Rappel down Longs Peak
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I'm planning a hike up longs peak next weekend and want to rappel down the diamond to get an idea of what it's like to be on a big wall. From my understanding the best rap route is the cables route. Is this true? And how would I find bolts from the summit? |
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Jordan Moore wrote:I'm planning a hike up longs peak next weekend and want to rappel down the diamond to get an idea of what it's like to be on a big wall. From my understanding the best rap route is the cables route. Is this true? And how would I find bolts from the summit? Thanks for the help! -JordanJordon, The Cables Route is not on the Diamond. It is on the north face. The Cables Route is a couple of easy rappels with some huge eye bolts left over from the cables. It drops you down into the boulder field. |
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Jordan, You can see the Diamond very well from the base of the North Face (Chasm View) but not on the face itself- and trying to rappel the Diamond from above, onsight- would be shear lunacy and not the best way to "get an idea of what it's like a on a big wall". |
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Experienced climbers with many Diamond ascents under their belts DREAD the rappels. As you should too, because rappelling sucks ass, and is without question the worst part of any climb. |
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Jordan, finding the first eyebolt for the cables descent is not trivial. My suggestion would be to get up top early, and wait around for someone that is going down that way and ask if you can tag along. If you guys can combine ropes then you can do it in one double length rappel. Also consider going UP the cables route, it is a very moderate route with some good exposure and a gorgeous setting - and you would be able to follow the trail UP to the peak from the last eyebolt, avoid the Charlie Foxtrot in trough, and get to use that climbing gear you hauled all the way up there :) As was already mentioned, Chasm View is by far the best place to get a good view of the Diamond. Bring a picnic and watch the conga line going up the casual route, take a topo and some specs for an added bonus. Have fun! |
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Eli Helmuth wrote:Jordan, You can see the Diamond very well from the base of the North Face (Chasm View) but not on the face itself- and trying to rappel the Diamond from above, onsight- would be shear lunacy and not the best way to "get an idea of what it's like a on a big wall". Climbing it would of course be the best way... And you might delete your double post as this could already become a multi-page thread on not being stupid.+1 on this! Jordan, Rapping the cables route is simple and will give you an amazing view of The Diamond from the bottom of the rap at Chasm view. However, attempting to rappel The Diamond face itself, having never been up there before, is extremely dangerous to not only yourself, but the climbers below. There is tons of loose rock, and if you don't know where you are going, you are bound to epic and cause problems and danger to climbers on the face. Best idea is to rally a partner for the casual route, and climb it. Then you'll really know what "it's like to be on a big wall." |
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The raps down the Diamond SUCK!! If you are not familiar with Kieners and the table ledge system I wouldn't even attempt this. Go climb Kieners and get some familiarity with the mountain, rap the north face, descend the camel and don't attempt the 9 (including getting down to Mills from Broadway) double rope raps. Just my 2 cents. |
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Dude, you have no business going up there at all after asking a question like that. |
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Berndt Arnold says, "Zis is BAD idea!" |
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Sooooooo, your saying he should rap the diamond? |
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Adub wrote: You guys are not being very clear about this.NO! He most certainly should NOT! |
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Could anyone on this thread please define sarcasm for me? |
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Andy Novak wrote: NO! He most certainly should NOT!I think your sarcasm detector may be malfunctioning ;) |
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JLP wrote:You guys sound like a bunch of nannies. If he can find the first anchor of either N. Face or the D7 raps - both are very well documented - he should go for it. He'll learn, maybe faster than some of you did - maybe not.And maybe he'll kick a bunch of rock off the top as he's descending. Or make someone who actually climbed a route wait an extra 2 hours to descend. Hiking up to do a tourism rappel is just plain dumb. Rapping the N Face should be fine, though. |
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Jordan, Your sense for adventure should not be discouraged by the Naysayers in this thread. Don't listen to the negativity from the punters in here. |
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JLP wrote:You guys sound like a bunch of nannies. If he can find the first anchor of either N. Face or the D7 raps - both are very well documented - he should go for it. He'll learn, maybe faster than some of you did - maybe not.Just like me you're opinion is certainly welcome. I found learning the mountain from every angle to be pretty effective for having options if a storm moves in. Results/experience may vary. Edit: Classic JPVallone! |
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Nice topo JP! When does the book come out :) Classic... |
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So I knew I would get some naysayers about this. But I was more interested in the people trying to give me some advice of how to rappel. So thanks for the replies, sounds like North face cables route is the way to go. I feel confident in my climbing/mountaineering abilities, and have hiked the keyhole route before. So I want to see the mountain from a different perspective. |
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You don't know how to rappel? |
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Jordan, |
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RAPPING SUCKS BALLS!!!! |