Page 172 - Rappelling

Todd Gordon demonstrates basic rigging of mechanical ascenders for vertical and less-than-vertical
terrain. Nylon daisy chains have been threaded through both harness tie-in points and attached to
the ascenders with locking carabiners. The etriers are clipped with non-locking carabiners into the
locking carabiners at the ascenders (biner to biner) for easy detachment of the etriers—allowing
them to be disconnected without unlocking the attachment carabiner. This is handy for when the
terrain becomes low angle and you no longer need the etriers, but still want a safe connection to the
ascenders as you slide them up the rope. The daisy chain length to the top ascender (in this case
his right-hand ascender) can be adjusted by which loop you use on the daisy chain. When using a
daisy chain, never clip the carabiner into two pockets—it’s a weak (3 kN or 674 lbs.) and dangerous
connection. For vertical and less-than-vertical jumaring, the top daisy’s length should be adjusted so
that when you’re sitting in the harness you can reach up and comfortably grab the jumar’s handle.

Rope Ascending Techniques 161

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