Page 158 - Rappelling

chapter eight

Canyoneering Techniques

Canyoneering is the sport of traveling through can- were designed to allow the rappeller to add or sub-
yons. In many places in the southwestern United tract friction at the device by the way the rope is
States, canyoneering has evolved to a highly techni- clipped to it and by taking additional wraps around
cal adventure involving rappelling, climbing, and the device with the rope during a rappel (see pho-
even swimming through arduous, and often nar- tos on pages 148 and 149). These are complicated
row, slot canyons. Many sophisticated rappelling devices. When you purchase one, carefully study
techniques have been developed specifically for the manufacturer’s instructions for proper use.
canyoneering, including advanced rope retrieval
techniques. In many situations weight is a critical Canyoneering Rope Retrieval
factor, so rappelling on a single rope with a light Techniques
retrieval rope is often the standard method for long
rappels.
Carabiner and Knot Blocks
Blocking a rappel rope is a technique used to anchor
Canyoneering Rappel Devices a single strand of rope to an anchor while still allow-

Oftentimes the initial drop into a canyon consists ing for rope retrieval. The rappel anchor must be
of a lengthy vertical rappel. At the beginning of rigged with rappel rings, chains, or quick links to
the rappel, the entire weight of the rope below the facilitate rigging a block. The block is either a cara-
rappel device creates a huge amount of friction at biner or a knot that jams into one side of the rappel
the rappel device. As the rappeller descends, the anchor, allowing a single-strand rappel on the other
weight of the rope hanging below lessens, and as side. To retrieve the rope, the strand on the blocked
the rappeller approaches the base, more friction is side is pulled down. Blocks can be rigged with a
required for proper braking. More than one nov- single rope or two ropes tied together. With a single
ice canyon eer has been caught off guard by this rope, simply tie a figure eight loop on one side of
phenomenon. To solve this dilemma, sophisticated the anchor and clip it back to the other strand (the
devices, like the Petzl Pirana and the Sterling ATS, rappel strand) with a locking carabiner. For rigging a
block with two ropes, the Reepschnur method (see
below) is the most common technique.
Canyoneers choose to block their rappel rope
for numerous reasons. When descending into a
wet canyon with a stream, the rappel can be mea-
sured and tossed down, then blocked at the anchor.
Rappelling in Purcaraccia Canyon, Corsica. The remaining rope can be placed into a dry bag,
Pho to li C ensed by s huttersto CK. C om which is carried down by the last rappeller. The

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