Page 41 - Rappelling

Rock Structures
The rock itself can be used for a rappel anchor.
Massive spikes or horns of rock attached to the
main rock structure can serve as reliable rappel
anchors. A tunnel in a solid rock formation is called
a thread and is utilized by threading a sling or cord,
or tying a rope, through the tunnel. Limestone is a
rock type with many threads, whereas threads are a
rarity in granite.
(continued on page 35)

Solid rock bollard attached to the main cliff.
The cordelette is doubled and tied with a figure
eight, so if one strand was cut, the other strand
backs it up. With two carabiners at the master
point, the rigging is redundant. Good to go.

It’s rare to find a thread this good in granite; threads are more common in sandstone and limestone.
Here the cordelette was doubled to start with, looped through the tunnel, then tied with a figure eight
knot, leaving four strands of cord around the thread, virtually eliminating any chance of the cord
failing due to abrasion—if one loop is cut, three loops back it up. For a rope-retrievable system, add
two quick links to the four-loop master point and you’ll have redundancy in your rigging all the way
to the point where your rappel rope is attached to the anchor system.

30 RAPPELLING

Rappelling_i-174_3pp_CS55le.indd 30 7/24/13 10:15 AM