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Repelling questions

Ehlusive

Active Member
Nov 17, 2019
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Missouri
So, I climbing using knaider swaider and we steps. Is repelling just added fun or my situation idea to repelling. I understand the one stickers, fully just not sure if its that much beneficial for someone like me and my climbing method. If so, i typically climb to 20ish feet. So, ideally how much repel line would I need with a figure 8 on end and quick snap.

Aside from rope, what would a person need being a newbie and on a budget. All the while being weight consciences. Whats repelling equipment typically add.. 2ish lbs?

Thanks
 

trailblazer75

Well-Known Member
Dec 24, 2018
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Springfield, MO
Personally, I climb exactly the same way and rappel every time. I feel a lot better rappelling to my platform and steps than I do fishing down with my K/S combo. I feel like it’s safer because I’m always tethered to the tree. Yeah it’s fun. It’s also fast. And since you’re using WE steps and the K/S combo you’ve got the room to carry the weight. That’s how I justify it.


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CharlieTN

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Sep 21, 2019
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To answer your first question, descending is always more dangerous than climbing. Therefore rappelling down is a very safe, and quick way to get down. It also has the added benefit, especially if you use the rappel rope as your tether and connect up to the tree with that from the ground (just move it up with you). Then you can rappel down at any point if something were to happen such as a stick kick out, step give way, you get hurt, whatever.

If you’re only going 20’ I would suggest enough extra to be able to wrap around the largest tree at your tether height. I usually only go to 20-22’ but carry 36’ or rappel line/tether.

And finally, a figure-8 will work just fine to get you down. Just need the 8 and a carabiner to connect it to your bridge. A lot of people also add a friction knot, such as a Distel or Schwabisch hitch on the braking end of the line as a back up. If you slip and let go of the rope, that friction knot will stop your from falling as long as you have rigged it properly. However if you’re going to rappel and use that as your tether an auto-locking belay device such as the Mad Rock Safeguard works great and will be on the rope all of the time.

Hope this helps.
 
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Wyatt_burp

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Jul 1, 2019
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30' oplux 8mm or similiar, sewn or spliced or tie a figure 8 on a bite. Cheapest? Metal figure 8 and some prussic for a friction hitch, that way you just let it tighten up when you get to your steps to pull em off.

Once you have a rappel system you like, you won't go in the woods without it.

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trailblazer75

Well-Known Member
Dec 24, 2018
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I agree. Rappel is the best way to go for most of us. I run a figure 8 and a schwebash hitch. Tends easily. Stops me. I’m going to try a madrock device soon.


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Atizzle07

New Member
Oct 9, 2018
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To answer your first question, descending is always more dangerous than climbing. Therefore rappelling down is a very safe, and quick way to get down. It also has the added benefit, especially if you use the rappel rope as your tether and connect up to the tree with that from the ground (just move it up with you). Then you can rappel down at any point if something were to happen such as a stick kick out, step give way, you get hurt, whatever.

If you’re only going 20’ I would suggest enough extra to be able to wrap around the largest tree at your tether height. I usually only go to 20-22’ but carry 36’ or rappel line/tether.

And finally, a figure-8 will work just fine to get you down. Just need the 8 and a carabiner to connect it to your bridge. A lot of people also add a friction knot, such as a Distel or Schwabisch hitch on the braking end of the line as a back up. If you slip and let go of the rope, that friction knot will stop your from falling as long as you have rigged it properly. However if you’re going to rappel and use that as your tether an auto-locking belay device such as the Mad Rock Safeguard works great and will be on the rope all of the time.

Hope this helps.

Second the extra rope. I only had about 25’ and was in a tight crotch at about 20’ up. When I pulled it down my stopper knot got stuck in my quick link about 10’ up and I was in a sticky situation. Luckily I whipped it around enough that it wiggled through but that could’ve been a bad deal.


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FrankNess14

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May 17, 2020
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I agree. Rappel is the best way to go for most of us. I run a figure 8 and a schwebash hitch. Tends easily. Stops me. I’m going to try a madrock device soon.


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I’ve heard that a figure 8 twists the rope, do you have issues with that?


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Ehlusive

Active Member
Nov 17, 2019
145
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Missouri
So how does one decide if certain rope is good for repelling or not.

Something like this ok ?
 
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mattsteg

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Sep 26, 2018
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So how does one decide if certain rope is good for repelling or not.

Something like this ok ?
Yeah that's a good rappel rope.
 

trailblazer75

Well-Known Member
Dec 24, 2018
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Springfield, MO
I’ve heard that a figure 8 twists the rope, do you have issues with that?


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It does. I personally don’t mind as I just let it hang there and untwist as I pack up the rest of my stuff. It really hasn’t made any difference to me.


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FrankNess14

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May 17, 2020
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It does. I personally don’t mind as I just let it hang there and untwist as I pack up the rest of my stuff. It really hasn’t made any difference to me.


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How do you pack/store your rope? I’ve been using one of the water bottle molle pouches and i don’t even take the rope all the way out, so twisting would likely cause an issue.
 

trailblazer75

Well-Known Member
Dec 24, 2018
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Springfield, MO
9fc6ee1d0e36f6cfdbb58fbfcfed4fa7.jpg

That is a roll up rope pouch that I had made. It’s got to zippered pockets. I’ll take some more pictures of it when I get home. It’s pretty slick.


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CharlieTN

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Sep 21, 2019
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I’ve heard that a figure 8 twists the rope, do you have issues with that?


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Technically yes and if it was more than a 30’ drop it might matter. In the short distance we are working with it’s not a problem. In fact it will likely twists it a whole lot less than when we wrap the rope back up.
 
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CharlieTN

Well-Known Member
Sep 21, 2019
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How do you pack/store your rope? I’ve been using one of the water bottle molle pouches and i don’t even take the rope all the way out, so twisting would likely cause an issue.
Personal opinion here - you should always take the rappel rope completely out when you rappel. It’s too easy to have it get tangled up then pull that tangle up into your rappel device while trying to come down.
 

As in a sling

Member
Sep 23, 2017
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Personal opinion here - you should always take the rappel rope completely out when you rappel. It’s too easy to have it get tangled up then pull that tangle up into your rappel device while trying to come down.
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.
 

Chandler96

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Oct 25, 2019
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Otsego, MI
The madrock safeguards just went back in stock at madrock.com. Thats what i use and its magical. I had a member here make a rollpouch exactly like @trailblazer75 and im looking forward to getting it. You for sure want all your rope is out of the pouch and as untwisted as you can on the actual repel.
 
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