How To RappelInstructional slide show created by Scott Smith

1. Put on Equipment

Put on the harness The belay loop goes in front The legs go in the leg loops Pull up the waist band

Put on the helmet Put on gloves Tighten all straps so that only three fingers

fit between the straps and the user Make sure you double back all straps Put carabineers and rappel or belaying

devices on the harness via gear loops or belay loop

2. Secure Yourself

Using webbing, rope, daisy chain, etc. to secure yourself to the top of cliff while you work on the remainder of the preparation work

Use the bowline to tie in

Safety Rope

3. Set the Rappel Anchor The anchor holds

the rope to the top of cliff

See the page concerning anchors to learn how to properly prepare an anchor

Never rappel of an anchor that you do not trust

4. Prepare Rope

Attach a carabineer to your anchor Run your rope halfway through the

carabineer Throw the ends over the cliff Make sure the rope touches the bottom

with plenty of slack left for belaying Make sure that the rope will not rub up

against any sharp edges during a rappel

5. Get on Rope

Pull the rope back to the top of the cliff

Pass both strands through the big hole and loop them over the shaft and lock it to the harness using a locking carabineer

Make sure the loose end of the rope hangs at the side of your dominant hand

Personal Belaying

In addition to the person on the ground belaying, you can also stop yourself from falling

When repelling you keep your non-dominant hand on the rope that goes to the anchor and your dominant hand on the loose rope

To stop mid rappel, you squeeze the loose rope in your dominant hand and pull it underneath yourself

Dominant Hand Locking Rope

6. Call on Belay

Call “On belay,” to the person belaying you when you are ready

Do not move to the edge of the cliff until you get the respond, “Belay on” form the person belaying

Next, unclip from the safety harness

7. Prepare to Rappel

Back up to the edge of the cliff

Lock yourself in place and lean back over the cliff

You legs should be perpendicular to the cliff when in the ready position

Call “on rappel” to the person belaying

When they are ready, they will respond “rappel on”

Do not start to rappel until you get a response

8. Rappel

Bend your legs and push of the wall Loosen your grip with your dominant hand

to begin to descend You can control how fast you descend by varying

how much brake you are putting on Keep your legs perpendicular to the cliff

during the entire rappel Continue to bounce off the cliff using your

legs until you reach the bottom You may also walk yourself down the cliff if

you prefer that to bounding down

9. Land

After landing call “off belay” to the person belaying

Once they respond with “belay off” you can unclip the belay device and remove it from the rope

10. Recover Rope

The final step is to recover the rope This will vary depending on how you

set up the anchor The method used here just requires

you to pull on one of the end of the ropes hanging down

You loose a carabineer at each rappel with this method, but you save a lot of time