2008

Course Manual
Basic Rapel
Basic concepts, equipment, and techniques.
Seibert Bonilla
Ecoviajeros Club Panama
5/11/2008
 Basic Rappelling Course Manual 2008
THEHISTORYOFRAPPPELLINGINPANAMA
The oldest data that records the use of ropes and climbers is found gathered in
the Military History books that refer to the army of Alexander the Great. It is extracted from this
historical narration that a division of this army. (That at its time of battles was
composed of up to 750,000 soldiers), was specialized in scaling the high walls of castles,
[Link]
It is also true that in the territories of the Middle East some peoples lived in caves.
modified over large cliffs and that this division slid on ropes until
entrances of these caves and abducted women, recruited young people for the army and obtained
food
The military arts of this army were passed down from generation to generation to this and others.
armies, reaching up to the 19th century, and learned by the army of Emperor Napoleon
Bonaparte, quien en sus conquistas deEuropa al someter a otros ejércitos y pueblosfueron
transmitting these arts, that the soldiers could be discharged or resign to apply for the work
[Link],itwasdocumentedthatthenearbyinhabitantsof
The Swiss Alps were climbing the mountains in search of delectable mushrooms in winter and of juicy
mountain berries in summer, the one who practiced this action was called a mountaineer.
This activity soon spread to the rest of Europe, mainly to France, Italy, and Spain.
who have the most recent data on this activity. It was precisely the farmers from
northern France began to use the word rappel to describe the action of going down
steep hills to gather food. Initially, the body rappel technique was used, which
consisted of two techniques or forms:
Rapp
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folds through the arms and safely descend in a lateral position.
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who modifies it by passing the rope between the legs, going up the back towards one of
the men, taken by the hand and brought to the front to advance and towards the body to brake.
With this technique, you could descend a greater distance and with greater safety.
However, it was not until 1786 that the first ascent of Mont Blanc was recorded, when
there is really a special and deep interest in the mountains, first for climbing them
peaksandthendescendandclimbtheirslopes.
AndrightherethedatacolectedinthelogsoftheRoyalGeographicalSocietyofLondon,recognize
Therappellingtechniquewas"invented"in1879byJeanCharlet-Strantandhiscolleagues.
Prosper Payot and Frederic Folliguet, during the conquest of Petit Dru, rock wall, covered with
ice and snow near Chamonix. According to his own account, indicating how they had descended,
after crowning the summit, at each section, after her two companions came down
rope, secured this to an outcrop and descended until encountering them, and there 'I threw'
strongly asking for the rope that, if we remember..."
yourtips,andsobringthebeambacktome)
In the 1930s, the production of saddles is introduced; this specifically happens in the
Swiss Alps, (hence their name Swiss chairs), however, their greatest contribution to the techniques of
Climbing and Mountaineering was established with the appearance in the 20th century of the International Union of
Mountaineers.
Associates, who through companies like CMC, PMI, and PETZL, created different equipment.
toimprovethisactivity.
In Panama, this activity was introduced by the United States Army stationed in
the Canal Zone, those who trained the then National Guard in these techniques,
specifically to the 2nd Company of Infantry Tigers and the Cavalry Squadron. By the end
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Basic Rappel Course Manual 2008
fromthe60sandearly70s,theNationalGuardofPanamasenttoFortBragginCarolina
from the North USA, 25 soldiers from different Combat Companies to specialize in rappelling
Military personnel, upon their return, joined three specific companies, and tactical rappelling was initiated.
The Red Devils in Chiriquí
The Machos of Monte in Río Hato
The Tigers in Panama
However,simultaneouslyinthe20thcentury,whilerappelingwasusedasamiltarytechniqueof
assault, the most advanced countries in culture used rappelling and climbing as a technique of
[Link]
In 1970, the Panamanian Red Cross sent 10 rescuers from the Chiriquí Chapter of the Red Cross to
specializing in Mountain Rescue, with the Mountain Rescue Brigade of the Red Cross
Costa Rica. Upon their return to Panama, the newly specialized were commissioned to train.
Rescuers in the mountains, with the aim of being prepared for rescues that may occur in
ourVolcanoBarú. But in the mid-80s, the rappel techniques were used more for
rescue actions in urban areas than in mountainous areas, and then another type of rappel is born.
posterior classification in:
Fixed Rope Recall: on rock
Reminder of Barrancos: in ravines and cliffs
Reminder of Buildings: about building walls
Free Fall Recall: usually performed from high structures or bridges
Wet Rappel of Cascades
Attheendofthe80sandthebeginningofthe90s,anotherphenomenonoccurredthistimeinPanama:wediscoveredthat
we could economically exploit adventure tourism and extreme sports, and here it makes its
the emergence of rappelling as an extreme and exciting activity.
Currently in Panama, the following institutions and organizations make the following types
ofreminder:
Military Tactical Reminder: Border Police, Institutional Protection Service, and Reaction Group
oftheNationalPolice.
Rescue call: Rescue Brigade of the Panamanian Red Cross and Delta Unit of SINAPROC.
