transferring from climbers & lanyard to rescue 8 (descender)

[Plasmech]

What is the correct procedure for transferring from spikes/lanyard to a rescue-8 rappel? This sounds like a very basic question however I want to do it right.

And YES, I know that the descender needs to be ready to go before un-hooking the lanyard. :monkey:

 

[treemandan]

Its proper to back up the 8 with a friction hitch for safety. Something us tough guys don't do but if you do it back that 8 up PLEASE.
Just set up for going down and unclip.

 

[rngrchad]

Get to a point where your comfortably strapped into the tree with your laynard and harness. Dig yer spurs in.....and get balance so you can use both hands to manipulate a bite of rope through the 8 and lock it into your harness. Pull the slack tight through your rappell device to the point where you are almost hanging from the descent rope. Now you need to lock off the rappel device. There are numerous ways to do this, I always wrap the rappell line around my thigh about 3 or 4 times. This allows you to then take your hands off the belay rope and attend your laynard so you can remove it from around the tree. Once you have your laynard unattatched, place both hands on the rappell rope, slowly unwrap it from your thigh and down ya go. It is a good idea to back up the figure eight with a prussik knot....although most folks don't. The method I describe is a very similar method to what I use when rap'n climbing routes after a summit. A great book that covers various rope activities is called ON ROPE.
Check, double check, then check again. Then check one more time. People die every year in the mountains because they rap off the ends of their rope or they mis-feed their rappel device.

 

[squad143]

O.K., we'll consider that you are already hooked up to the rescue 8 descender and your rappelling line is safely set.

Take up slack on the rappel line and lock off the rescue 8 (see link below). Slowly loosen your lanyard and climb down on the tree allowing all your weight onto the rappel line. Unlock the figure 8 (by unwrapping the loops) and your set to rappel.

As others have stated it is safer to back up the rescue 8 descender with a friction hitch (prussick cord or other device/knot)

You are best to learn these techniques from a proper course (arborist, climbing or rescue). That way you can learn from someone, in person, and in a safe environment. When you do go on your own, practice from a low height until you master locking and unlocking the rescue 8.


http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=m9B5XASL3Wc

To unlock, reverse the procedure shown on the youtube video. ALWAYS keep hold of the bottom part of the rope.

 

[Plasmech]

Its proper to back up the 8 with a friction hitch for safety. Something us tough guys don't do but if you do it back that 8 up PLEASE.
Just set up for going down and unclip.

I certainly know what you mean but my nightmare is getting too low on the Prusik and being jammed on the rope. I guess I could use my spikes and lanyard to take up some slack to unlock the Prusik, however in situation where say I'm doing a free rap (not right next to the tree) how would I un-jam? Thanks.

 

[squad143]

however in situation where say I'm doing a free rap (not right next to the tree) how would I un-jam? Thanks.

Well you would have to take weight off the jammed hitch to loosen it. If you don't know how to footlock a rope, you can keep a longer prussik loop on your belt. That way you could hitch it onto the rope above the rescue 8 (& below the jammed hitch), put your foot into the loop (if you have the length right, should be at knee level) push down with your foot, raising yourself and thus releasing tension on the jammed safety hitch.