|
Tip/Trick/Gimmick:An Alternative Way to Release an Autoblocking Belay Device
Source (give credit where credit is due): "The Mountaineering Handbook" - Craig Connally
Contributed by: Marty Comiskey (
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
)
(include e-mail address so membership can contact you for more detail)
Best useful for: Top rope Trad x Mountaineering x
Sport Ice x Other (list) Rescue scenarios
Description (limit to 200 words): An autoblocking belay device (i.e. Petzl Reverso, BD ATC Guide) is a convenient device for belaying a second off of the anchor. On occasion it becomes necessary to "release" the device after it becomes "weighted" in order to give slack to the second for climbing purposes and/or to lower the second. If the amount of rope to be released is relatively short and/or the lower is only a small distance, the usual methods to release the device work fine (i.e. use a sling to rig a pulley/ use nut tool as a lever/ use carabiner nose as a lever).
However, there may arise a scenario where you need to lower the second a full rope length to the ground due to injury or such. Using the above mentioned methods would be cumbersome and control would be problematic trying to "feather" the sling/pulley or "lever" system for a full rope length.
Craig Connally had a suggestion in his book that should be filed away in your "tool box" for such a situation. His suggestion (briefly)
- take rope coming off locked belay device and rig a Munter Hitch on a biner located above the belay device and tie it off with a Munter/mule knot
- attach a prussik knot/loop to the rope leading to the second and attach a biner
- attach a sling (or use the climbing rope) to the anchor and run it through the biner on the prussik knot and attach end of sling to your harness belay loop with a biner
- using your legs stand up from a squat, this will cause a 2:1 pulley effect on the sling applied through the prussik knot/climbing rope
- now that the belay device is "unweighted" remove belay device from rope/anchor. Squat back down putting weight back onto the climbing rope (now being supported by Munter hitch/Mule knot)
- remove prussik knot/loop from climbing rope
- untie Munter/Mule (while holding onto rope)
- lower second using Munter hitch
You can now more easily lower the second without the constant fiddling with the Reverso/lever set up. Hopefully, you will never need to do this rescue procedure, but if the occassion calls for it, it is a more workable alternative to the "standard" methods.
|