For
many years, I have hiked regularly in the red rock country
around Sedona, Arizona. In the course of a typical off-trail
hike, usually on the final leg as I descended from the red
rocks, I would unexpectedly encounter a steep slope or cliff
that was too difficult to climb down safely, resulting in
a time-consuming and tiring search for an alternative route.
On a number of occasions when I was too tired or impatient,
I found myself part way down dangerous rock faces that I
should not have attempted, and came very close to having serious
falls.
Then I bought 90 feet of light mountaineering rope
and found that by doubling it around a tree or bush at the top
of
a rock
face, I was able to use it to climb down places that would
have previously been impossible for me to negotiate.
Still,
I was not feeling safe. Hand-over-hand descents are dangerous
because most people (including me) do not
have the
upper-body
strength to hold on to a rope for very long. Rock faces
that include overhangs are particularly hazardous. I once spent
a night on a ledge half way down a cliff face because I
was
not
able to maintain my grip on the rope as I tried to climb
down an overhung section. I fell, injuring myself, and
found myself
in a place where I was not able climb either up or down.
I had to be rescued in the morning.
So, for years, I
have been trying to design a piece of gear that would enable
me to attach myself to a rope
and descend
safely
down a rock face, thus eliminating the risk of a fall,
yet be light enough to be unnoticeable in my hiking
pack (unlike
heavy
rappelling gear). The Grappeller™ (Gregory RAPPELLER)
is the fruit of my labors. To the best of my knowledge,
there is
nothing like it.
Description
The Grappeller™ is
a simple device that enables a person to safely and comfortably
descend steep slopes and cliffs. It
is light enough (4 to 8 oz. plus rope and carabiner)
that a hiker can carry it without adding a significant
weight to a pack. It
is very easy to use.
The Grappeller™ is made of
mountaineering-grade nylon webbing (the 1 inch tubular
webbing has a breaking strength of 4,500
pounds) and metal buckles and is assembled on an industrial
sewing machine with heavy-duty nylon thread. Its unique
design makes
use of a locking carabiner as a friction device attached
to a lightweight mountaineering-grade rope (7 mm static
style with
a 3,210 pound breaking strength or 8 mm static style
with a 4,025 pound breaking strength recommended).
The
Grappeller™ comes in two styles: the standard Grappeller™ (henceforth
called “The Grappeller™”) and the
Wrist Grappeller™.
The Grappeller™ wraps
around the back and under the arms, buckles around
the chest. The rope is doubled around
some secure
object (such as the trunk of a tree) at the top of
a steep slope or cliff. Both strands of the rope are then
wrapped around the
carabiner, which is then clipped to the Grappeller™ and
locked. The user can then descend slowly, controlling
the rate by the amount of pull applied to both ropes
below the friction
device -- the more the user pulls on the ropes, the
greater the drag as the ropes pass through the carabiner.
(For more information
on the Grappeller™, click here.).
The Wrist Grappeller™ is similar to the standard
Grappeller™, except it attaches to the wrist (right
or left, depending on the preference of the user) instead
of around the chest. In all other ways, it functions like
a regular Grappeller™. (For
more information on the Wrist Grappeller™, click here.)
Additional Comments
As with any mountaineering
venture, a safety helmet should be worn when using the Grappeller™.
A certified mountaineering helmet is recommended.
While designed
for use on a double rope, the Grappeller™ can
also be used on a single strand of rope.
To increase the friction and slow
the descent, the rope can be wrapped twice around the carabiner.
The Grappeller™ also works
well ascending a rock face when used with ascending
devices such
as Petzl Tiblocs.
The design of
both the Grappeller™ and Wrist Grappeller™ make
use of one continuous piece of tubular webbing.
If
a person using the Grappeller™ should get into difficulty
and let go of the rope, a spotter at the
bottom of the cliff employing a fireman’s belay can
control their fall. Their pull on the rope stops the descent
of the
person on the Grappeller™ instantly;
easing up on the pull, lowers them down
slowly.
Other uses for the Grappeller™ are for exiting
burning buildings, descending from helicopters, and caving.
Summary
What makes the Grappeller™ unique
is its simplicity and lightness. It is so simple that anyone
can quickly learn how
to use it, and it is so light that
hikers can carry it all the time. This makes it especially
ideal for off-trail
hikers, who
regularly encounter difficult terrain
that can be dangerous to negotiate any other way.
