How to Lower a Climber with a GriGri When Rock Climbing

GriGris are auto-locking belay devices often used by climbers, quite frequently during sport climbing. This article will teach you how to safely lower a climber using a GriGri when you are the belayer.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Petzl GriGri
• Locking caribiner
• Belay gloves (optional)

1. When your climber has reached the top of their climbing route, they will yell to you, "Take!" This is their signal for you to pull all excess slack out of the climbing rope. Pull the rope through the GriGri until the rope is tight and the device locks.
2. When all of the slack is out of the rope, reply to your climber, "I've got you!"
3. Your climber will respond, "Lower me!" This is your signal that you can begin lowering them when you are prepared.
4. Respond to your climber, "Lowering!"
5. To lower your climber using the GriGri, bend the rope across the GriGri's smooth, rounded edge with your brake hand.
6. Slowly pull back the GriGri's lever while still keeping a firm hold on the brake rope. Pulling back this lever allows rope to pass through the device.
7. When lowering a climber using a GriGri, you control the speed of descent by how far you pull the lever out. To increase speed, pull harder on the lever and to decrease speed, let the lever back in.
8. When your climber approaches the ground, slow the speed of descent.
9. When your climber is safely on the ground, feed them some slack through the GriGri to make it easier to untie the rope from their harness.

Tips & Warnings

• It's good to practice using a GriGri at an indoor climbing facility before using one outdoors.
• A GriGri is often used by sport climbers as it lessens the stress on a belayer when a climber is working through a route and often hanging on the rope to figure out the next sequence of moves.
• Rock climbing is a dangerous sport and should only be attempted by those who have received the proper instruction in the use of the equipment and technique.
• Just because a GriGri is an auto-locking belay device does not mean it is hands-free. You should, for safety, keep two hands on the rope at all times.