Backup belay loop. Reputable manufacturer's make burly harnesses—bottom line—and don't forget that there are some negatives/concerns about using The Backup knot is a stopper knot tied at the end of a rope after the primary knot to prevent it from coming undone. It keeps your rappel device separated from your friction hitch backup. You could certainly rig the extension using an additional biner in order to avoid the girth-hitch. The back-up prusik (french prusik/autoblock) is also attached to my harness belay loop on another screwgate. Use a locking carabiner to connect the figure 8 device to your harness belay loop. However, I have heard different advice on where to put it, both for where to attach it to myself and where to attach it to the rope: Clip it to the belay loop or the leg loop or to a loop of my personal anchor system (PAS)? Tie it "uphill" from the belay Carry a Backup Plan: If a Friction Hitch Backup proves unreliable, be prepared to use another backup method, such as a Firefighter’s Belay or Back up the system First, build a back-up. This is often referred to as a “Third Hand. Dress and cinch the figure-eight knot. The easy-to-use rappel extension freed up my belay loop for a rappel backup. Dressed means that the parallel strands don't cross each other. The nice thing about this is that if you're on a weird rap route it's a little easier for the first climber to jug back up the rope if they are off than it is with a guide device clipped back to the belay loop to make it lock as an ascender. If your rap device comes into contact with your friction hitch, it can The Hollowblock is a flat (ish) weave aramid loop that is super popular as a rappel backup. 7mm accessory cord is around 11kn and 5mm is around 6kn to give examples of the size cord you might use to create a back up. Use it or loose it? - SuperTopo's climbing discussion forum is the world's most popular community discussion forum for people who actively climb outdoors. I've backed up my belay loop now for many years (a loop of webbing through the tie in pionts, tied off with a water knot) and recieved many comments and queeries, some people gave positive feed back and backed up their belay loop, some comments I had to disregard. This is mandatory for any complex technique or when system failure would be catastrophic. This backup works best on the loop Either way, backing up a belay loop even when every harness manufacturer would tell you it's a waste seems pretty silly to me. Attach your solo belay device to the rope, weight the rope end with a light pack or extra gear to help it feed, and clip two locking carabiners through your belay loop. If you have enough slack, the easiest backup is a big overhand knot on a bight about four feet below your Prusik hitch (clip it to your belay loop). Should I backup my rappel - Find rock climbing routes, photos, and guides for every state, along with experiences and advice from fellow climbers. To prepare for this, always carry some extra gear on your harness: an assisted-braking belay/rappel device (Grigri, Cinch, etc. Prusiks are not full-strength attachment points. They are not strong at all compared to the belay loop itself. With an autoblocking/assisted belay device on a direct belay (off of the anchor) from above, your brake hand on the rope is the back up. If you're looking for a good way to back up your rappel and you don't have a partner available for a fireman's belay, an autobloc is a great Last, extending the rappel allows us to rig a friction hitch backup off the belay loop, which is especially important given that many ultralight ski 2) Take a dyneema sling, girth hitch it through the little hole on the atc, then redirect it through a carabiner on the top shelf of the anchor, then clip it to your belay loop. It is, however, a great method of capturing progress if you are in the emergency situation of needing to ascend a rap line. The backup knot can either be a figure-eight or overhand on a bight. Using a carabiner to backup the belay loop always raises the question that if you don’t trust your belay loop then you should get a new harness. The extension makes easier to brake specially with thin ropes, keeps the ATC away from catching on anything and most important keeps it away from the friction hitch. I also posted this in r/Climbing. Warnings Carefully read the Instructions for Use used in this technical advice before consulting the advice itself. Now as far as I'm aware there is no standard in climbing for teaching people to place the basket on their belay loop. We try to introduce I currently use a single static line (I know two would probably be safer/more redundant) and I either have two ascenders on my belay loop or an ascender and a prusik as a backup. Tie a back-up knot in any rope which you are ascending. Extended Rappel w/ ATC: Clip the HollowBlock to your belay loop with a small, locking carabiner. The prusik is already attached to the climber’s belay loop, so all she has to do is add a second friction hitch for her feet below the first friction hitch. The Prusik only has to supply braking force, and a leg loop, for 2) Clip a spare carabiner to your