isaac Newton will correct you, harshly. |
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In person training is a good idea, but really everything you need to know about setting up a rappel or anchor is in Mountaineering: the Freedom of the Hills. Great book. You are correct: it is a good book, a textbook even. But I cannot tell you how many beginning climbers set up "bombproof" anchors that are absolute crap. You want to learn anchor building from an experienced person. Directionality, redundancy, equalization, dynamic/static loading –– all concepts that can be picked up in books. But if you misunderstand something and set it up wrong, who will correct you? St. Peter at the Pearly Gates? Point conceded on anchors. |
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It's lots of fun, but finding a good anchor can be difficult. I miss-rigged an anchor once and almost took a fall. After I climbed back up, I saw what I had done wrong, and how close my rig was to coming undone.
This was taken while before I realized my mistake. 
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