rcwild
09-13-2005, 06:46 AM
You can use your rope bag or pack to protect the rope from a sharp edge using a simple block variation.
1. Feed the end of your rope through the rap ring and set the rope length for the rappel.
2. Set up a normal block.
3. Add a second, temporary block, on the rappel side of the rope. This is done to keep the weight of the rope bag from pulling the rope down.
4. First person down rappels with rope bag to the sharp edge. Stop and lock off. Either (a) tie a clove hitch in the bag side of the rope just above the sharp edge, or (b) secure a prussik to the bag side of the rope just above the sharp edge. Secure the rope bag to the knot/prussik with a carabiner and adjust so it covers the edge.
5. Everyone rappels, making sure the rope lays on the rope bag as they pass the edge.
6. Last person down rigs rappel, then removes temporary block.
7. Last person rappels to the rope bag. Stop and lock off. Either (a) release the bag (secure it to harness or toss to the ground) and rappel without benefit of edge protection, or (b) attach a pull cord to the bag, or (c) pull enough rope from the bag to reach the ground and secure it to the bag.
Using a separate pull cord (7b) allows the weight of the bag to aid in retrieval. Be sure the bag cannot get stuck in cracks, on trees/bushes, etc.
1. Feed the end of your rope through the rap ring and set the rope length for the rappel.
2. Set up a normal block.
3. Add a second, temporary block, on the rappel side of the rope. This is done to keep the weight of the rope bag from pulling the rope down.
4. First person down rappels with rope bag to the sharp edge. Stop and lock off. Either (a) tie a clove hitch in the bag side of the rope just above the sharp edge, or (b) secure a prussik to the bag side of the rope just above the sharp edge. Secure the rope bag to the knot/prussik with a carabiner and adjust so it covers the edge.
5. Everyone rappels, making sure the rope lays on the rope bag as they pass the edge.
6. Last person down rigs rappel, then removes temporary block.
7. Last person rappels to the rope bag. Stop and lock off. Either (a) release the bag (secure it to harness or toss to the ground) and rappel without benefit of edge protection, or (b) attach a pull cord to the bag, or (c) pull enough rope from the bag to reach the ground and secure it to the bag.
Using a separate pull cord (7b) allows the weight of the bag to aid in retrieval. Be sure the bag cannot get stuck in cracks, on trees/bushes, etc.