rcwild
03-21-2005, 01:28 PM
In canyoneering, rappelling with a pack can pose problems. If worn on the back while rappelling, a pack will create a higher center of gravity and increase the likelihood of becoming inverted. The situation is exacerbated when rappelling in a waterfall. The force of the water hitting the top of the pack can easily flip you upside down.
Another problem is created when the rappel lands in strong current or a hydraulic at the base of a waterfall. You must be able to free yourself from the rope quickly so you can focus your attention on escaping the current or hydraulic. Wearing your pack on your back can make this more difficult.
One classic solution to the inversion problem is to wear a chest harness. A chest harness creates a second, higher attachment point to the rope and can virtually eliminate the risk of flipping upside down. This is a reasonable solution in Class A (dry) canyons. It will work in Class B (water without current) canyons, but be aware that you will have more things to disconnect from the rope while treading water. Your pack may provide floatation, but when worn on your back it may (depending how the contents are loaded) push you forward -- face down -- in the water.
DO NOT use a chest harness in Class C (water with strong current) canyons. This practice can be extremely DANGEROUS! Your focus needs to be on escaping the current or hydraulic, not on disconnecting multiple devices from the rope.
Another solution is to hang your pack from your harness or rappelling device. Some people prefer to hang their pack from a long tether so it dangles below their feet. Works well in Class A and B canyons. When rappelling into a pool, you can land straddled to your pack for floatation while you disconnect. Do not use this type of long tether in Class C canyons. If your pack arrives in the current or hydraulic before you, it can pull you in with it and make disconnecting from the rope nearly impossible. In Class C canyons, if you prefer hanging your pack from your harness, hang it high so the bottom of the pack is higher than your feet.
If your pack is well-built, and if the contents are not fragile, and if the drop is not too long, you can throw your pack down. Don't throw it into current that can carry it away and don't throw it into a hydraulic.
You can also lower your pack, but it is more efficient to set up a zip line. Someone at the top of the rappel and another person at the bottom tension a diagonal rope. Packs are clipped to this rope with a carabiner. While the rope is tensioned, the packs will zip to the bottom. In the process, the packs will gain quite a bit of momentum. The person at the bottom can stop the momentum and control where the pack lands by easing off on the tension. The person holding the rope at the top should hold firm and let the bottom person control.
The zip line method works well in Class C canyons. Everyone can rappel without their packs, making it much easier to escape current or hydraulics. If you are careful, this method can be used to keep gear dry as well.
Another problem is created when the rappel lands in strong current or a hydraulic at the base of a waterfall. You must be able to free yourself from the rope quickly so you can focus your attention on escaping the current or hydraulic. Wearing your pack on your back can make this more difficult.
One classic solution to the inversion problem is to wear a chest harness. A chest harness creates a second, higher attachment point to the rope and can virtually eliminate the risk of flipping upside down. This is a reasonable solution in Class A (dry) canyons. It will work in Class B (water without current) canyons, but be aware that you will have more things to disconnect from the rope while treading water. Your pack may provide floatation, but when worn on your back it may (depending how the contents are loaded) push you forward -- face down -- in the water.
DO NOT use a chest harness in Class C (water with strong current) canyons. This practice can be extremely DANGEROUS! Your focus needs to be on escaping the current or hydraulic, not on disconnecting multiple devices from the rope.
Another solution is to hang your pack from your harness or rappelling device. Some people prefer to hang their pack from a long tether so it dangles below their feet. Works well in Class A and B canyons. When rappelling into a pool, you can land straddled to your pack for floatation while you disconnect. Do not use this type of long tether in Class C canyons. If your pack arrives in the current or hydraulic before you, it can pull you in with it and make disconnecting from the rope nearly impossible. In Class C canyons, if you prefer hanging your pack from your harness, hang it high so the bottom of the pack is higher than your feet.
If your pack is well-built, and if the contents are not fragile, and if the drop is not too long, you can throw your pack down. Don't throw it into current that can carry it away and don't throw it into a hydraulic.
You can also lower your pack, but it is more efficient to set up a zip line. Someone at the top of the rappel and another person at the bottom tension a diagonal rope. Packs are clipped to this rope with a carabiner. While the rope is tensioned, the packs will zip to the bottom. In the process, the packs will gain quite a bit of momentum. The person at the bottom can stop the momentum and control where the pack lands by easing off on the tension. The person holding the rope at the top should hold firm and let the bottom person control.
The zip line method works well in Class C canyons. Everyone can rappel without their packs, making it much easier to escape current or hydraulics. If you are careful, this method can be used to keep gear dry as well.