Descending wet canyons

[brevetti]

Hi,

This might be a stupid question but i need to ask. I am about to do my first wet canyon this weekend and i was wondering if there are any tips anyone has about rigging for more friction before the rap down the falls. I am using a totem and my friend is using a pirana. I know how to do this in dry canyons but...... Does a wet rope make it more difficult to get friction? Or is it about the same as a dry rope??

[kentonharman]

Hi,

A wet rope will have reduced friction.

Another thing to consider in wet canyon is whether the the rope will be in the water flow below the rappeller. The flowing water will pull on the rope, adding a lot of friction to the totem/8/ATC, similar to a fireman's belay. If there is a lot of flow, you may have to feed the device in order to decend.

Enjoy.

[tylerhirshfeld]

Another thing to remember are "wet disconnects". Set your rope length so it is just barely is in the water so that you are not fiddling around trying to either disconnecting the rap device from the rope or feeding 50 ft of rope thought the device while treading water.:titanic:

Are you planning on double rope or single rope rappeling??

[brevetti]

Are you planning on double rope or single rope rappeling??


We are planning a single rope rap. Thank you for all your input, this helps a lot.

[wiese]

Don’t know what we are calling a wet canyon or if you are going to be in the water course, but if you have a little hesitation the first time here are a few things that might help.

Don’t wear a pack, it increase your surface area for the water to push on. It can be zipped down to ya after the drop and you are “safe”.
Wear a short vision under your helmet a little tight so it will not push down if you don’t like water in your face.
Don’t wear a glove on your rap hand, even if your right hand is cold.
Do your normal rappel set up. Don’t do anything in your rappel set up that you haven’t tried before numerous times.

Have Fun
EW

[ddpettin]

Don’t wear a glove on your rap hand, even if your right hand is cold.


What is the reasoning behind this? I will often wear neoprene gloves in cold wet canyons, otherwise my hands will be come useless. A cold hand doesn't do you much good.

[wiese]

What is the reasoning behind this? I will often wear neoprene gloves in cold wet canyons, otherwise my hands will be come useless. A cold hand doesn't do you much good.First time down, he needs to keep everything like he normally does. Who knows maybe he wears neoprene in AB's in Utah but I doubt it.

Not saying don't wear gloveS in class C. I am saying don't wear ONE on your break hand on the actual drop.

[tylerhirshfeld]

Brevetti, I think if you really want to kinda get a feel for wet rope and using different friction methods with it... go find a tree, anchor you rope to it, hose your rope so it is soaked with water, and rap 5-10 ft. Try it with your glove, without your glove, if you use an auto block, try it with that. Its better to learn before you go out, than while you are out there!

[dbaxter]

Brevetti, I think if you really want to kinda get a feel for wet rope and using different friction methods with it... go find a tree, anchor you rope to it, hose your rope so it is soaked with water, and rap 5-10 ft. Try it with your glove, without your glove, if you use an auto block, try it with that. Its better to learn before you go out, than while you are out there!
Thane and I found a sweet little 40 foot rap close to where we live and we use it to practice different techniques. It's perfect, no one's found it yet, and it's easy to run back up to the (natural) anchor to do it again. There's a 40' free rappel right next to a 40' vertical rap. Works great! :2thumbs:.