Page 163 - Rappelling

Canyoneering

or more information on canyoneering techniques, I highly recommend reading Canyoneering,
F by David Black, a FalconGuide published by Globe Pequot Press and part of the How to Climb
series.
The American Canyoneering Academy is a national organization offering training, rendezvous,
workshops, outings, and resources. See more at www.canyoneering.net.
Utah offers some of the greatest canyoneering adventures in the United States. For details on
some of these classic excursions, visit www.canyoneeringusa.com.

Rigging for Canyoneering release the tension on the Munter/mule/overhand
Contingencies on the rappel strand, transferring the load to the
belay Munter. With enough slack on the rappel
With a large group of rappellers descending into a line, the rappeller can hopefully fix the problem.
canyon, planning for potential problems can avert Now secure the rappel line’s Munter with a mule/
a disaster. If there is plenty of rope (at least double overhand backup, communicate with the rappel-
the distance of the rappel), attach the middle of the ler to make sure he has his brake hand in position,
rope to the anchor with a Munter/mule/overhand then release the mule/overhand backup to the belay
(which is releasable under tension) and toss down Munter. Continue belaying as the rappeller contin-
the rappel rope. The rappeller ties in to the other ues the descent.
end of the rope and is belayed with a Munter hitch Another option is to simply lower the rappel-
directly off the anchor. If anything gets jammed ler to the ground by releasing the mule/overhand
in the rappel device (clothing, hair, etc.), or if the backup on the rappel line.
rappeller encounters a knot or problem with the Rigging the rappel line with a Munter/mule/
rope, there are two options. One is also discussed in overhand also allows the rope length to be changed
chapter 5 (see Rigging for Contingencies): Secure periodically, to avoid abrasion at any single point on
the belay Munter with a mule/overhand knot, then the rope if there are edge abrasion issues.

152 RAPPELLING

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