Is it possible to rappel with single rope and be able to retrieve it at the bottom?

I guess someone have tried to solved this puzzle before. Again, there are many places that human error can make those single rope rappelling systems fail.

But as many of you pointed out, it's not worth it. More complicate setup = more likely to make mistakes.

In defense of us poor canyoneers...

I actually could see that coming in useful if one of your ropes got stuck and you had to single line rap something and needed the rope still for more drops after that. Not that I'd ever WANT to do that in a climbing or canyoneering situation, but it potentially be a useful trick at some point. Using something like that with any frequency is playing Russian Roulette, however.

Some other options:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheep… (the real Death Knot, when you cut the middle segment of rope, which then releases and falls back down to you when the rope is un-weighted)

canyoneering.net/forums/sho… (see the picture in post 3 showing a blocked angle piton that you can hopefully get to shake out after you un-weight the rope.

I canyoneer and rappelling off of hooks (talons, cliffhangers, etc.) is...not a very common practice but not considered demonstrably idiotic if you're trying to "ghost" a canyon (not leave any trace of anchors). Yeah, you have to remember that you're only rapping off a hook; but it's still safe if done right.

Kevin Craig wrote:Bang, seriously, this is only the latest in a series of beginner and or potentially dangerous questions you've asked here. An Internet forum is no place to learn climbing. PLEASE join the CU Alpine Club or the Colorado Mountain Club (www.CMC.org) or otherwise find a competent mentor to teach you the basics and advanced techniques. Mark doesn't want to come scrape you off a rock somewhere.

+100

From helmet stickers to high-end emergency raps?!?!? SLOW DOWN!!!!!

Stephen Berwanger wrote: +100 From helmet stickers to high-end emergency raps?!?!? SLOW DOWN!!!!!

Well, learning things theoretically does not mean I will use it! Lol I understand that you folks are trying to save me from doing stupid things, since you don't know me personally. But I found many responses are interesting in pointing out how stupid I am for asking stupid questions here!

Well, if I don't think you guys are more experienced than me, I wouldn't have asked you at the first place anyway. Sorry for the tone, but I am trying to be nice here :)

Bang Nhan wrote: Well, learning things theoretically does not mean I will use it! Lol I understand that you folks are trying to save me from doing stupid things, since you don't know me personally. But I found many responses are interesting in pointing out how stupid I am for asking stupid questions here! Well, if I don't think you guys are more experienced than men, why would I ask you in the first place anyway. Sorry for the tone, but I am trying to be nice here :)

I'm not saying your stupid or that it is a stupid question. Most people are just tring to point out there is a certain progression in climbing knowledge. You cannot learn it ALL at once. You must build a base of saftey and understanding.

My point was, as Kevin said, based on some of your past posts you SHOULD NOT even be thinking about or tring to learn about this EMERGENCY Technique. You should be much more focused on building that "base". As Kevin pointed out, there are many great organizations that can help build this knowledge.

Thanks Steve,

Yeah, I know how important it is in getting the basic stuff correct. But those questions just pops up and I have not found any answer satisfying me, so I feel it's cool to ask them up here to get some discussion going.

But I don't feel bad by asking questions ahead of time, since it's a cool learning process :)

There is also the kamikaze knot that can be used to single rope rappel the full length of the rope, once unweighted the knot will come out. I would say that it is "knot" safe to do. Bear on man vs. wild does it in one of the episodes. My buddy did it in our climbing gym while backed up on a TR belay and he got it to work after a couple of tries.

I have heard of pulling a few meters around a tree and then wrapping that around the main line. The weight on the line is supposed to press it against the rock and hold it in place. I have never tried it and would not try it.

bwalt822 wrote:Use at your own risk: Fifi Trick

That is extremely stupid, that trick will end you quickly. Your rope is not worth endangering yourself to that level.

Bang! Shame on you for asking a question!!
Don't you know you should present your resume first!!
You shouldn't be asking questions in the first place! Why don't you know that? Are you that big a noob?!

Oh MP'ers... he requested a answer to a rappel question, not a lecture.

Hey Bang- thanks for asking- I didn't know about that fifi trick- and it kind of blew my mind. I can't wait to try it out! (The possibilites of not needing a rap line.. Hellz yeah!)

Thanks for inquiring publicly.

I don't know what to say

youtube.com/watch?v=XZxzJGg…

I stopped reading after that video...

Call me stupid, but isn't that what a tag line is for? I do it all the time, full 60m rap on a single strand, and then pull the tag line when im on the bottom...

Its actually quite easy.
First, partner up with a Texan.
Have him second you up to the top.
Tie a nice, beefy figure 8 and rap off on the single line.
Tell the Texan to untie it and drop it down.
Voila!
My version of the Texan Rope Trick.
If you get a heavy conscious doing this, call his mom and tell her where he is.

Hey thanks for the facepalm pictures! Now I have some good selections for my new profile pic on MP!

Phil Lauffen wrote: Dude... Showing a new climber that video is practically criminal.

AWESOME!

I do a lot of canyoneering, and rock hooks are one of the sketchiest ways to rappel. You can use what's called a clove hitch rappel, just run one end through the quicklink, or other metal anchor, until there's enough rope to reach the bottom. Tie a clove hitch on the opposite side, and then clip a carabiner through it and the opposite line. Be sure to situate the clove hitch so it's on the spine of the carabiner, and also make sure the carabiner is locked. Clip into the line without the hitch, throw both lines, and rappel down. When you get down, pull the line that has the clove hitch on it, and it will all come down. Other more complicated methods include a deadman anchor using a weighted pack, macramé, or just a simple double line. If you use a deadman, only use a pack specifically designed for that purpose.

!jesus christo!