You would attach these cords to the hanging rope using a Prussic knot http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prusik_knot (it's actually a hitch, but called a knot). One would be attached to the waist of your harness (e.g. with your locking carabiner), and the other for stepping up with your foot.

a normal belay plate

just make sure you back it up with a prussik BELOW the plate, and make sure that the plate can't touch it to unlock it.

back them up with a knot tied to a screwgate on your harness every once in a while.

Edit: After watching this video, it looks like I just need two ascenders, a carabiner, a foot loop thing, and some rope?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVWwAhvrfao

Hey all.

I've been doing indoor climbing for some time now(have my own shoes, harness, etc), but I've recently gotten into Geocaching, which some of the things require descent down a narrow corridor to reach my destination.

I've been doing some research on single rope technique and have found a lot of resources on ascenders and techniques like a frog rig.

My question is this: I want to be able to simply descend down a rope, and ascend up one... in this scenario, not more than 25-30 feet. What sort of gear do I need? Specifically, I know I need a harness and rope, which I have.... but what sort of special ascending/descending tools do I need? Again, this isn't any hardcore caving down for miles or anything like that, just a simple 30ish foot descent then back up.

I've looked through so much stuff, I just want to know the basic tools that I'll need to accomplish this. As far as training, once I know what tools I need, I can then determine what technique(mainly because I don't know of many), then research that technique.

Any help? Thanks so much in advance, just want to get started!

Edit: After watching this video, it looks like I just need two ascenders, a carabiner, a foot loop thing, and some rope?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVWwAhvrfao

...or a device for rappelling (ATC, Fig8, etc) and two prussiks.
As always, Mikebarter387 has a vid showing you what to do.
http://www.youtube.com/...k&feature=relmfu

In addition to your harness and rope...

For descent you will want a locking carabiner and belay/rappel device. Some places sell them as a set like this:
http://www.backcountry.com/...ite-sg-belay-package

For ascent, you could buy two ascenders (http://www.backcountry.com/...mond-nforce-ascender, but that seems like an unnecessary expense and overkill for such short distances. Instead you could use two prussic/prusik cords, like these: http://www.backcountry.com/...lius-prusik-cord-set You can just buy the cord and tie it in loops yourself.

You would attach these cords to the hanging rope using a Prussic knot http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prusik_knot (it's actually a hitch, but called a knot). One would be attached to the waist of your harness (e.g. with your locking carabiner), and the other for stepping up with your foot.

That should give you a start for your research.

There are some youtube videos that show how to tie and use the prussic for ascent. You'd be better to find someone to show you first-hand. You ought to be able to find someone at the gym to give you a short personal lesson on how to do it (maybe someone on staff or the person that does their leading or self-resuce classes).

You'll want to be clear on how to set up the rappel at the top. You'd likely need some more equipment to set that up safely, but perhaps could just girth hitch the rope around a sturdy tree (and then rap/ascend the two strands of the rope).

Try the Yo-Yo method, relatively safe and easy. The main appeal is you are never "off" the rope when switching between ascending and descending.

Practice in a tree first.

http://www.newtribe.com/documents/tip4.htm

You will need some locking carabiners, a GriGri, a hand style ascender and slings.

Instruction is always a good idea.

I am fully understanding everything but this part. I guess having seen posted YouTube video... I understood the concept of the ascenders, but now if you include in the Prussic Cord set... I'm a little confused.

I have no problem paying a LITTLE more for better stuff knowing I may need it later and will likely find a use for it.

So if there is a slightly more expensive route that is "easier to set up" and me not having to do manual knots or something, I'm down for going that route... spend a little more now to save a lot later is my motto :)

I spent some googling looking up what you meant, but wasn't able to find it...

Okay I think I'm getting it.

Descent: Belay Device


Ascent: Two prusik knots/hitches/ropes... one for my foot, one for my harness?

What else do I need as far as safety? Connect the foot prusik directly to the rope, and the harness prusik just through a carabiner on my harness and I'm good?

What else do I need as far as safety? Connect the foot prusik directly to the rope, and the harness prusik just through a carabiner on my harness and I'm good?

Have 2 extra screwgates on your belay loop, below all the other stuff clipped on there.

When you are switching to ascend, tie a clove hitch to one of them. 10/15 feet later, tie a clove hitch to the other one then untie the first. Repeat every 10/15 feet. This way if both your prussiks slip you don't fall to your untimely demise, you only fall 10 feet or so.

Ill have to look this stuff up, dunno what a screwgate is :)

Sorry, a screwgate is a carabiner that has a sheath over the gate that, when screwed up, stops the gate from opening. It is the cheapest and easiest to use type of locker.

Okay, I get it now. I've seen that type of carabiner, just didn't know that's what it was called. So I'm tieing the knot on the rope that I'm ascending to the screwgate?

Connect the foot prusik directly to the rope, and the harness prusik just through a carabiner on my harness and I'm good?

And then for this, just alternate which prussik knot I'm sliding upwards?

Yes. Slide the one that goes to your foot up, then stand up and slide the one on your harness up. This is quite a bit more physical then you would think.

If you have the spare money a ascender and a gri-gri would be easier and safer.

What is the gri-gri for? I saw it online, just not sure what it does... I know the what the ascender is for, but I don't need two of them, do I?