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Rappelling 101

eddiegomes83 said:
Does anybody else have their rope get stuck in tree often? I have had it happen a couple times. Maybe my pull down rope isn't heavy enough or something.
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At first yes and very often. I have since learned that once I’m done hunting for the day, I’ll readjust my tether point of my rappel rope so that when I pull my recovery rope, once it comes free, I won’t have any issues with it getting snagged on any branches. That’s been the key thing for me.
 
For people using jammies and having them slip when tied as french prussic you simply need more wraps. I use my 35cm on Oplux and it's never slipped excpet for the very first time I installed it. I added another wrap and all good. When things slip more friction is needed, simple.
 
Homebrew454 said:
I'm assuming the munter hitch would be used instead of an ATC or mechanical device. Backed up with a autoblock, klemheist, etc.
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you certainly could back up a munter hitch, and should if you have the option. The sentiment behind it is, if all you have is a rope and a carabiner, it is a way to get down safely. So should be practiced by itself.

Still, I wouldn't plan on the munter to be my first backup. I would have my first backup be an ATC or fig8. Heck, many of us are already out there with 2 ascenders (ropeman, duck, etc). Those can serve as backups for getting down the tree.
 
pesqimon said:
you certainly could back up a munter hitch, and should if you have the option. The sentiment behind it is, if all you have is a rope and a carabiner, it is a way to get down safely. So should be practiced by itself.

Still, I wouldn't plan on the munter to be my first backup. I would have my first backup be an ATC or fig8. Heck, many of us are already out there with 2 ascenders (ropeman, duck, etc). Those can serve as backups for getting down the tree.
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Yeah, I prefer to use the ATC as my main form of descent backed up with an autoblock. Unless the safeguard is attached yet to my SRT line. Then I'll just rappel with that and an autoblock below. The ATC is always in my bag though.

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eddiegomes83 said:
Does anybody else have their rope get stuck in tree often? I have had it happen a couple times. Maybe my pull down rope isn't heavy enough or something.
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Never. I use standard paracord and clip my carabiner behind the figure eight knot. This brings the knot off the tree and down first. The tag easily slides through and branches.

It was already stated above but worth mentioning. Take an extra minute prior to rappelling to check the path of your system and make sure there won’t be any issues when you retrieve the rope.


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For y’all using the ATC -XP, what size is your rope? Trying to decide if it will work as good or better than ATC Alpine Guide for 8mm.
 
** I"ve said this probably 100's of times on this site at this point. Guys who have never rappelled, please go learn from someone at a local rock gym, or a certified AMGA instructor. A very slight mistake can kill you. and simple things like a sleeve, drawsting, or even hair getting stuck in your belay device off the ground can quickly put you in a serious situation if you don't know how to deal with it. Also guys, if you are "self taught" on these type of technical skills, please try to abstain from giving advice or instruction on this kind of stuff. There are many many many right ways to do this, many many many devices to do it with that have different friction levels and multiple uses, but one wrong setup or mistake, and you're dead or seriously injured. **
 
Vtbow said:
** I"ve said this probably 100's of times on this site at this point. Guys who have never rappelled, please go learn from someone at a local rock gym, or a certified AMGA instructor. A very slight mistake can kill you. and simple things like a sleeve, drawsting, or even hair getting stuck in your belay device off the ground can quickly put you in a serious situation if you don't know how to deal with it. Also guys, if you are "self taught" on these type of technical skills, please try to abstain from giving advice or instruction on this kind of stuff. There are many many many right ways to do this, many many many devices to do it with that have different friction levels and multiple uses, but one wrong setup or mistake, and you're dead or seriously injured. **
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So now I need a gym membership? Guess I’ll just give up on my dream. Hope I don’t slip on my tears as I’m one sticking back down the tree.
 
Vtbow said:
** I"ve said this probably 100's of times on this site at this point. Guys who have never rappelled, please go learn from someone at a local rock gym, or a certified AMGA instructor. A very slight mistake can kill you. and simple things like a sleeve, drawsting, or even hair getting stuck in your belay device off the ground can quickly put you in a serious situation if you don't know how to deal with it. Also guys, if you are "self taught" on these type of technical skills, please try to abstain from giving advice or instruction on this kind of stuff. There are many many many right ways to do this, many many many devices to do it with that have different friction levels and multiple uses, but one wrong setup or mistake, and you're dead or seriously injured. **
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We're all adults man. You've said it 100 times. No need to keep repeating yourself. Some of us just want info and we understand that we are taking risk.

