Top 5 Mistakes Made While Rappelling

It’s been said that “It’s not the fall that kills you, it’s the sudden stop at the end.” While it’s uncertain who stated that fact, chances are they might have been a rappeler. Rappelling can be the most dangerous — yet exciting — part of climbing and exploring! You rely on you and your gear as you descend down the mountain side!

Zion Canyon offers amazing views as you rappel down the canyon walls. While the views are breathtaking, and the rappel an adrenaline rush, certain precautions need to be made to ensure that your trip down the mountain will end with your feet planted firmly on the ground.

While there are various techniques and tricks involved in rappelling, there are also a variety of things that could go wrong. Learning what to avoid while preparing for your rappelling adventure is sure to ensure a great time!

Here are the top 5 mistakes that can be made while rappelling and some suggestions to help make your trip great!

Hair and Helmet Usage

While it might seem like a hassle to pack a helmet around with you while getting to that perfect rappelling spot, the benefits that come from using that helmet are worth the hassle. As you begin your descent down the mountainside, depending on the area that you are in, there could be possibilities for debris to fall along your rappel. Wearing that “pesky” helmet can help prevent injuries big and small and make for a more enjoyable time going down the canyon walls!

For ladies interested in rappelling, keeping your hair up and away from your face and ropes is essential when it comes to rappelling! Medium length to long hair should be secured away in a bun or a braid. While the traditional pony-tail might seem like the best hairdo for your weekend adventure, it increases the risk of your hair getting caught in the gear and rope while you rappel. Pin back bangs with a bobby pin to keep them out of your face as you go down the mountain.

Rappelling Anchors

When rappelling, your anchor is your lifeline, literally!  When looking to set and secure your anchor there are a few to keep in mind.

1. Make sure that your anchor is strong! If you’re using a tree as an anchor, make sure that the tree is big enough to hold your weight, alive and has a good root base. If you’re using a bolder or other rock formation, make sure it’s not going to move on you!
2. If you are rappelling using bolts, hangers or other kinds of gear, make sure that they are strong enough to hold you up!
3. Double, even triple-check that Webbing and cords aren’t damaged or too faded.

Every time you check your gear, regardless of how tedious it may seem, you are helping ensure that you have a clean, smooth and fun rappel.

To ensure that your anchors and equipment are set to hold your ropes, it can be valuable to learn different ways to rig up your bolts and hangers! Rigging is sometimes overlooked when preparing to rappel. While you may feel like it takes time away from your rappelling adventure, rigging, when done in a haste, can be dangerous. There are plenty of tutorials online on the different ways to rig for a rappel. Don’t be afraid to search for them, or to seek advice and help from your local rock climbing/rappelling equipment shop!

Wear Proper Clothing and use Adequate Footwear

Using proper clothing and footwear while rappelling can’t be stressed enough! Just as a woman’s hair can get caught in the ropes, so can ill-fitting clothing. The same can be said about proper footwear; wearing the right shoe will make your rappel down the side become smoother.

Clothing should fit well. Avoid wearing looser shirts and pants, as they risk getting caught in the ropes. During the fall and spring, wear jackets/sweaters that do not have a hood or strings coming off of them to avoid the risk of getting caught in the ropes.

As for footwear, a sturdy tennis-shoe or hiking shoe is preferred to any rappel. While the descent down is the main purpose of your outing you need to remember that you will most likely have to hike to your desired location as well as back up the hill/mountain to rappel again. Having the right kind of socks and shoes will help prevent blisters as well as reduce the likelihood of spraining ankles.

Ropes & Knots

When rappelling you’ll be needing to use one or two climbing ropes threaded through metal anchors (such as steel rings) at the top of the rappel. When doing a short rappel, some prefer using a doubled single rope to avoid worrying about the rope getting jammed in the anchors when being pulled.

With any rope system being used it is important to remember that you must always close the system. Sometimes tying knots at the ends of the ropes will be the easiest and more straightforward way to do this. A Triple Barrel knot is an example of a clean knot that won’t slip through belay devices. Don’t forget to tie a stopping knot at the end of your ropes. People hardly think about tying knots at the end of a rope, but sadly this is where most people accidentally rappel off a single end.

Backing up your rappel setup will help make sure that any mistakes won’t lead to a ground fall. Consider adding a friction hitch to the rope below your rappel device for a backup. A friction hitch is can be used in cases where a climber accidentally loses control or lets go of the brake strand of the rope while moving down the mountain for whatever reason and will be there to help “catch” you before you fall if you miss one of the strands.

Rappelling Permission & Permits

When planning your rappelling adventure be sure to look into permission and permits that might be required. There are many public lands that are available for rappelling without a permit and offer their own unique landscape.

When rappelling in Zion Canyon a permit will be needed for your adventure! The price will be well worth the breathtaking sights and memories that will be made as you scale down the canyon walls! Although they do not sell a specific rappelling, the Canyoneering Permit covers rappelling in the canyon!

Over half of the permits given out through Zion Canyon are given through an Advanced Reservation System. You are able to reserve your spot online, spots being available during a 3 month time frame. On the fifth day of each month, reservations for the next month become available. Permits go fast; Reserving a permit online in advance will help guarantee your access to the canyon walls!

For a trip into the park, calendar reservations are available on the following months:

Month of Trip: Date Available to Reserve:

March……………………………………………. January 5

April……………………………………………..  February 5

May……………………………………………… March 5

June…………………………………………….. April 5

July……………………………………………… May 5

August………………………………………….. June 5

September……………………………………… July 5

October…………………………………………. August 5

November………………………………………. September 5

December………………………………………. October 5

January…………………………………………. November 5

February………………………………………… December 5

For any reservation made online the National Park Service charges a non-refundable fee for $5.00. Anyone who applies will be sent a notification via email on the 5th day of the following month with information on the status of the request made. If the reservation is awarded, your permit needs to be obtained before the trip at a park visitor center. The price of your permit is determined by the amount of people in your group.

The following is the National Park Services’ pricing for permits based on group size:

Size of Group: Permit Price:

1-2 people………………………………………$20.00

3-7 people………………………………………$25.00

8-12 people……………………………………..$25.00

Whether you’re a beginner to the art of rappelling or are an avid rappeler, reviewing safety tips and information before any outing will always be beneficial. Always check the weather circumstances for the day of your trip as well as any other information that might be provided by the National Park before you head out for the day! Stay safe. On belay!