Rappelling Definition

Rappelling is a rewarding but dangerous sport.

Rappelling is the technique of descending down a rope at a controlled rate of speed. This technique is used by climbers to handle cliffs that are too steep or dangerous to descend in a normal way, as well as by the military for tactical insertions. While it is referred to as rappelling in the United States, Europe refers to it as abseiling, the Middle East refers to it as snapling, and India refers to it as rappling.

History

Rappelling is said to have originated with Jean Esteril Charlet, a guide in the Chamonix area of the French Alps. The technique was originally created during a failed solo attempt to climb the mountain Petit Dru in 1876. Practicing the technique over the years, Charlet used it to finally successfully scale Petit Dru in 1879.

Equipment

A variety of equipment is used for rappelling, some of which is necessary and some of which is used entirely to increase how safe the action is. Ropes are the primary tool used by climbers. An anchor is used to attach the rope to the top of the climb. A rappel device, also known as a descender, controls the speed of descent, though this can be improvised with a carabiner. Climbing harnesses can secure the climber in a more guaranteed fashion than simply grasping the rope. Helmets protect the climber from falling rocks, just as gloves, boots and kneepads protect the climber from bumps and friction burns.

Uses

As mentioned above, there are multiple uses and ways that rappelling is used. Aside from the aforementioned mountain climbing and military activities, rappelling can be done on its own as a recreational sport, or for spelunking, canyoning and adventure racing. On the more serious side of application, it can also be used for rescue purposes, building maintenance, firefighting and accessing confined spaces.

Safety Concerns

Rappelling is a highly dangerous sport, and there are a number of deaths every year due to inexperienced climbers attempting to rappel in difficult climbing conditions. In addition to this, rappelling is banned in many locations due to the possibility of damaging the environment, interference with ascending climbers, or possibly hurting spectators on the ground with loose rocks.

Styles

There are nearly as many styles of rappelling as there are names for it. Among the more prominent styles are the Australian rappel, which is performed facing down; the spider rappel, which has two climbers on the same rope; the simul rappel, which has two climbers on two ropes passing through the same descender; and the counterbalance rappel, which uses a second person at the bottom to counterbalance the fall of the descending member.

References

• "Rappeling, Edition II"; Tom Martin; 1988