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dlist777 said:
We're all adults man. You've said it 100 times. No need to keep repeating yourself. Some of us just want info and we understand that we are taking risk.

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Understood. And some people here are brand new to the site(and/or rapelling) and have 0 idea what they're doing, or understanding of the risks actually involved. Not trying to create an argument, but telling someone how to "sorta" do something that could kill you over the internet to me equates to giving someone a remmy 870, a handfull of shells and then telling them to go watch Hickok45 on youtube to learn how to use it safely.
 
Vtbow said:
** I"ve said this probably 100's of times on this site at this point. Guys who have never rappelled, please go learn from someone at a local rock gym, or a certified AMGA instructor. A very slight mistake can kill you. and simple things like a sleeve, drawsting, or even hair getting stuck in your belay device off the ground can quickly put you in a serious situation if you don't know how to deal with it. Also guys, if you are "self taught" on these type of technical skills, please try to abstain from giving advice or instruction on this kind of stuff. There are many many many right ways to do this, many many many devices to do it with that have different friction levels and multiple uses, but one wrong setup or mistake, and you're dead or seriously injured. **
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Yes, it’s worth repeating. Don’t obtain your rappelling foundation on YouTube videos or Internet forums. Once you understand the basics, forums and YouTube are much more helpful.


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Vtbow said:
Understood. And some people here are brand new to the site(and/or rapelling) and have 0 idea what they're doing, or understanding of the risks actually involved. Not trying to create an argument, but telling someone how to "sorta" do something that could kill you over the internet to me equates to giving someone a remmy 870, a handfull of shells and then telling them to go watch Hickok45 on youtube to learn how to use it safely.
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I dont know who you're referring to that told someone how to "sorta" do something.

I'm going to continue to ask rapelling questions and I appreciate all (including you) that are willing to provide useful info.

If you want to chime in from time to time to admonish us to get professional instruction, that's fine.
 
The most concerning thing about all of this is there are so many devices and ropes to use to both ascend and descend the tree. Unfortunately on this forum we are all over the place on devices, and advice(I'm as guilty of it as anyone -not pointing fingers...). I'm so worried someone is going to get hurt using bad advice from the forum or by not fully understanding advice. This post is a great example as it started out with a reasonable question about rappelling @weekender21 answered it with a very intuitive response showing a very common and widely excepted technique with video and pictorial explanation, and from there it just gets deeper and deeper into various ropes, devices, and advice. I think at some point we need to organize this topic as it gains speed before it's too late. I try to have a very minimalist approach and get everyone both experienced and not experienced to think about the very basic safety of climbing, learn your method on the ground. Then as you get off the ground use your head..no deer is worth dying for.....keep asking yourself what would I do to get down if I had just a rope, just a carabiner and a rope etc......these are the lessons taught by professionals before you even leave the ground! I cringe when I see people using out of spec ropes trying to push the weight of their gear. I worry some people don't realize these friction knots and devices have specific uses and weight limits to control descent. One of these days we are going to here someone got hurt and I don't want to be the one that got them there.
 
weekender21 said:
Yes, it’s worth repeating. Don’t obtain your rappelling foundation on YouTube videos or Internet forums. Once you understand the basics, forums and YouTube are much more helpful.


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I just want to add, in case it isn't obvious: learning this stuff is hella fun! totally worth meeting up with some experts and spend time climbing and descending live.
 
dlist777 said:
I dont know who you're referring to that told someone how to "sorta" do something.

I'm going to continue to ask rapelling questions and I appreciate all (including you) that are willing to provide useful info.

If you want to chime in from time to time to admonish us to get professional instruction, that's fine.
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I wasnt referrring to anyone specific or pointing fingers with the "sorta" just that a lot of time people give tidbits of information that dont run through the entire system start to finish--if it seemed accusational at all it was not meant to be. my point with that comment was when people start mixing and matching the bits of information they get without understanding the big picture they can easily run into trouble.
 
@dalton916 - are you using Sterling Hollow for your auto-block? If yes how many wraps?
Assume your using the Oplux in single rope not double. I have a ATC XP also, going to play in the basement this weekend with 12 foot piece of OpLux to get a feel for it.
 
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