It is a very efficient technique to reach inaccessible or hard-to-reach places quickly and safely. For this reason, it is adownhill methodthat is practiced in various extreme sports. When it comes to mountaineering, hiking, cañonismo, climbing or caving, rappelling is one part fundamental for these adventure sports.
But rappel descent was not always a sport, in fact, it is a very ancient practice whose first date of use recorded in history dates back to 1876 when a French mountaineer Jean Charlet Straton made the first movement using a “metal descender”. The rappelling technique has been widely used in army operations and in rescue operations both in mountains and in urban areas. Definitely, it is a very useful activity.
To implement the rappel system there are different patterns using different materials. To learn about these rappelling archetypes, we will first list the necessary material and then the different rappelling procedures.
Rappelling equipment
As rappelling systems are varied, their use may require different tools but basically we will always find some of these materials:
- Rope
- Flat tape (to prevent the rappelling rope from wearing out)
- Carabiners (somewith insurance and others without insurance)
- Harness
- Anchor leg
- Descender
- Helmet
- Gloves
Some of the materials listed are more preventive than necessary, but it is advisable to be well prepared for a rappelling activity since it is still an extreme sport that requires safety measures.
Not all of these elements are necessary for each type of descent, so now we will see the different rappel modalities and how to execute them.
Rappelling techniques
Basically in rappelling we will find three groups in their different descent techniques:
- Rappelling that involves friction with the body
- Rappelling with carabiner strain
- Rappelling with descenders
These different categories of rappelling involve different materials and are used in different situations or for different purposes. It is important to keep in mind that each of these techniques has a certain science and requires practice like an experienced person to accurately show rope placements and so on. However, we can explain what each of them consists of:
Body rappelling. In the first category we will find the following friction rappels:
- Arm rappelling: On walls with little verticality, this technique only requires the use of a rope and placing it over the shoulder and passing it around the arms in an extended position to control the speed of descent due to friction and the tie in the hand where the rope passes.
- Spanish Rappel (also called Dulfer rappelling): The simplest rappelling system that exists is that the rope passes between the legs, going around the hips to go over the opposite shoulder (it has to cross the chest), down the back and under the arm to control it with the hand.Be careful with loose hair!
Carabineer rappelling. In the second category it is also a simple rappel with little equipment:
- Gramminger Rappel. This technique requires 7 carabiners, the ones that have a “D” shape are used, one of which has to have a safety catch, two need facing triggers and the other 4 without safety. This technique is also called firefighter rappel.
- Mosquefreno Rappel. On the safety side of the carabiner, the rope is wrapped three times and attached to the harness with another carabiner. Depending on the number of turns you make on the rope, friction increases and consequently the sliding slows down.
Rappel with descender. At the safety level, these are the most efficient rappels and consequently they tend to be the most used both in sports and in rescue:
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Rappel with eight. It is called this way in reference to the key element of this technique. The “Ocho” is a metal artifact in the shape of the number 8 and whose simplicity of use transformed it into a classic, especially in the climbing sport. However, today it has been replaced by more modern and efficient descenders, making it increasingly unusual.
- Rappel with pulley. Especially for caving, rappelling with pulleys allows good control of the descent in caves, canyons and underground rivers. It involves forming an “S” with the rope passing through the pulley descenders which exist with or without insurance.
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Rappel with tubular instruments. Its coefficient of friction is much higher than with other techniques or devices. requirelittle effort to control the descent and its use does not wrinkle the rope. They are very practical, easy to use and safe.
- Rappel with marimba. Widely used in caving , it is a descent of large vertical walls and it works with sticky ropes and is made up of bars.
To put all these techniques into practice, we recommend that you contact specialists who will be able to teach you each step to perform these descents in a controlled manner and with the greatest safety possible. Now that you are more informed, go for a rappel descent.
