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Abseiling

Overview

Rope up and go over the edge of a cliff! In many places, this is better known as rappelling. If your Pathfinders are up for an adventure, this might be the ticket.

Requirements

Section One - THEORY.

Safety

  • 1. Complete the following:
    • a. List and explain the safety rules
    • b. Explain the “dangers of falling” chart.
  • 2. Explain the uses of the following knots:
    • a. Tape
    • b. Alpine butterfly
    • c. Figure of eight loop
    • d. Double fisherman’s
    • e. Prusik
    • f. Bowline

Setup

  • 3. Draw the diagrams for the setting up of the following abseil descents:
    • a. Single rope technique
    • b. Canyoning setup
  • 4. Know the ways to identify safe anchors in various circumstances, e.g. trees, boulders, bollards.

Belaying

  • 5. Explain the various verbal calls.
  • 6. Explain the principle of belaying and the three methods used, and give the advantages and disadvantages of each method:
    • a. Body belay
    • b. Mechanical belay
    • c. Base belay

Care of Equipment

  • 7. List the rules for care of ropes.
  • 8. Explain the difference between dynamic and static rope.
  • 9. Know the right type of equipment needed for abseiling.
  • 10. Know the best way to store your ropes, e.g. coiling and chaining.

Descenders

  • 11 a. Know which descending device to use in different abseils.
  • 11 b. Give reasons why you chose that device, e.g. on/off time, security, heat, versatility, etc.

First Aid

  • 12. Know about how to treat a patient for the following injuries:
    • a. Sprains
    • b. Concussion
    • c. Hypothermia
    • d. Broken bone
    • e. Shock

Cliff Rescue

  • 13. Explain how to perform the following rescues:
    • a. The pulley system
    • b. The change-over method

Section Two - PRACTICAL.

  • 1. Pass the abseiling exam with a pass mark of 60%. The exam is available from the conference youth ministries office, or through the instructor.

Verbal Testing

  • 2. Answer the questions on the following topics:
    • a. Uses of the six abseiling knots
    • b. What are, and give the meaning of the standard climbing calls
    • c. Uses of various descenders
    • d. Give seven rules for care of rope
    • e. Give seven rules for safety
    • f. Know about first aid and how to treat patients
    • g. Give five ways to detect faults of ropes

Practical Testing

  • 3. Perform the following tasks:
    • a. Tie the six knots
    • b. Set up the single rope setup and canyoning setup
    • c. Witness a cliff rescue demonstrated by the instructor
    • d. Coil and chain a rope
    • e. Set up the belay methods

Abseiling

  • 4. From a minimum height of 10 meters, complete two abseils on each of the following devices, and know how to attach them to the rope:
    • a. Whale tail
    • b. Robot
    • c. Harpoon (easy access)
    • d. Figure of eight
    • e. Piton-brake bar
    • f. Rappel-rack
    • g. Harpoon (conventional)
    • h. Cross karabiner
  • 5. Explain how to do the classic abseil, and over the shoulder abseil, for emergency use.
  • 6. Be able to Prusik a ten-meter cliff.

Answer key & resources

Master awards

This honor counts toward:

Investiture Achievement

This honor is required, suggested or listed as an option in:

See also

Adapted from AY Honors/Abseiling on the Pathfinder Wiki, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. See the original page's history for its authors.
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