Corona Arch Rappel

Hey

I'm headed to Moab in September and am wanting info on the Corona Arch Rappel. I was going to do a double rope rappel with a biner block and leave webbing and a bail beaner up top that way I don't need to walk around again.

Any thoughts comments from people who have done this would be awesome!

Thanks!!!

Are you rapping with a gri gri?

Are you going to be by yourself?

What makes you think you need to leave anything?

What is wrong with going back up to get your stuff?

What if everyone left their crap on beautiful, unique formations.

Greg D wrote: What if everyone left their crap on beautiful, unique formations.

Agreed, no reason to leave trash on top of a cool arch like that.

I think you are looking for sportrappelling.com. This is a climbing site.

NateHeld wrote:Hey I'm headed to Moab in September and am wanting info on the Corona Arch Rappel. I was going to do a double rope rappel with a beiner block and leave webbing and a bail beaner up top that way I don't need to walk around again. Any thoughts comments from people who have done this would be awesome! Thanks!!!

Please don't leave your webbing up there because you don't want to walk around. The sun fades it quick making it essentially trash that someone else has to clean up later.

This sounds very dangerous... Do you have a bolt gun? If so, I would suggest placing 10-20 bolts (should only take a few minutes), equalize them with a static line and rap off that. Other important items to consider:

Gopro: it will look totally sick
Mikes Hard: style points
Beanie: could be cold
youtube video: didnt happen if its not on youtube
dubstep: for the chakras

Things not to consider:
shirt: totally lame
rappel device: again, totally lame
walking on trails: crypto is old and washed up anyway

Anyway, hope this helps. Post your vid when your done!

Beiner block ehh, i like your style. But, why not a dulfersitz instead, just bring an extra pair of shorts.

David Appelhans wrote: Please don't leave your webbing up there because you don't want to walk around. The sun fades it quick making it essentially trash that someone else has to clean up later.

I have no problem going back up and getting my webbing. The only reason I was going to leave it up there was because the guy at the Gearheads told me thats what people do and replace the webbing that is up there if it looks questionable.

Also Jake why the hell would I rappel with no rappel device. Let me know how that works for you? SMH... Im using a figure 8 device so you stay up at night worrying ;)

Sure, in general, if there is an existing anchor with webbing it is acceptable to replace worn and faded webbing with new webbing colored to match the rock. Is this what you are doing?

What do you mean by beiner block. Sounds like a jewish technique. On the other hand, there is a technique called a biner block which combines several biners to make a rappel device. Or, when rapping one side of a doubled rope with a gri gri one may use a biner block. What are you referring to when you say beiner block? This is leading to some of the confusion.

Ideally, one would build their own anchor. Rappel. Go back up and remove everything and leave without a trace.

Nate- You might get a better response in the southern utah forum. I was in Moab last spring and checked out the arch which had some swingers on it at the time. I had all the gear for the space rap but the swingers let us use their lines instead. I can't recall if there were chains but there was at least five bolts up there. If the arch is crowded, there are a couple other options very close for your rapping pleasure. (Bowtie Arch, that cave halfway up the wall next to Corona...)

Edited to add- I'm almost certain you'd need alot (at least 20') of webbing if you plan to bring the anchor to the edge and it would make the rappel scary for some people. The line I rapped was equalized to several of the bolts but fixed before the edge. I think your best option is fixing your rap line or lines then hiking back up to retrieve them rather than fight the rope drag over the edge when pulling.

You can rap corona arch with two ropes and you don't need to leave anything up top. There are chains. Just don't forget which line to pull...then get out and climb something.

I've done quite a bit of canyoneering in southern Utah and would suggest purchasing a steal rap ring (Aluminum is cheaper but they wear quickly in the sand-filled environment where sandy ropes are being pulled through them) - they are cheaper than 'biners and are used alot to thread your tubular webbing through. If the existing bolts up there still have webbing on them (they probably do, but you're wise to replace it with your own especially if it shows any UV degradation or other types of wear and tear) there will likely be a rap ring already there. Bring an extra just in case it isn't there or indeed does need replacement. As others have said, bring plenty of webbing so you make necessary adjustments to the rappel anchor. Have fun!

Another good adventure down there would be Morning Glory arch (technically a bridge). You can look it up at various web sites for the beta. It's a place where I've seen many parties do a simul rap without any anchors, though there are bolts available off to the side of the bridge.

Oh, and a 'biner block is not a homemade rappel device, it's a way to fix the rope at your anchor so you can rap off one line. It's used quite a bit in canyoneering...http://www.canyoneering.net/forums/showthread.php?58-What-is-a-biner-block

It has a variety of uses.

The carabiner brake is what an earlier posted is referring to: chockstone.org/TechTips/Cra…

Thank you for the advice Mr Humus and Mark. I'm definitely getting out and climbing. That's what I'll be doing 90% of the time I'm there!!

Have a good one.

Did this in May. There are bolts with rings set up for rappelling (and more anchors for the swing setup). All you need for a clean rappel w/o leaving trash on the arch is:

- 2 50m+ ropes, tie together and leave the knot on one side of both rings
- 1 ATC device. For double rope a figure 8 is probly best
- 1 harness
- 1 locking carabiner
- 2 rappelling gloves
- 80s running shorts
- glacier glasses

gl

Damn, look at all those grooves in that arch. That sucks.

Glenn Schuler wrote:Damn, look at all those grooves in that arch. That sucks.

+1

Glenn Schuler wrote:Damn, look at all those grooves in that arch. That sucks.

+1

Rappelling for the sake of rappelling is lame enough when you're NOT sawing an arch in half. Cool!

Thank you!!

Go big or go home. Drag a friend along and do a simul rap off both sides, no anchor required. If that isn't spicey enough you and your partner can race to the bottom. First one there unclips leaving the loser to, well, you can figure that out for your self.