Canyon Rope Systems
Twin Isolated Rope Systems
Episode 3 of 10
This is a free course featuring Brent Roth about different ways to set up rappels through a canyon. This considers ease of rigging, abrasion, ease of rescue and how efficient it is to move people through the canyon.
Our courses are A-Z content in blog format, glued together with an overarching blog we call a textbook. A blog format is easy to read, easy to update, and easy to translate. Be sure to begin at the TEXTBOOK and at the end of each episode we'll point you to the next.
Twin rope systems is when both strands are usable but this falls into 2 main categories - ISOLATED and COMPOUND. This 3rd episode discusses the ISOLATED options which also, stay with me here, falls into the static and releasable options like the previous episode did. Let's "dive" into it.
Twin Rope Isolated Systems
Two strands; each capable of rappelling from the anchor.
- Isolated -
This is when one end of the rope is passed through the anchor, set to the pitch length, and then each strand is fixed together by hardware or knot.
Static - Once either rappel strand is weighted it cannot be adjusted.
When is this used? - Contingency rigging or when there is a need for increased efficiency.
When should you not use this? - In considerable flow, hydraulic or difficult swimming disconnect, when an exact rope length is needed.
Examples - Stone knot with a fiddlestick, Alpine Butterfly knot with both strands, F8 overhead lock with both strands. Static Twin Rope Systems video by Rich Carlson and article from Adolfo Isassi
Retrieval - Remove the method of Isolation and convert the system to a Single Block or double-strand rappel. Use a retrievable anchor technique (ghosting).
Releasable - One rappel strand can be lowered IF the other strand is unweighted. This is conditional that the other strand is not in use.
When is this used? When rappel efficiency is desired inflows.
When should you not use this? When a hydraulic or difficult swimming disconnect is present due to the extra rope in the water below.
Examples - Joker, Joker Simple, Mickey, Jester. See the article from Adolfo Isassi for more examples.
Retrieval - Remove the method of Isolation, and convert the system to a Single Block or double-strand rappel.
David Mason posted in Canyon Rigging Facebook Group about a safety alert: do not use contingency 8. It's hard to identify and could release prematurely. I'll hold back the jokes. See the conversation where people oppose him but didn't identify what they were looking at correctly proving him right. HOWEVER, it can be a great tool if you know what you are doing. See the crazy 65 comments on this POST after JOINING the Canyon Rigging GROUP.
Twin Rope Isolated Systems Rating
Static System
Ease of Rigging - Better
This system is as easy as learning to tie a butterfly knot with both strands or can use a few pieces of gear to rig.
✅Little or no hardware
✅Easy to identify
✅Easy to learn
✅Fast to rig
❌It does not have to be re-rigged to retrieve
Rigged for Rescue - Better
Since two strands are rigged, there is an immediate option for a Direct Rescue. Due to having only one option of rescue available and the high-risk nature of a Direct Rescue, this is not the best system for rescue.
✅Easy to self-rescue
✅Easy to ascend
✅Option to rappel (Direct Rescue)
✅No additional rigging is required for rescue
❌Option to lower (Indirect Rescue)
Efficient - Good
Yes for moving people. Not so much on retrieving (depends on the isolation used)
✅Two people at a time
❌It does not have to be re-rigged to retrieve
Abrasion Protection- Good
If one person is using both strands for rappel, there is less tension on each strand, and if one strand is cut the other can hold (probably not for long).
✅Two strands for rappel
✅Redundancy
❌One moving strand
❌Two moving strands
HowNOT2 SWAG
Twin Rope Isolated Systems Rating
Releasable System
Ease of Rigging - It depends…
Some of these systems are easy to rig, but hard to inspect to an untrained eye (ie Joker Simple). Some may seem complicated, but overall easy to inspect (ie Joker).
✅Fast to rig
✅Little or no hardware
❌Easy to identify
❌Easy to learn
❌It does not have to be re-rigged to retrieve
Rigged for Rescue - Yes, but…
Since two strands are rigged, there is an immediate option for a Direct Rescue. Each strand is releasable if the other strand is unweighted. This makes this system conditional, therefore a high level of situational awareness is required.
✅Easy to self-rescue
✅Easy to ascend
✅No additional rigging is required for rescue
✅Option to lower (Indirect Rescue)
✅Option to rappel (Direct Rescue)
Efficient - Good
Yes for moving people. Not so much on retrieving (depends on the isolation used)
✅Two people at a time
❌It does not have to be re-rigged to retrieve
Abrasion Protection - Good
If one person is using both strands for rappel, there is less tension on each strand. If a single strand is used, it can be lowered if the other strand is unweighted.
✅One moving strand
✅Two strands for rappel
❌Two moving strands
❌Redundancy
Applying Different Systems
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