Sunday Skill-builders: Advanced rappel tricks

Activity Notes

• Sunday Skills Clinic: Advanced rappel tricks
• Class date: Sunday, March 24
• Registration opens: Feb 24
• 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
• Mazamas Mountaineering Center (SE 43rd and Stark, Portland)
• Mazamas members $35, non-members $45
• Recommended experience level: previous rappelling experience, knowledge of basic climbing knots

The Sunday Skill Builders happen on the second and fourth Sunday of the month, usually from 6 to 9 PM. The second Sunday is usually for more beginner/intermediate topics, and the fourth Sunday usually covers more intermediate/advanced techniques. Registration opens one month before the class. Most topics are taught twice a year.

Students are generally accepted first-come first-served. Please apply ASAP after the opening of registration to have the best chance of getting in the class.

If you need to cancel, please be courteous and do so early to give those on the waitlist a chance to get into the class. Don't be a no-show.

So you know the basics of rappelling. Great, let's learn some more advanced skills!

Gear needed: Harness, 3-4 locking carabiners, 3-4 non locking carabiners, 120 cm sewn sling, autoblock friction hitch, and rappel device. This will be taught all on the ground, so no rock shoes or helmet needed. If you don't have all this gear, no worries, we can share.

We'll cover some of the following topics. Please have a look through some of the links below on my website (alpinesavvy.com) before class. This will make our class time more productive, hint hint.

• How to cast, not throw, your rope
• How to pull your rope to (hopefully) avoid snags
• Rappelling on a single strand, Grigri and Super Munter
• Using the "trekking pole flip" to unstick your rope
• How to descend with a damaged rope
• Closing your rappel system with a J loop
• Demo of the Beal Escaper
• The better carabiner brake rappel
• How to do a pre-rigged rappel (and how this can make it safer to simul-rap)
• Double rope rap, how to move the knot past the lip
• How to quickly descend 2+ rope lengths of terrain that at least one person on your team can safely downclimb
• How to anchor your team on the way down
• Ways to speed up a group rappel
• ​How to rappel past a team that's going up

Look forward to seeing you, hope you can make it!

John Godino and Andy Nuttbrock, Sunday Skills Clinic coordinators