How to Use Diamond Descenders

Black Diamond descenders are belay and rappel devices that use friction to control the rope action. Black Diamond offers descenders in the classic figure-8 design as well as the ATC belay and rappel device. When the rope is threaded over the figure-8 or through the ATC weight controls the speed of the descent as the friction against the devices increase. Rappelling is a dangerous aspect of mountaineering and should only be done under the eyes of a trained guide or instructor until your skills are good enough to head out on your own.

Things You'll Need

  • Locking carabiner
  • Climbing harness
  • Climbing rope(s)
  • Helmet
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Instructions

  1. Figure-8 Style

    • 1

      Step into your climbing harness and keep the climbing loop to the front center. Unscrew the gate on the locking carabiner (D-ring) and clip it into the climbing loop and let it hang loose.

    • 2

      Make a loop (bite) in the rope and hold it in one hand, and hold the figure-8 in the other.

    • 3

      Push the loop through the larger of the two sections on the figure-8. Take the loop and slide it behind the smaller loop and then pull the two sides of the rope to tension the loop up and against the waist of the figure-8.

    • 4

      Clip the rope loop into the carabiner and then screw the carabiner gate all the way clockwise, and then back 1/4 turn counterclockwise. Check and see the gate is facing "down and out" from the climbing loop.

    • 5

      Hold the lead end of the rope (the line going up from the figure-8) with your dominant hand and the tail end of the rope with your non-dominant hand. Lower yourself over to begin the rappel descent.

    ATC Style

    • 6

      Step into the harness, again keeping the climbing loop facing in the center and forward on the harness.

    • 7

      Thread the rope into one end of the ATC chamber and then up and through the other, making sure the rope follows and "hugs" the reinforced cable on the ATC descender.

    • 8

      Clip the carabiner into the ATC cable and the rope loop. Unscrew the gate and clip it along with the cable and rope into the harness loop.

    • 9

      Turn the carabiner gate all the way clockwise and back 1/2 turn, making sure it faces "down and out."

    • 10

      Hold the top end of the rope with your strong hand and the lower end with the non-dominant hand. Begin your rappel.