Stuck on Rappel.....

[Iceaxe]

The recent thread "Scenario - Flipped Upside Down" got me to thinking.....

Instead of making crap up.... what are some real case situations you have experienced first hand that involved you or a member of your party getting stuck on a rappel? What did you do to solve the problem?

I have two situations...

Situation #1: The very first time I did Pine Creek my partner was using a figure 8 and slid over the old stump rappel (the obstacle has since washed away) and managed to catch the rope where it passed under the figure 8 and slide it off the top of the figure 8. This effectively tied off his figure 8 in a girth hitch (larks foot). My partner was hanging free in space, about a foot over the edge, maybe 8 feet off the ground.

I solved this problem by reaching over the edge, grabbing the haul loop on my partners pack and physically lifting him up to where he could flip the rope back where it belonged and continue the rappel.

Situation #2: The first time I did Pandora's Box I wasn't paying attention and managed to suck my shirt up into my ATC. This was at the big rappel at the finish.

I solved this problem by reaching over and giving my shirt a hard yank. This ripped a big chuck of material out of my shirt that was stuck in the ATC but I was free.

As you can see.... my standard method of problem solving normally involves the simple, direct, brute force approach....

:popcorn:

Girth Hitched Figure 8
http://www.ojaisar.org/photogallery/Knots/Girth%20Hitch_400w.jpg

[cookiecutter]

The last rap in Behunin our first decender was on rappel and made it over the ledge that drops to the free fall. When we tossed the ropes they had knoted up. He pulled out his prussik and attached it to the ropes. He then put his weight on the prussik while he pulled up the rope and fixed the problem.

[snccoulter]

I know of a long haired hippie dude that gave himself a haircut while repelling. He was lucky he had a knife with him. but he had a really sore head for about a week.

[bruce from bryce]

:popcorn: Scenario #1 - July 2005 - Trip Leader Ice
After learning how to rappel from the back of the leader's truck (yup) we, Wade & Micha, headed into Pine Creek. At the now gone stump I lowered myself over the stump being ever aware not to get my hand stuck between the rope and the stump. But I forgot about my foot and I was soon hanging upside down with Shane looking down upon me asking if I needed help. I self-rescued myself by jerking my foot out from under the rope but taking a mean swing into the wall under the stump. Ego bruised but not physically harmed we continued through the canyon and a canyoneering career was begun. See photo for graphic evidence. Note that Shane is quickly coming to my rescue, probably brute force!

Scenario #2 - September 29, 2009
Flash foward to a 2-day trip through Imlay with a great group of people. I had gravitated back to my normal position of being at the end of the pack and at one rappel where you again go over a stump I was last and cleaning up the ropes. Noticing the difficulty that everyone was having in getting over the stump I decided to go between the stump and the wall. Oh oh you are thinking. I hung my pack and lowered myself down and was feeling pretty good with my decision when I abruptly stopped. It seemed that I was suspended in air because my helmet had become stuck between the aforementioned objects. Realizing that I might soon be choked to death by my chin strap I was able to pull myself up slightly and remove my helmet which I threw to the canyon below. It made a mighty sound and I soon heard the inquiring question, "Are you OK? Yes," I said, "that was my helmet but fortunately my head was not in it". :five:

[Iceaxe]

And notice..... like any good partner should Wade snapped pictures of his partners troubles.... talk about team work.... :2thumbs:

I think this is on the upper stump just above the cathedral rappel. This stump is still in place. The old stump that washed out was after the cathedral rappel and disappeared bout 8 years ago.

:popcorn: