How to Get Ready for a Double Rope Rappel

Rock climbing is all the ascent. Usually bigger the better. As the peaks become larger, rappels grow longer. On long rappels you may need to tie two ropes together in order to have enough length to safely get to the ground. A double fisherman's knot securely links two ropes together with opposing force.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Two climbing ropes (usually 60m each

1. Flake each rope in two separate piles, making sure there are no knots or kinks in the ropes.
2. Locate the top end of each rope.
3. Lay the ends parallel to one another pointing in the opposite direction, overlapping about three feet.
4. Grab the end of one rope and wrap it 360 degrees around the other rope. Remember to leave a tail for the safety knot.
5. Wrap it another 360 degrees, nestling this new wrap on the inside of the first wrap, closer to the center where the two knots will meet.
6. Pull the end of the rope out through the two coils and pull tight.
7. Repeat steps 4 through 6 with the second rope. Now there are two knots with extra rope hanging like a tail from each.
8. Pull the cluster together so the two knots nestle against each other tightly.
9. With each tail, tie a simple overhand knot around the main rope segment, creating two safety knots, one on each end. These will serve to ensure the knot system does not unravel.
10. Tie an overhand on a bight with the double fisherman's knot in the loop. This knot will take all the weight of the rappel. This knot is not necessary for safety; however, the double fisherman's knot will be much easier to loosen after the rappel is complete.
11. Thread one end of the rope system through both anchors. Keep hold of the end as it passes through the anchors.
12. Tie the threaded end to the other end with an overhand knot. This step is very important on long rappels. It will prevent the climber from rappelling off the end of the rope should it be too short. This knot is imperative when doing multiple rappels.

Tips & Warnings

• Always double check your system before weighting it.
• Don't forget those safety knots.
• Note which end of the rope to pull after completing the rappel. You don't want the rope system to get stuck in the anchors.
• Rappelling can be dangerous. eHow recommends consulting with an expert before engaging in this activity.