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What is Abseiling?

A. B. Kelsey
A. B. Kelsey

Abseiling, from the German word “abseilen” meaning "to rope down," is the process of sliding down a rope under controlled conditions. Known as rappelling in the United States, abseiling has long been used in canyoneering, rock climbing, caving, and mountaining to descend slopes or cliffs that are too steep to simply hike down. In recent years, however, abseiling has become a popular sport in its own right.

Abseiling can be a dangerous activity, especially for inexperienced or unsupervised participants. Many seasoned climbers actually view abseiling as a more dangerous process than the climbing itself since the ropes must constantly bear the full weight of the participant. Moreover, the ropes often jam or get sliced through by sharp edges and rocks. Many climbing accidents actually occur while abseiling.

Abseiling, or repelling, can be done to reach the base of a waterfall.
Abseiling, or repelling, can be done to reach the base of a waterfall.

Because of the potential dangers inherent to the sport, participants should increase their safety by wearing specialized gear such as climbing helmets, boots, gloves, elbow pads, and knee pads. Low-stretch static ropes should be used to allow easier handling and to reduce bouncing, and a comfortable climbing harness should be worn around the waist to secure the descender. The descender is a friction hitch or another friction device which allows the rope to be paid out in a controlled manner.

Projects in tight spaces often call for a combination of cantilever scaffolding and abseiling.
Projects in tight spaces often call for a combination of cantilever scaffolding and abseiling.

Abseiling is utilized in numerous sports for a variety of reasons. Rock climbers generally use it to return to the base of a climb or to reach a new route. Canyoneers usually use abseiling techniques to travel down cliffs or waterfalls when simple hiking or jumping is impossible. Cavers use this method to reach underground pitches. Recreational abseilers, however, just enjoy the descent and return to the top of the cliff to abseil down the slope again.

Rock climbers use abseiling to return to the base of a cliff or wall.
Rock climbers use abseiling to return to the base of a cliff or wall.

A form of abseiling called “rapp jumping” is gaining in popularity for the more adventurous souls. Instead of the ropes being attached at the stomach, they are attached at the back. Participants then walk or run down the cliff while facing the bottom. "Don't look down" is not an option. Most participants claim the adrenaline rush is even greater during rapp jumping.

Rescue workers may be required to abseil from a helicopter to reach an injured party.
Rescue workers may be required to abseil from a helicopter to reach an injured party.

Abseiling techniques are also used for more practical reasons. Industrial workers use abseiling methods to access areas of tall buildings or structures that need cleaning, maintenance, inspection, or construction. Industrial abseiling is considered a safe and cost effective alternative to scaffolding or powered access cherry pickers and scissor lifts. Wilderness rescues and paramedic operations sometimes require emergency workers to abseil from a helicopter to reach the injured party and extract them from danger.

Discussion Comments

indigomoth

@pleonasm - Well, if you like climbing, abseiling is sometimes going to be a part of that. And some people like it. The feeling of being completely free of the earth, swinging in the wind can be liberating.

And I guess you just get used to it as a part of the experience as well. I mean, serious rock climbers are often going to prefer it as a method of getting back down from a climb, since it's so much quicker than going hand over hand.

If you do it properly, the abseiling rope isn't going to hurt all that much and you'll be fairly safe as well.

pleonasm

I learned how to abseil when I was a kid. We had a field trip to a system of caves and one of the optional extras on the trip was to abseil off a nearby cliff.

I managed to do it, in spite of the fact that I'm pretty scared of heights but to be honest, I really didn't enjoy it.

It's not the kind of thing a person who doesn't like heights will ever enjoy I think. Same thing goes for kids who aren't in the best of shape. You're having to lower yourself down a sheer slope for what seems like a really long time. You're terrified, so there's no enjoying the view. It's kind of painful with the ropes digging into you and your hand clutching the rope to keep from falling to your death.

Frankly, I just don't see the point of it. I'm glad I did it once to prove to myself that I could do it, but other than that, I'm never going to do it again.

anon65570

i thought this info was really good.

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    • Abseiling, or repelling, can be done to reach the base of a waterfall.
      By: licht1111
      Abseiling, or repelling, can be done to reach the base of a waterfall.
    • Projects in tight spaces often call for a combination of cantilever scaffolding and abseiling.
      By: Simon Kraus
      Projects in tight spaces often call for a combination of cantilever scaffolding and abseiling.
    • Rock climbers use abseiling to return to the base of a cliff or wall.
      By: Andrey Bandurenko
      Rock climbers use abseiling to return to the base of a cliff or wall.
    • Rescue workers may be required to abseil from a helicopter to reach an injured party.
      Rescue workers may be required to abseil from a helicopter to reach an injured party.