Joining Two Ropes For Rappel

Here dale shares some tips for tying two ropes together for rappelling or top roping.

Joining two ropes for rappel.

Which knot to use to join two ropes. The figure eight overhand double fishersman s are just three methods. Recently there has been a lot of discussion on what knots are good for joining two ropes together and there is no one answer. For joining two lines together it would be best to use a flat seizing knot.

The uiaa alpine skills series returns with guidance on which knot to use when joining two ropes. Once the ropes are rigged and you can see that the ends touch the ground or reach past the next rappel station thread the rope through your device and then attach the device to your harness. Here is a selection of knots for joining ropes and also some knots where the rope is tied upon itself such as the heaving line knot and the sheep shank the water knot is an excellent knot for use with flat webbing material. It depends on the application but the most common time climbers are tying their ropes together is for long rappels.

When used correctly the flat overhand knot is superior for rigging a rappel. This is a touchy subject. There s many reasons why you d want to join two ropes together but perhaps the most obvious one is to allow for a full rope length. The major benefit is that the knot flattens out when loaded so it s less likely to get stuck on the wall as you pull the ropes down.

The knot i use to tie together two ropes for a rappel and one we commonly use in guides training at the amga is the flat overhand. Remember to keep the pull rope within reach it s a good idea to clip it to yourself. This knot has been called a number of things including the euro death knot and has at times been unfairly demonized. Tying three of these knots in succession will provide a permanent junction that will hold the lines together and evenly distribute the forces over the length of the seizes providing you.

Use the double fisherman s knot to tie the two ropes together. Last for extra friction on the single strand run the rappel rope through two biners connecting your rappel device to your belay loop and or rap with an extension. If the rappel is longer than half a rope length you ll need two ropes to descend. Bends are knots to tie two ropes together.

For long rappels you ll tie the two ropes together. Opinions vary among climbers as to the best knot to use when joining two ropes together. Climbing on two ropes allows for smoother ropework and the opportunity to divide up the load on the approach. Clipping the ropes together this way also helps keep them in line as you pull them in high winds.