Our Sites: Altrec.com Outlet Great Outdoors New GreatOutdoors Store Opening
GreatOutdoors.com Search
  • Search Stories
  • Search for Gear & Clothing

Getting Down Without a Rappelling Device

By Rebecca Gonzales - August 2nd, 2000

Find More:
The "Dulfer"
The Dulfer is not as enjoyable as the drawing would lead you to believe. In fact, it is painful and only works on gradual slopes. You won't gain much speed with this technique, but you will get back on Mother Earth.

The Munter Hitch
The Munter hitch is reliable, assuming you know how to set it up correctly. You can use either one locking or two opposing carabiners. Make two bights in the rappel rope, like a clove hitch, and fold one over the other. Clip the loops through the carabiner(s) which are clipped to your harness (preferrably belay loop, gear loop will not work!). Then start heading down. It will kink your rope, but you'll get over it.

The Carbiner Brake
The Carbiner Brake can be done with either six carabiners or one large locking and four regular carabiners (the large locking connecting to your harness). When using two carabiners, ALWAYS reverse the gates. These first two will keep the rope from running against your harness, however they can be eliminated in an emergency if you only have four. Then clip two opposing ovals (or Ds, although ovals are best) to the two on your harness. Put a bight of the double ropes through these two. Clip the last two ovals across these two and under the bights so they rope runs over the backs of the pair.


Comments

Post new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
CAPTCHA
This is to test if you are a person or a bot.
Image CAPTCHA
Copy the characters (respecting upper/lower case) from the image.

Top Stories

 

Favorite Gear for Spring 2012

The staff previews a few ...

Flying High in the Bugaboos

A lodge to lodge hiking trip ...

The Will to Climb

Ed Viesturs, America's ...

Kids and Climbing: A Step Up In Life

For a lot of kids, youth ...

© 2011 GreatOutdoors.com