The Carabiner Brake – How to Abseil Without a Device
Dropping your belay device at the top of a ten-pitch abseil descent isn’t recommended. But if you do, knowing how to use the carabiner brake will change your descent from epic to easy (You can use a munter hitch to abseil, but it tends to kink the rope and causes abrasion to the sheath).
You Will Need:
– 1 screwgate
– 4 snapgate carabiners.
Full size oval or D-shaped carabiners provide the smoothest descent, but almost any carabiner can be used. Really small or sharp-spined carabiners should only be used as a last resort.
Setting up the Carabiner Brake
Step 1
Clip a screwgate to your belay loop and fasten it. Then clip two snapgates to the screwgate, making sure the gates are facing opposite directions and they are opposed.
Step 2
Push a bight of both ropes through the snapgate carabiners.
Step 3
Clip another snapgate around the ropes and also through the loop as shown.
Step 4
Clip a second snapgate next to this, with the gates on the same side, but facing opposite ways.
Step 5
Pull down on the rope until the carabiners align over each other.
Step 6
Make sure the rope runs over the spines (not the gates) of the outer carabiners.
You can now add a prusik and abseil as you would with an ATC.
As always, remember to check the system before you detach from the anchor.
Related Topics
The article above is part of the book – The Trad Climber’s Guide To Problem Solving
E-book (pay what you want)
Paperback
Kindle
Free Sample
Learn how to:
– Use a variety of self-rescue techniques
– Build self-equalizing anchors with minimal gear
– Abseil without a belay device
– Abseil with damaged ropes
– Descend from bad anchors
– Negotiate loose rock
– Use basic aid techniques
– Simul-climb safely
– Prevent accidents from occurring in the first place
Plus much more.