Repelling questions

[CharlieTN]

If I’m to take a cue from every other application where rappelling is used, they all have a free hanging line below them. I’m sure there’s a good reason why they don’t keep the rope with them.

The only time I’ve seen people rappelling and their rope not be free is with some extremely long drops and that is mainly to negate the weight of the rope on the rappel device. Too much can basically brake the rappel.

 

[bj139]

If I’m to take a cue from every other application where rappelling is used, they all have a free hanging line below them. I’m sure there’s a good reason why they don’t keep the rope with them.

If you have the rope in a bunch you could rappel and hit the bunch and be locked up. Now you have to figure out how to get up the rope so you can untangle it. Make sure it is free all the way to the ground.

 

[As in a sling]

If you have the rope in a bunch you could rappel and hit the bunch and be locked up. Now you have to figure out how to get up the rope so you can untangle it. Make sure it is free all the way to the ground.

Absolutely. Mine is in a dump pouch, and I have visions of somehow hanging myself if I were going down quickly and the rope got all crazy hanging right next to me

 

[As in a sling]

The only time I’ve seen people rappelling and their rope not be free is with some extremely long drops and that is mainly to negate the weight of the rope on the rappel device. Too much can basically brake the rappel.

I could see that. If there was some sort of *actually* controlled feed for the slack side as you went down maybe that would work but, we’re not riggers. 20-30 feet, just let the rope hang.

 

[kenn1320]

to each their own, but Im not rappelling fast enough to have a knot get wadded up in the madrock. Watch Red beard video, he strips out an arm length at a time and feeds it to the madrock.

 

[swd]

Rappelling has made me safer at hunting height. I get up the tree with a single stick and my 8' tether. Once I am set up, I hook up my rappel rope. No I am doubled in whereas before I relied on just a single tether.

No one has mentioned DanO (https://doublesteps.com) for getting all of the equipment and great advice...

 

[bj139]

to each their own, but Im not rappelling fast enough to have a knot get wadded up in the madrock. Watch Red beard video, he strips out an arm length at a time and feeds it to the madrock.

Forget to do that a few times and you may have a mess.

 

[mattsteg]

Forget to do that a few times and you may have a mess.

Is it even possible to forget?

 

[bj139]

Is it even possible to forget?

To pull an arm's length of line out of your pouch every few feet? Pull it all out at once and be sure.
Edit: I see what you mean. With holding the tag end tightly it is not possible. Either way would be fine.

 

[mattsteg]

To pull an arm's length of line out of your pouch every few feet? Pull it all out at once and be sure.

Yes. The process is effectively intrinsically reminding as long as you use your brake hand to brake and descend slowly and in-control.