active tourism is increasing in recent years. The reason? We are tired of always doing the same leisure activities and we are looking for something different to get out of the daily routine. Many choose to practice outdoor sports and how could it be otherwise, the mountains show you different paths to give free rein to your imagination.
And among the wide variety that you can find, such as mountaineering, hiking or climbing, you will also enjoy other possibilities such as rappel. This is perhaps one of the least known, since for many it is a climbing technique; Still it is very interesting. Let's see why.
Rappel: an unprecedented experience
Rappelling can become quite an experience considering that it is not only associated with climbing, but can also be practiced as a complement to other sports related to mountaineering, such as strong>caving or canyoning.
Sometimes, to make the descent it may not be necessary to apply the rappelling itself, but rather it will be enough to combine it with downhill sections, whether secured or unsecured. But yes, you should only do it if you trust your abilities or have enough experience to do it.
When descending it is done through the friction produced by the rope with a braking system. Whoever carries out the activity can control at will the speed at which they want to perform the descent. Generally it is slow, trying not to jump and paying careful attention to where they place their feet, to avoid scares. You have to be very attentive during the operation.
Remember that...
You have to make sure that all ropes, rings, ribbons, etc. They are well secured and there is no room for any type of miscalculation. Also make sure that the route you are going to descend does not have anything that could hinder the descent, such as bushes or fissures in which the rock could get caught. Three knots that will be very helpful to you:
- Facing eight knot. It is one of the most used, thanks to the fact that it is very practical as it is easy to make and undo. Likewise, one of its drawbacks is its size, since being large it can get stuck in cracks when collecting the rope.
- Double fisherman. Ideal if you want to join ropes of different diameters. It is best to do it double, as this way you will gain resistance and avoid problems when descending. It can have the same drawback as the faced eight knot.
- Knot of cow's tail or simple gauze for breast. If there is a chance that the knot is going to get stuck in the cracks in the wall, this is your knot, thanks to its design. Tips for its preparation? Leave about 20 or 30 cm. of excess rope and tighten the knot both before and after using it, as it tends to loosen when pressure is stopped. It is not as resistant as the previous ones but it is very practical.
As one of the star recommendations, we suggest that you do not go to the mountains alone, because you never know what can happen and if at some point you will need help. Furthermore, it is highly advisable that you familiarize yourself well with the material you will use and that you take rappelling courses before carrying out the activity on your own or with inexperienced or amateur people.
For the rest, there is no choice but to fully enjoy nature and this exciting practice.
