Rappelling is an intensive climbing technique that involves sliding down the faces of cliffs and mountains by means of a fixed rope. In his book "How to Rappel!" Craig Luebben mentions the sport of rappelling relies entirely on the skill and equipment of the practitioner, and involves a variety of artificial anchors such as cams, pitons and bolts along with ropes, harnesses and rappel devices for descending steep surfaces. While highly rewarding, rappelling is considered a dangerous sport and should only be attempted when accompanied by a skilled supervisor.
Step 1
Research and acquire the equipment and tools you will need for your rappelling trip. Visit your local outdoor sports store and select a static rope of 9 to 11 mm in width as well as tubular webbing, Prusik loop or rappelling loop, climbing harness, rappelling gloves, rope edge guard as well as size D carabiners. You may also need artificial anchors such as cams, pitons and bolts in situations where natural anchors such as boulders and trees are unavailable or less reliable.
Step 2
Attend a rappelling class at your local outdoor sports club or college university. Contact your local rock climbing, caving or adventure sports club for organized rappel trips that allow you to travel to outdoor areas and practice rappelling with experienced members. Decide on a mentor or peer for attending all of your rappel trips.
Step 3
Familiarize yourself with the "rope calls," or vocal commands used in rappelling, by consulting a list such as the one available on the MIT Caving Club website. Learn the basic calls such as "rock" and "rope"--indicating that an object or rope is falling or being dropped down the rappelling area.
Step 4
Consult instructional videos and rappelling books such as "How to Rappel!" for intensive instruction on where and how to secure the specific equipment used in rappelling. While some of the judgments and techniques exercised in a rappel trip may involve advanced techniques, the basic methods for securing your rope and descending a cliff or mountain are consistent. Learn as much as you can about the technique of rappelling and have it firm in your mind before your first live rappelling trip.
Tips and Warnings
- Some schools and outdoor clubs may have climbing walls and indoor climbing surfaces that allow you to practice the techniques of rappelling before trying it on a direct cliff face. Ask around in your local community for a climbing wall that may allow you to practice your technique.
- Consult your doctor to make sure you are healthy enough to engage in rappelling. Rappelling is an intensive physical and mental activity that, if done incorrectly, may result in injury or death.
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