How to Rappel Through Bolt Hangers

Bolt hangers are bolted to the rock, and are normally designed to accommodate a carabiner. Some bolt hangers, however, may have the rope threaded directly through them to facilitate a rappel. A word of caution: most bolt hangers aren't designed to have the rope threaded directly through them. If you attempt to thread your rope directly through the wrong type of bolt hanger, the rope may be cut by the sharp edge of the hanger when weight is applied.

Things You'll Need

  • Climbing rope
  • Rappel device
  • Locking carabiner
  • Climbing harness
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Instructions

    • 1

      Identify the bolt hangers to be certain they are the proper type. Don't attempt to rappel directly off hangers that aren't designed for this purpose.

    • 2

      Check that the bolts are sound. Wiggle the hanger to check for looseness. Visually check for cracks in the hanger, corrosion or other weakness. Look for rust streaks on the rock that could indicate a weakened bolt, and check that the rock itself is solid.

    • 3

      Thread the rope through both bolt hangers. Place the centerline of the rope between the two hangers. Never rappel off a single hanger.

    • 4

      Tie the free ends of the rope together. This is vitally important. Every year, people die because they rappelled off the end of their rope; tying the ends of the rope together minimizes this risk.

    • 5

      Attach the rappel device to the rope and to your harness using the locking carabiner. Consult the manufacturer for instructions on how to properly use your specific device.

    • 6

      Double check that your harness is properly attached and buckled before rappelling. Harnesses vary; consult the manufacturer for specific instructions (short form instructions are typically printed on the harness label).