Sport and extreme rappelling activities: PEX (Panama Explorer Club), Panama Jones, Eco Club
Adventure, Trail Panama, Adventures in Panama, Panama Jungle Expeditions, Trips El Chivo and
Ecoviajeros Panama.
Finally, it was relatively a few years ago that rappelling stopped being a military technique for
to convert into a sport.
BASICKNOTS
CharacteristicsofKnots
They are relatively easy to make.
You can easily determine if they were made correctly.
Once done correctly, they remain tied.
They have a minimal effect on the resistance of the rope.
They are relatively easy to untie after being used.
The leftover thread must be at least 20 centimeters long.
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TypesofKnots
Ithasseveraluseso,neofwhichisto
give a temporary finish to the end of a
rope that has not been reinforced and with this
to prevent it from falling apart.
Guide: Sneeze consists of a loop that
It doesn't run; it's useful for going up and down.
personintheformofaharnessorkeeptogether
several people by means of a rope. The Ace
The advantage of not loosening
easily.
Bowline:Justlikethebreaststroketurn,
it serves to tie a rope to a pole or
mast. This is usually done when the
a string is subjected to a constant tension, already
that if said tension decreases, the knot...
[Link]
startandfinishatying.
Prusik: Allows you to attach a rope to a pole and to
a ring. It is an easy knot to make and
undo, it is resistant to tension. It can
use to hang weights from tree branches or
todraglogsbymeansofropes.
cazoneteallowsyoutodoitquickly.
OchoSimple:Itisasimpleandverysecureknot,
it does not easily come apart. It is used
to temporarily finish the tip of a
ropepreventingitfromunraveling.
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EightDoubleofaGaza
For direct and indirect anchors.
Fisherman: Sneezing is used when it is
necessary to tie two strings that are wet or
underwater or when it is necessary
[Link]
ropes will be kept under the water, it is
It's advisable to make double checks in each.
extreme to better secure the knot.
Double Fisherman
EQUIPMENT
In this sport, multiple equipment is used for different applications, we wil proceed to describe
themostcommonones.
Carabiner:Autensilintheshapeofaring,madeofsteelorlightweightaluminumalloys.
various, used in safety maneuvers within activities such as rescue,
rock climbing, caving, canyoning, mountaineering, etc. It constitutes a delicate team in
inwhichtheuserdepositstheirphysicalintegrityorthatofanotherperson,forwhichitisfundamental
to take care of some security aspects.
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Parts of a Carabiner
hinge or door
2. Carabiner or body
[Link]
4. Dimension
longitudinal
5. Cross dimension
[Link]
recorded
of
breaking resistance
Types of Carabiner:
For its safety, for its form and particular use, or for its reliability or certification.
Theyarecaeldsafeyt carabniers,htosehtathaveascrewthreadedinsdieand
thatmovesalongthethreadedgrooveonbothsidesoftheclosureinordertopreventitsopening
involuntary and the carabiners that do not have this safety are called simple.
In terms of shape: there are many types, models, and shapes of carabiners. In 'D' shape, oval.
inPeraetc.
Helmets:
Características deseadas delos cascos:
Light
Under,
Easy to adjust,
Donotobstructyourvision
Have a comfortable suspension.
Materials:
Polycarbonate Helmet
Robust cases made of polycarbonate to better absorb shocks and impact energy.
it absorbs by deforming the material of the [Link] head remains intact and separated by
an interior belt system. Between these belts and the outer shell there is a space that achieves
[Link],theexteriormaterialreturnstoitsstate
front and can absorb other impacts. They are robust and very safe helmets. However, they do not
findnomodelthatweighslessthan400gramsandaestheticallymaynotbeappealing.
Polystyrene helmet
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onnesu
ioT
[Link]
tseS
rhoirlctabsom
hecfsietprm
eta
high-density expanded that achieves an excellent weight-damping ratio. Furthermore, with
[Link].
characteristic. Lateral resistance is optimal. However, the material is very fragile and each small
impact reflected on the casing, giving an old appearance. For strong vertical impacts
itmayhavelowerabsorptionthanthoseoftheotherclass.
UIAA tests
You must endure the fall of a
weight of 5kg from 2 meters
ofheight.
It must withstand the impact of It must withstand the fall of a
amassof5Kgfromapointedobjectof1.5Kg
0.5 meters at its front, 1.0 meters.
laterals and posterior.
Slip test:
The straps of the belt must hold.
firmly the helmet to the head.
They will withstand a tension of 500 N without
to break.
The helmet should not come off the head afterwards.
tie it with a rope weighing 10kg and
let it fall.
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Descenders
Descenders are devices that operate under the frictional force exerted by the rope on the ...
[Link],thisfrictionforceisusedtocounteractthegravitationalforceor
[Link]:TypeA,TypeB,TypeC,Type
D.
Class A. Fall protection device:
Mobile anchoring point, equipped with automatic locking, that accompanies the user in their
displacement without manual intervention of this.
[Link]:
Used in lifting and lowering operations.
They consist of personal devices that ensure descent from the occupied surface.
bytheuseruptoacollectionsurface,automaticallyandataspeed
convenient that it can be regulated to avoid causing harm to the user.
