It is a technical very efficient to reach places inaccessible or difficult access to quick and safe way . For this reason, it is a descent method that is practiced in various Extreme sports . When it comes to mountaineering, hiking, Cañonismo , climbing or Speleology , the descent of Rappel is a fundamental part for these adventure sports.
But the Rappel descent It was not always a sport, in fact, it is a very ancient practice whose first date of use recorded in history goes back to 1876 when a French mountaineer Straton made the first displacement using a "metallic descending" . The Rappel technique has been widely used in the army operations and in rescue operations both in the mountain and in the urban area. It is definitely a very useful activity.
To launch the rappel system there are different patterns using different materials . To learn about these rappel archetypes, we will first state thenecessary material and immediately the different rappel procedures.
rappelling equipment
As the rappelling systems are varied, their use may require different tools but basically we will always find some of these materials:
- Rope
- Flat tape (to prevent the rappel rope from suffering wear)
- Mosquetones (some with insurance and others without insurance)
- Harness
- Anchor leg
- Descensor
- Helmet
- Gloves
Some of the materials stated are more preventive than , but it should be well prepared for a rappel activity since it is still an extreme sport that requires measures of security .
Not all of these elements are necessary for each type of descent, so now we will see the different rappel modalities and their way of executing them.
rappelling techniques
Basically in Rappel we will find three groups in its different descent techniques:
These different categories of Rappel imply different materials and are used in different situations or with different purposes . It is important to keep in mind that each of these techniques has some science and needs practice as an experienced person to show exactly the string locations and others. However, we can exposeWhat each of them consists of:
body rappel . In the first category we will find the following friction raps:
- arm rappel : on walls with little verticality, this technique only requires the use of a rope and placing it on the shoulder and passing it around the arms in extended position to control the speed of descent by friction and mooring in the hand where the rope passes.
- Spanish rappel (also called Rappel Dulfer): the simplest rappel system that exists is that the rope passes between the legs giving the hips around the hips to pass over the opposite shoulder (it has to cross the chest), low down the back and under the arm to control it by hand. Be careful with loose hair!
carably rappel . In the second category it is also a simple rappel with little team:
- rappel Grammingger. This technique is also called Fire Rappel .
- mosquefreno rappel . On the side of the carabine insurance, three laps are given with the rope and attached to the harness with another carabiner. Depending on the number of turns that give to the rope, the friction increases and the sliding becomes slower.
Rappel with descents . At the level of security , these are the most efficient rappers and they are usually the most used both in sports and in rescue :
- rappel with eight. is called in this way in reference to the key element of this technique. The "eight" is a metallic artifact in the shape of number 8 and whose simplicity of use transformed it into a classic especially in the climbing sport . However, today it has been replaced by more modern and efficient descenders, so it is increasingly unusual.
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rappel with pulley . Especially for speleology , rappel with pulleys allows good control of the descent in caves, cannons and underground rivers. It is about forming a "s" with the rope through the descenders pulleys which exist with or without insurance.
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rappel with tubular instruments . Its friction coefficient is much greater than with other techniques or devices. They require little effort to control the descent and its use does not wrinkle the rope. They are very practical, easy to use and insurance
- rappel with marimba . Widely used in speleology It is a decrease in large vertical walls and works with pringaded strings and is formed by bars.
To put into practice all these techniques we recommend you get in touch with specialists that can teach you every step to make these descents in a controlled way and with the greater security possible. Now that you are more informed, encourage yourself to make a descent of rappel.
