Mountain Project Logo

Releasable hitch or way to retrieve rope?

GLD · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2012 · Points: 83

Check a canyoning forum for tips and instructions like this exact problem.

canyoneeringusa.com
canyoncollective.com

short answer is if it's 30 ft, get a 60ft rope and run it directly through the bolts with rings. I don't personally know those bolts but generally that's the trick. Or bring some cord/webbing and a rap ring. Equalize and isolate between the bolts and leave the cord and rap rings behind. My bet is there will already be something there since this is a very popular route.

All that enabling done, it sounds like you are very inexperienced at building anchors and some basic canyon skills, though you may be proficient at rappelling. There are several courses available and if you PM me I can recommend them for you (note I don't work as a guide or sell any gear). Shit, if you post on canyon collective you might find someone experienced who would like to come along on your permit.

GLD · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2012 · Points: 83
Aaron Conway wrote: P.S. The man that died was 74 with a 61 year old wife incapable of helping. I'm 21 and very fit and so are all my friends. We won't attempt it without being safe of course though. That's why I'm here.
Yeah, if you've never practiced vertical rescue it's almost next to impossible to pull off if not impossible if you don't have the tools to do so, sometimes it's not even possible when you have the tools. I don't care how young or fit you are.

What if you have rappelled already and they are now stuck and unconscious. Think how you would ascend a rope, lock yourself off, get the individual off the rope and down to the ground without dropping them. What if they rappel first? Do you have a second rope to descend next to them, lock off, get them off their rope, onto yours, and the skill to descend with an unconscious person now on your rope? What if you don't have a second rope, do you know how to descend a weighted rope? I'm not being a dick, I'm pointing out very real issues and difficulties that you may not have thought of.
AnthonyM · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2009 · Points: 30

Yer gonna die.

BScallout · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2009 · Points: 0
Aaron Conway wrote:Thank you very much for all the reply's. Yes I am doing subway and yes I have rappelling experience. My father was force recon and taught me how to rappel so that's not a problem. I think I should clarify my question. I will not be "rappelling". I won't be wearing a harness or hook into any device. I intend on down climbing all of it. Good or bad idea? I was wondering if there is a knot that I could tie that would be safer than the current setup I have. Here's the plan and let me know if it seems safe, especially the people that have already done the subway. Your input is extra valuable. I was going to get to the middle of my 75ft rope, tie a slip, run a bite of one strand through the carabiner attached to the bolt and back through my slipknot. Then stick a carabiner on the bite so it can't go through the slip knot just in case. Then i'll be the last down and i'll unhook the biner, downclimb and pull it all loose with the other strand. I've used this method before and it seems to work great. Other recommendations? Should I be using full gear? I just didn't want to carry all that. Also, I apologize if this is posted in the wrong place. P.S. The man that died was 74 with a 61 year old wife incapable of helping. I'm 21 and very fit and so are all my friends. We won't attempt it without being safe of course though. That's why I'm here.
troll
Brian in SLC · · Sandy, Utah · Joined Oct 2003 · Points: 21,711
Aaron Conway wrote:Thank you very much for all the reply's. Yes I am doing subway and yes I have rappelling experience. My father was force recon and taught me how to rappel so that's not a problem. I think I should clarify my question. I will not be "rappelling". I won't be wearing a harness or hook into any device. I intend on down climbing all of it. Good or bad idea? I was wondering if there is a knot that I could tie that would be safer than the current setup I have. Here's the plan and let me know if it seems safe, especially the people that have already done the subway. Your input is extra valuable. I was going to get to the middle of my 75ft rope, tie a slip, run a bite of one strand through the carabiner attached to the bolt and back through my slipknot. Then stick a carabiner on the bite so it can't go through the slip knot just in case. Then i'll be the last down and i'll unhook the biner, downclimb and pull it all loose with the other strand. I've used this method before and it seems to work great. Other recommendations? Should I be using full gear? I just didn't want to carry all that. Also, I apologize if this is posted in the wrong place. P.S. The man that died was 74 with a 61 year old wife incapable of helping. I'm 21 and very fit and so are all my friends. We won't attempt it without being safe of course though. That's why I'm here.
Yikes.

Some folks double the rope and just hand line down it. Others pack a harness and rappel device. Between you and your "very fit" friends, I'm sure you could tolerate an extra harness in someone's pack, or, learn how to make a simple one out of a length of 1" webbing.

Gobs of folks slip and blow a knee, ankle, etc, and need SAR in the Subway. Carrying one harness (with a biner/rap device) amongst a bunch of fit friends with a short 75' rope will be better as a precaution.

Here's a few trips that went wrong (not updated for a few years):

canyoneeringusa.com/subway-…
wankel7 · · Indiana · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 10

Just do the raps....Subway isn't a place you want to get hurt.

Aaron Conway · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2013 · Points: 0

Thanks for the help guys. I know I'm new but please don't just assume I'm an idiot and irresponsible. I've decided to bring gear specifically for the last repel since numerous people have said it's not as easy as it seems and the consequences of messing up there are too large.

Could someone go into depth on the obstacles? Could you explain what you did to pass them and the gear you used? Thanks again guys. This was eye opening and helpful.

P.S. I approve Eva although I'm more of an Upton man. :]

Liberty · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2013 · Points: 25

90% of climbing accidents happen on rappell...just saying...you should buy the most expensive locker (preferably made in France) , double those, rap off then pm me teh exact location of the station...

Liberty · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2013 · Points: 25

Or better yet build a small bush around it and mark it "snake"

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Beginning Climbers
Post a Reply to "Releasable hitch or way to retrieve rope?"

Log In to Reply

Join the Community

Create your FREE account today!
Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started.