device’s “ear”, then to the belay loop. Most important things to know about harnesses: Hip belt, leg loops, carabineer/belay loop and leg loops/hip belt nooses are always full strength Familiarize yourself with the self rescue tool box on the ground in a low risk setting - at the base of a local crag is a great place to start. Learn how You can girth hitch your belay loop, its safe. Use the prusik, clipped to your belay loop, to hold you while you undo and redo the ATC. That's why the belay device is on the end of a short extender, so that there's room for the prusik. And I'll have a prussik backup onto the rope below the belay/rappel device, so In live drop tests where the prusik was clipped under the rappel device and to the rappel/belay loop, the backup failed 100 percent of the time! A backup belay (generally in the form of a munter) is recommended any time you need to lower with an atc in guide mode. 2 Continue wrapping two more times, for a total of three wraps. Or you can just both simul rap with grigris. That way there is redundancy should your belay loop fail, e. Single rope with both devices one single rope - one on belay Find rock climbing routes, photos, and guides for every state, along with experiences and advice from fellow climbers. Pre-rig your assisted-braking belay device, a Grigri in this case, underneath the belayer’s belay device and clip it to your belay loop with a locking carabiner. But, there’s three reasons why this is Auto-block - Backup when rappelling, we use the Sterling HollowBlock for this. And I now backup my belay loop with a piece of webbing – looks like a 2nd belay loop - that acts just as a backup to the real belay loop. Clip this knot to your belay They discussed the worn harness, talking about how people back up the belay loop with a tied sling, but neither considered it a significant safety hazard. 3. Carabiners do not sit well in 2 different parts of a harness, that is why you tie into those points and clip carabiners to the belay loop. There are some newer harneses with quick release leg loop buckles that reportedly can come undone when pulled in the direction that a autoblock/prusik might exert. Then you create a 2:1 where you have a bit more leverage to control the tilt of the reverso. ” Additionally, you Overhand on a bight- tie an overhand every 5 or 10 feet as a knot that will block your belay device if it slips or fails. Maximizing solo training time After learning about this, many people ask why one might use the inside of the knot as a belay loop. If not comfortable or your body doesn’t allow for enough space for the prusik, extend like people are saying. . Tie the tail into a backup overhand or double When rappelling during Climb Section outings, we prefer an extended rappel using a PAS, cord or sling, with either a “third hand” (Prusik, Auto-Block or Klemheist hitch) backup connected to the belay loop or a Fireman’s Belay from below. Applications: Escaping the belay, passing a knot, ascending/ descending a rope, rappel backup, hauling, crevasse rescue Fig. However, if you want a backup device below it on the same rope, it’s better to have a bit of separation between the 2 devices. Use the other locker to clip the next loop before Temporary or back up belay loops are just not a solution. The flat, aramid material is heat resistant and Here's a question for you: What happens if you're rappelling with your back-up above you and a falling rock hits you and you let go of your back-up? Does it leave you 2. A double loop bowline, tied through the belay loop (or tie in points). The sling extends the belay device above the back-up knot. Be sure to use a backup on the brake strand regardless of what method you use. Here's a video timestamped at 3:00. I know that there are some newer harnesses that include redundant belay loops, but it is still generally considered to strong to fail. So even though Metolius state that: We are building safety into the harness itself, so that there is a backup system in place, they clearly don't think the belay loop is an area that needs special attention for safety reasons. 4) Hold the brake strand, untie the backup knot, and sit back on the sling to release the device. If you want to back up your belay loop, use a soft shackle to make a 2nd temporary loop. By connecting your rap device to a sling, it frees up your belay loop for your friction hitch backup. A friction hitch attached to your belay loop is fine, but a munter is better. g. When passing a knot on rappel, you will do the same, with the backup figure eight on a bight below the knot to pass, clipped to your harness so you only fall 2-3 feet if your prusik fails. Find rock climbing routes, photos, and guides for every state, along with experiences and advice from fellow climbers. A guide to where you should attach your belay plate. Why is this cool? Easy to untie after its been loaded, much more so than an Learn this reliable system, which includes a backup and basic rope-ascent skills, to make your rappelling safer. A Final Word Is this incident going to cause every climber out there to start wanting two belay loops, or tying a backup webbing belay loop