Rapelling Hate Thread

Marc801 wrote: You can do all that on the walk-off as well.

Yeah, but then you're, um, walking.

Gravity does the work for me when I rappel.

Not a fan of rappelling. After climbing all morning/day the last thing I want to do is worry about rope management and keeping things from getting stuck. Plus the fact that many experienced people are killed due to mishaps during the rappel is always in the back of my mind.

I hated it this day:

Why I Hate Rapping

I don't actually hate it and just accept that its a part of the day but when I hear a sudden pop or feel some shiftage, my heart rate definitely accelerates!

I wouldn't recommend canyoneering to all you haters out there. :-)

wild rappelling story, and good tips on using back ups...

rockandice.com/lates-news/C…

Hmmm..... Let's see.... 3 hours of hiking down chossy gullies and bushes, or 45 minutes of rappeling...... Man I love rappeling.

We have this guy who is a hater of rappelling, a hater. He's a hater. His name is Comancho and he is not doing the right thing…. So what happens is this guy, who happens to be, we believe, a Crusty Old Traddie, which is great. I think that's fine. You know what? I think Crusty Old Traddies are going to end up loving rappelling when I give them all shiny new Gri-Gris, OK?

-sorry couldn't help, that speech is etched forever in my brain.

man fuck this thread rapelling is the shit

youtube.com/watch?v=2L4wZhR…

I learneded every thing I no 'bout repellin from dis guy.

https://youtu.be/4q5aprqreSk

Rappelling is awful. But rappelling versus shitty descent. Descend north dome gully or rap? Which is worse?

It's not very fun when your rap station is covered in biting ants and you then have to set up the quickest rap ever, thinking that you should probably should be taking your time. It is rewarding to melt them off your rope though as you slide down.

Do ant toxins weaken your rope? Those suckers release some pungent attack pheromones!

JoeGaribay wrote:It's not very fun when your rap station is covered in biting ants and you then have to set up the quickest rap ever, thinking that you should probably should be taking your time. It is rewarding to melt them off your rope though as you slide down. Do ant toxins weaken your rope? Those suckers release some pungent attack pheromones!

Just ask the ants to form a chain and continue your rap.
AntChains are 6-times stronger than your rope anyway.

Rapelling is part of climbing. You probably shouldn't climb if you get too scared rappelling.

William Thiry wrote:Hmmm..... Let's see.... 3 hours of hiking down chossy gullies and bushes, or 45 minutes of rappeling...... Man I love rappeling.

Like anything else in climbing, whether it's worth it for a specific climb needs to be decided based on the situation. In Yosemite it's faster and safer to walk off of Nutcracker, but I'll always rap off of Serenity/Sons.

JoeGaribay wrote:Do ant toxins weaken your rope? Those suckers release some pungent attack pheromones!

Look up the effects of formic acid on nylon.

Rappeling just never goes as fast as your brain thinks it should. Because it takes time to pull ropes re-coil them, tie together (if double rope rapping), double check your systems, etc. If the hike down isn't sketchy and will take about the same amount of time I will almost always choose the hike. I don't dislike rappeling, but it can sure be a pain.

FrankPS wrote: In my experience, there usually isn't a choice of rapping vs. walk-off for multi-pitch routes. Most routes have an established way off. One or the other.

There are about 1200 in the Gunks that have that choice.

"Rappelling through the icy darkness in shameful defeat I'm filled with hate: Hate for the unimaginative climbers drinking schnapps in the warm bars in Grindelwald. Hate for this crumbling, unfeeling mountain that crushed my will to live. And hate for this endless series of rappels from worthless pins on my shredded 8mm rope, rappels that will deliver me to the very safety I despise. Silently singing my favorite Skinny Puppy song, I wedge my one dull pick into a crack and twist it until it almost snaps, wishing the mountain can feel the teeth bite."

-- Apologies to Marc and Tami, my heroes.

Jeff G. wrote:Rapelling is part of climbing. You probably shouldn't climb if you get too scared rappelling.

Well said ... Of course adventure in climbing is becoming history.

Marc801 wrote: Like anything else in climbing, whether it's worth it for a specific climb needs to be decided based on the situation. In Yosemite it's faster and safer to walk off of Nutcracker, but I'll always rap off of Serenity/Sons.

There are probably better examples than these to make the point...

Is there even a rap route on Nutcracker? Certainly not back down the route. Did you mean if there were a rap route?

Word is Sons of Yesterday doesn't go to the rim. It seems one would have a pretty hard time walking off of the route...

Kent Richards wrote: There are probably better examples than these to make the point... Is there even a rap route on Nutcracker? Certainly not back down the route. Did you mean if there were a rap route? Word is Sons of Yesterday doesn't go to the rim. It seems one would have a pretty hard time walking off of the route...

Nutcracker - well, before the mantle pitch you can rap the route on fixed gear (as I discovered when we bailed in the T-storm that included a lot of hail). But yes, if there were a rap route from the top, it would still be easier and faster to walk off.

Sons - yeah, maybe Royal Arches would have been a better choice example.