[Link]:
Personal devices that are operated by the user in a manual or mechanical way,
they allow for lifting and lowering operations.
They usually consist of a chair or similar and a locking system or device, which
activated by the user, allows them to ascend or descend and remain parked at a
certain height.
Type 8:
It receives this name due to the shape of the same descender, although the device is a classic.
Intheworldofclimbing,itsusehascurrentlyreducedduetotheappearanceofotherdescenders.
moreefficientandsecure.
8Deportivo
Advantages:
Light weight
Ease of use
They allow the use of double rope
Disadvantages:
Ithasnobrakingdevice.
With a lot of weight, it is difficult to control it.
braking
Therappesilveryolnght,ewegihotfti
ropeblocks
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Risk of getting stuck with the prusik.
8th Rescue
Advantages
The cord does not slip around the ring.
mayor.
They are larger in size
It dissipates heat better.
They accept large-sized ropes.
Diameter.
Theyacceptuptotwostrings.
A rope with a knot can be passed.
Disadvantages
Bulky and slightly heavier
the small figure 8 models
sports
Like all the figures 8, they will twist the rope.
Recommendations and Maintenance
Read the instructions that come with the device carefully.
tIsinecesayrotknowhowtosecuerhtedescendertopeefrocitn,thatis,howtobolcki.t
devicewhenitischargedandthiswillinhibitthedisplacementoftherope.
They shoudl avodi fasl or cosilns whti gridi maetarisl, as htey may sufer cracks.
difficult to see at first glance.
Take into account the resistance of the device, do not use devices for individual use, for it.
supportfrommorethanoneperson.
Placement of 8
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Ensuring the 8
Strings
Characteristics
Diameter: it is a measure of the cross-section of the string. The greater the diameter, the greater...
tensile strength of the rope. It is not recommended to climb on a single rope with diameters smaller
that9.8mm(Ref7).
Length. It is the longitudinal measurement of the rope. In rescue operations, the length of the rope may
being very large (200 m), but this value will depend on the transportation time, and the
dimensions of the rescue site.
Color. It is the standout feature of the strings, easy colors are recommended.
distinguishable, with the purpose of having a better visualization of the rope on the ground.
Static resistance or breaking point.

Static maximum weight that a rope can withstand without breaking. In tasks of
this value must not be less than 2500Kg.
Abrasion resistance. It is the property of the rope to withstand the influence of the environment.
on its surface. The cover is the main responsible for counteracting any effect
external on the rope, especially the effects of friction.
Shock Coefficient: it is the ability of the rope to absorb shocks caused
duetofalls.
Maneuverability (knot test). The ease of making rigs on the ropes.
is given by the maneuverability of the rope.
Waterproofing. Wet ropes lose up to 20% of their strength.
Parts of the Rope
Body. It is the longitudinal extension of the string, that is to say, its length, and it can vary.
fromafewmeterstoeventensorhundredsofmeters.
Cables. We call the beginning or end of a rope a cable. We also refer to the ends as tips.
ends of a common rope.
[Link] diameter or thickness of the rope.
Soul. It is the constitution of the string which is formed by small filaments.
intertwined which shape the rope.
Forro. Also called the shirt and is the external covering of the string.
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Diameter of the Rope and its Use
Conservation of the Cords
Avoid unnecessary sun exposure, as ultraviolet rays affect them.
Store it in a suitable place, without false twists and with the appropriate folding.
Acquire a bag for the rope.
Wash the rope when it becomes impregnated with organic materials or is covered with sand.
[Link].
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Carrying a rope story, this way you can keep good control of its lifespan. A
An excellent method is to create a life record.
The Harness
Generalities
They provide the climber or rappelist with a secure support.
They are equipped with hooks from where descent and ascent lines can be secured.
security.
They also have circular supports to transfer weight to the legs and make it easier.
comfortable shoes.
Parts of the harness
Swamy belt: in different widths and padded for greater safety.
Pierneras: also available in different widths and padded.
Tie point: it must connect the leg straps with the belt, through ropes or ribbons and
seams.
Adjustment area: in some, it is carried out with a buckle, in others the tying area and the
ofself-adjustment.
Strap insurance: In some models, there is a flat strap that connects the leg supports.
withtheswamyandservesexclusivelytoplacetheassuranceinstrument.
Recommendations for the use of the harness
Check the seams and straps (especially those with higher friction) after each climb and
takenforgrantedafterafall.
With the use and age of the harness, its resistance decreases. The repeated friction cuts it.
the surface of the fibers, also causing premature wear.
Dispose of it when there is a visual doubt about its safety.
Remember to give the tape a safety loop over the buckles.
The tiny grains of earth and sand get between the fibers. When the harness is
under tension, tears can occur and cause the breakage of the strips to a
very low value compared to normal.
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Justlikeribbonsandstrings,itisadvisabletowatchoutnottodirtyorsteponit.
Recommendations for harness care
If it were washed, do it with cold water, rinsing it several times to remove the soap thoroughly.
Soap can be used for delicate garments.
Drying will be done in the shade, as the sun's UV rays damage the fabric.
Neverstoreitwetordamp.
Avoid leaving the material in the car trunk exposed to the sun
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