in their current harness or throw their harness away altogether and buy a new one immediately? It shouldn't. Belay loops are strong and it doesn't triload your carabiners. It’s a system, knot, or piece of Use with a Metolius Super Safe harness or backup gear loops as shown in Brent’s blog. I don't belay with D-shaped biners for this reason, and I think the wider more even basket of a pear biner is designed for belaying and is vital for Munter hitches. This setup is worthy of its own post, but in brief, the extension helps add friction, allows for a full-strength backup off the belay loop, and allows 4. Less common causes include: Rappel device issues. Harness/belay loop failure. Clip it to the belay loop or the leg loop or to a loop of my personal anchor system (PAS)? For many harnesses, as long as you have the Prusik downhill from the ATC, it doesn't matter. Plan ahead! The first step in avoiding any climbing incidents is good prior planning. Placing a prusik hitch above your rappel device might initially seem like a good way to backup your rappel. 3,4) Climber then unties her tie in knot and pulls the tail through the On a scholarship from the Seattle Climbing Committee, two volunteer Mountaineers leaders attended an American Mountain Guide Tie the climbing rope into the harness waist and leg loops (ie: the "hard points" - not the belay loop), with a rewoven figure-eight knot. Wrap 2-3 times around both strands of rope (enough for it to grab), and clip other end to the same carabiner for the WAC Way. Rappelling off the end of the rope (s)—largely due to uneven ropes. When abseiling from an anchor during rock climbing, I like to use a backup prusik as a potential lifesaver in case I screw up. If it’s just one pitch to the ground and a bluebird day, then the traditional rap off of the The belay loop plays a vital role in the safety and functionality of the climbing harness. Belay loops must meet the UIAA minimum standard of 15kn. Clip a spare carabiner (non locker is fine) through the “ear” of the device, then clip that carabiner to your belay loop. The sleeker Clip your lead rope as you climb with the auto belay acting as a backup lifeline in case you fall unexpectedly. Its typically better practice to girth hitch though the two loops on your harness the belay loop is looped though. The belay loop is the best example. PROS: One-handed adjustment of position; two arms for clipping into fixed lines; dedicated extension for rappel device; rated for personal protection. The single-length sling is, technically, non-redundant, but so is the belay loop, rappel device and biner, and rope, and the 22kn sling is wild overkill for the forces involved in the rappel. You are now ready to climb. The simplest backup: Every 5 meters or so, tie a overhand on a bight and clip it to your belay loop with a locker. Belay loops are uber strong, and the reality is that your body is going to break in half before your belay loop does. Two belay loops. Video - How to make a Prusik loop for a rappel backup? This video explains how to make a Prusik loop for a rappel backup. And next time I will use 2 Mini Traxions. 4. This protects you in case you somehow lose control of the rappel. If you have a plaquette style belay device such as a DMM Pivot or ATC Guide, try this: feed the rope as for a normal rappel. Harnesses: Belay Loop. If the belay loop is too strong to fail, why do we tie in to two separate points on the harness when we climb while the other end of the rope is secured to a single point? To me, the issue of having a backup is primary, and the issue of whether it's OK to girth-hitch to the belay loop is secondary. Clip one of the lockers to your first backup loop at about the 15-foot level. 1 Take the knotted end of the cord and wrap it around the rope, going through the other end of the cord, similar to a girth-hitch. I find it the best way to rappel. (More often if you’re scared. A manufacturer is not going to recommend using a 20 year old harness, but research shows that if that harness has been stored properly and not exposed to chemicals it’s fine. Attach the self-belay device to the fixed line, and clip it to the belay loop on your harness with a large locking carabiner. Tie an To backup a rappel you need to tie a friction knot like a Prusik to catch you if you let go of the rope. Prusik Knots in Rope Systems The Prusik knot is a cornerstone of technical rope systems, widely regarded for its versatility and reliability. In the simplest terms, a backup for your rappel is anything that will stop the rope when you become unable to. 6. The belay device 2) Climb a ties a figure 8 loop and clips it to her belay loop with a locker. “The belay loop must have got a lot worse over the next few days,” says Hewett, adding that Skinner had belayed him on it with no problems (they spent four out of the next five days For the rope you can climb on doubles, for the belay loop you can get harnesses with two belay loops or tie your own backup loop with cord. Todd Skinner. Backing up the belay device Grigri with microtrax, grigri alone, grigri with jumar, jumar with microtrax etc etc. I like to extend with a PAS and the rappel Video - How to make a Prusik loop for a rappel backup? This video explains how to make a Prusik loop for a rappel backup. 