ART of Canyoneering

Rock Exotica developed two new figure eight devices – the mini and the micro – for special ops teams. I managed to get my hands on one of each and have been experimenting to see if I can come up with canyoneering applications.

The photo shows the mini eight rigged as a releasable block. Haven’t rappelled on it or lowered anyone with it, but it seems quick secure even without a safety carabiner added.

The loop going over the neck would be the lowering mechanism. I made a twist in the rope on the brake strand before looping it over the two horns. Kinda like a cleat hitch.

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Uploaded instructions for Rigging a Releasable Block using the Totem.

Rigging the rappelling rope with a releasable block provides some distinct advantages: (1) setting the rope length allows for simple disconnects at the bottom of the rappel, (2) the releasable system can be used to lower a rappeller from the anchor if the rope is not long enough to reach the bottom, or if hair or other material becomes stuck in the rappelling device.

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The stone knot (AKA stein knot) is used to isolate two strands of rope. It is useful to gain efficiency on short rappels where more time is spent by people rigging and de-rigging their rappel devices than is spent on the actual rappel. Using the stone, while one person is rappelling, another person can be rigging. As soon as the first person is on the ground, the second person can start rappelling and a third person can start rigging.

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