My 1st Major Rapel/Free fall what an experience

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crazyflights
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My 1st Major Rapel/Free fall what an experience

Post by crazyflights »

My buddy and I have been getting into Rapelling, so far we have only done some smaller stuff. I have been teaching my self with Books, Inet articles, Youtube and some common sense, or lack of for even thinking about doing this stuff.
Bought new harnesses, 11 mil static rope, Petzl Stop, Big Carabiners. *Going to backup my Petzl stop with a Petzl Shunt also. I don't think the Stop will fail, cause we won't go when rope would be wet. But 1 more for caution would be nice*

We started small with 10ft wall, to get our bearings.

Then a wall closer to 15 ft

Then we were off to Capen Park, in Columbia, MO did a 40-50 ft but wasn't quite vertical.
Image

Last night we went bigger. We had explored a Bluff along the Katy Trail, near Columbia at the Providence River Access, some others told us about that Rock climb there. The bluff is about 140ft from lower ground level when standing on top, but then the rock ledge is about 90-100ft to where ground starts again for hillside. We setup on top. The rock goes out then back in on the top side, then does it again mid way down. So from the top you go off and then its almost immediatly free fall --no wall-- woooohooo LOL, then mid way down you meet the wall again and walk wall side for a bit then, wall goes backinward and your free fall away the wall most the rest of the way down.
Will have more pics uploaded soon.
Image

Also don't razz me about no official training... Petzl stop is fairly straight forward, static rope for rapellling, don't let rope rub bad on top ledge, we put peice of carpet down, use Double figure loop knot,Don't jump around causing rope to rub up top, take it easy, very controled decent, wear helments, I only hook to large alive trees at bottom base, which I do this a bit different than most might since came from alot of offroad expereince I have very large tree straps used for wrapping around trees to protect tree and then connecting winch cable to strap with metal clevis, if it can pull a vehicle, then it will hold us up. So I wrap tree at bottom, use clevis, and just hook my figure 8 loop knot into my clevis.. This is overkill in my opinion, and heavy if you were hiking along way. But we want some official training on tieing into bolted ancors with webbing before doing that. Also official before doing a little Top Rope climbing.+ Dynamic rope then ;) I don't know that I will attempt much climbing but we will see.
I'm scared of heights so not sure why doing any of this LOL...
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Re: My 1st Major Rapel/Free fall what an experience

Post by gimpface »

Pretty cool, man.
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Twail Wetard
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Re: My 1st Major Rapel/Free fall what an experience

Post by Twail Wetard »

Oh yeah good stuff
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RE: My 1st Major Rapel/Free fall what an experience

Post by liesreality »

looks like fun.
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Re: My 1st Major Rapel/Free fall what an experience

Post by PANIC! on the Titanic »

Nice. I too have no 'official' training but as you said, there are other less expensive sources of info and the use of common sense. I was trained by a friend who'd done it a lot and was a certified belayer, but not a gym official or anything. Top roping is hard to mess up, just set a decent equalized anchor and you are pretty much set. Though I would definitely get some training before I go lead or trad climbing...that I really don't want to blunder into.

I think you need to let loose a little...find an overhang and flip upside down. Then use a figure 8 decender instead of your stop and you can really descend fast (although after about 100 ft your 8 will be too hot to touch).

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Nicotti
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Re: My 1st Major Rapel/Free fall what an experience

Post by Nicotti »

The cave I worked at back in the day had a rappelling night every year. Used to rappel down in there upside down, it's super fun!

If I ever get around to scanning the pics onto my puter I'll post them.
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Twail Wetard
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Re: My 1st Major Rapel/Free fall what an experience

Post by Twail Wetard »

Is that cave worth seeing?
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crazyflights
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Re: My 1st Major Rapel/Free fall what an experience

Post by crazyflights »

thanks for comments. yes fun stuff
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Re: My 1st Major Rapel/Free fall what an experience

Post by Nicotti »

Yes, Talking Rocks Cavern is worth seeing. It is by far one of the most decorated show caves in mo. And if you can afford it, their wild cave tour in Indian Creek (Mud) Cave is worth it too.

I helped build the SpeleoLab in the basement, the steps into Powell Cave, and a lot of the hiking trails there. Had it paid better and had benefits I'd still be there doing that.

...Or you can apparently watch someone's crappy vid of the whole tour here...
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crazyflights
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Re: My 1st Major Rapel/Free fall what an experience

Post by crazyflights »

Shooting for a new route tonight, which might land us in a cave. Should be great!!
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Re: My 1st Major Rapel/Free fall what an experience

Post by marizbarnes »

Looks fun but too scared to try this one.
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Re: My 1st Major Rapel/Free fall what an experience

Post by ropingk »

im old but id do it in a heart beat ok im nto that old but some days i feel like it
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RE: My 1st Major Rapel/Free fall what an experience

Post by Willard »

Talking Rocks is neat. Haven't been in 15 years or so. Didn't know about the repelling night... I think it's time I pay the cave another visit!
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Nicotti
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Re: My 1st Major Rapel/Free fall what an experience

Post by Nicotti »

rappelling night was for employees and friends of employees only, not the general public
More online investigation than onsite exploration these days.

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“That’s not the point. The point is, who will stop me?”
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Twail Wetard
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Re: My 1st Major Rapel/Free fall what an experience

Post by Twail Wetard »

so the cave is slightly vertical? like a sink entrance ?
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