5. (This blocks the rope from feeding through the belay device in the unlikely event that the belay device should slip. Catastrophe knots, and tying the rope directly to the anchor via Clove hitch or For several reasons, I set up each device with an extension and a “third-hand” backup. Remove the figure 8 device from the carabiner. 3) Tie a autoblock on the brake strand and clip it to your belay loop. ) Belay Loop If you're placing an autoblock on your belay loop, you have to make sure and extend your belay device when rappeling (using a sling or something like the Metolius PAS). Next, rappel your main line to the ground. Stranded due to inadequate rappel rope length. Every 15 feet or Once I test that the VT is secure I'll remove the pulley from the belay loop and attach a rappel device in its place, secure the foot loop on a harness gear loop, and descend with the rap device/VT. When rappelling, why would you put a prusik/autoblock below the rappel device instead of above it? On a The most common secondary application is extending a rappel. As mentioned above this separation is an So how do you back up a rappel? Backing up a rappel involves using some system that will stop the rope from passing through your belay device if you become unable to do so. The PAS allows a climber to setup their rappel device on one of the PAS loops, Your ATC Guide or similar plaquette-style belay device is of course great for belay and rappel, but can also be rigged as an ascender. The belay loop is the strongest part of the climbing harness, so why do so many climbers not trust it? It’s very common to see climbers backing up their belay loop with a separate piece of After playing a bit over the last 2 decades out there, I've seen situations that I described elsewhere that have inspired me to backup my belay loop, since, especially on Should you use this set up on every rappel? Probably not. If done correctly, the Grigri should be pre-rigged between the belayer’s brake hand and the backup knot you tied. If you rap directly off your belay loop then you should have the autoblock/prusik attached to your leg loop. I just recently bought the Black Diamond Big Gun harness. Say you accidentally pass a rap station, and find yourself in the middle of the air at the end of your Always back up your prusiks. At some point in time it Yes, I extend my ATC with a sling, the backup is a French prusik with a biner to my belay loop, below the extended ATC. Always apply proper backups, such as an extra fixed line connected to the “injured” climber’s belay loop, or a backup belay from a third person while practicing. ), a backup Find rock climbing routes, photos, and guides for every state, along with experiences and advice from fellow climbers. To your harness belay loop? Or to your 'rope loop'? Belay loops are strong and it doesn't triload your carabiners. When he reaches your stance, back up the belay device by tying off the brake strand with a figure-8-on-a-bight and clipping it to the masterpoint. Cache loop with Microtrax on ‘biner clipped around Prusik Rappel Safety - A discussion paper on using a prusik knot to backup an abseil from the rock climbing archive site. This is important because if the Prusik loop gets drawn into the belay device it can get jammed, Do you Back Up Your Belay Loop - SuperTopo's climbing discussion forum is the world's most popular community discussion forum for people who actively climb outdoors. Inadequate back up for rappels. Likewise, belaying a leader with an assisted-braking device, your brake hand on the rope is the backup. Belay 3. Fig. ) It doesn’t, you can hang it off your belay loop quite happily. Three wraps is sufficient for cord; prusiks I also should have taken the time to time to tie a back up knot a little ways off the ground. Subscribe to our channel for the latest updates and more! In this video we review two ways to back up a belay device for a rappel. Carabiners do not sit well in 2 different parts of a harness, that is why you tie into those points and If I'm TRS'ing and have two devices on my belay loop, I use my tie in points; if I'm tied into a rope through my tie in points, I tie the lanyard When first learning to belay, it’s crucial to use a backup belayer, or someone who is also holding the brake strand in case you don’t catch a fall. Hold the small hole of the figure of 8 in your left hand. The rope is not clipped into a carabiner. Most belay loops test well above this, in fact most test above 20kn. The belay loop is always found in the front center of the 1. A backup, or self-belay, that would prevent uncontrolled descent in any event where control of the brake rope is lost. In alpine climbing, a small percentage of In this case, the rope stretch of a fall might land the climber below the starting ledge, which may then be difficult to climb back up to. Cinched means you've yanked all 4 exiting strands hard. Munter Rappel: The HollowBlock carabiner gets clipped to your leg loop. jzqu abd gjags xsztl kqyct ojcftmn whni qogo flpw ugcka