Using A VT Prussik Back Up For Rappelling
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- Опубліковано 24 сер 2020
- Buy VT Prussik's: northwashoutfitters.square.si...
Rappelling is a nerve wracking endeavor when starting out in Canyoneering. Your putting your life out there over the edge of a cliff and your trusting it to a thin rope and a strapping of webbing around your waist. On top of that, you have to hold onto a rope and not let go of it or you plummet to your death. There are many ways out there that you can tie up a back up system for you so in the event that you are unable, or unwilling to hold onto that rope you won't plummet to your death. The VT prussik is one of those methods that in my humble opinion, I believe is superior to many of the other methods out there such as autoblock and regular prussiks. I think this system is easy to use and setup and it is a load releasing hitch so it is easy to undo once it gets weighted. Check it out and drop us a comment below if you have any questions.
#Canyoneering #UtahCanyoneering #Rappelling
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I too prefer a VT above the rappel device as opposed to extending the rappel & putting a “third hand” below it. There’s pros & cons but to me, keeping my left hand on the VT & my right on the brake strand feels natural. Great video!
Agreed. It def feels more natural for me as well. I have to generally have my left hand on the rope above the device and running the VT this way works really well for my rappelling style.
Ill see you in the north wash!
Great video. Really enjoying your videos. Thanks for sharing
Thanks for watching!
I got stuck mid-rap using a prusik and panicked a bit as I am still learning. I prefer the VT now.
Thanks for the comment. There was a video on UA-cam years ago of a rappeller who had a helmet cam on and a prussik tied above the rappel device. No one explained how to use it and about 30' down the prussik locked up and they were stuck. Had no way to get out of it. The video cam lost battery and cut out after 35 min and they were still hanging. I believe in the descriptions they said it took like 50 min and someone finally was able to lower them a knife that they used to cut the prussik (Luckily without cutting the rope). The VT is a really great back up and helps avoid these situations for sure.
Another great video! I'd be interested in a future video that shows different types of personal anchors. I've seen all kinds from Daisy Chains to static ropes with a variety lengths, diameters, and knots.
Thanks for watching. I like the suggestion for a video, I'll keep that one in mind
Love your videos! Would love to see a tutorial on building and placing chock knots and chock stone anchors. Think that could make its way into the pipeline? :)
Thanks for watching 😊. Good ideas. I’ll have to see what I can do on that request. Those items are generally used as last ditch efforts and since things like sand traps and fiddle sticks have come out I really haven’t had to resort to these for a long time now. I have even gotten away from teaching them in courses. I’ll keep it on the list and look for some opportunities to implement them.
@@NorthWashOutdoors Very fair response! I'll keep an eye out if you ever get around to it. Thanks again for the great content.
Thank you for another good video. Noticed your personal anchor, what material is that?
I use a woven webbing called Omni-Sling. It's similar to a daisy chain, but instead of sewn loops, they are interwoven into each other. A daisy chains strength is about 400 lbs before the sewing is said to break, with the Omni-Sling because the loops are woven the loop breaking strength is around 5000 lbs. There are a couple nuances you have to be careful with on them, like don't clip into the ends cuz the weave can unravel - northwashoutfitters.square.site/product/omni-sling/41?cs=true
Cool. Thank you heard of those but never seen one before. Is that one length folded over?
It’s a 5’ length. Not folded over. It gets double and triple wrapped up on my harness to keep it from dragging ground.
Thanks for the videos! With this setup do you attach the rappel device to the tie in loops on your harness?
I attach the rappel device on my harness into the leg and waist straps, then I use the belay loop if the harness is equipped with one to attach the VT Prussik to.
Hi, will this backup configuration be the same if I use a TOTEM to rappel? Thanks.
Yes, it works for any rappel device.
@@NorthWashOutdoors Thank you.
Nice video here, question for you, if you are rapping on both lines, how can you , or can you, use a VT or backup? Thanks
That's a good question and one that I've actually had and really need to explore so I can answer it for both of us. I know you can use the "VT" sling as a regular prussik and this you could wrap around both strands, we have done that configuration, but to tie it as the Valdotan Tresse wrap, I'll have to explore that one.
Hey Paul - I have tied, tested and rappelled on a VT prussik on a double strand and it works just the same as it does on single strand although I do at least one less wrap of the initial barrel because the friction of two strands is higher. As always test it for yourself.
Including the sewn loops, how long is the VT prusik cord you all use?
They are 33" end to end including the sewn loops.
Would you be comfortable using a VT prusik as a safety and progress capturing device in a hauling and lowering system for high angle rescue operations?
I would absolutely use the Bluewater VT Prussik for High Angle Rescue. There are a lot of SAR teams that are switching to this piece of equipment for use in high angle and rope rescue scenarios. They are much more versatile and much more resistant to wear and damage than traditional nylon dynamic prussiks. And just for clarification as well, with the VT being used as a progress capture tool on a haul, I would tie it as an asymmetrical prussik and not as a Valdotain Tresse tie.
@@NorthWashOutdoors What would be the drawback to tying the VT as a VT as opposed to asymmetrical? It appears when tying it as a asymmetrical prussik that it is no longer a VT or am I missing something?
The beauty of the VT tool, is that it can be used in a multiplicity of ways as opposed to a standard Prusik. The drawback of tying the "tool" as a VT is that a VT is really more difficult to get it to tension up when you have to stretch it. It also tends to lose some ground trying to re-tension it once you stop to reset the haul system. An asymmetrical prusik holds better and quicker in a haul situation. The advantage to using the VT tool and tying it as a VT in a haul system is if you needed to only raise a little bit then re-lower, it is a great tool for this as it releases under load which an asymmetrical prusik won't do. It depends on the function needed and the end goal in mind. You always need to think about what you want to accomplish in the end and then set up the system with that end in mind.
I come from a background of a traditional prussik used with a figure 8 rap device. I'm in the process of switching to a Critr and the VT, but I find that when the VT is connected separately to my harness like shown here it interferes with the arms of my Critr when it is weighted making it hard to lock off my Critr. One solution to this problem is to attach the VT directly to the top large eye of the Critr but I feel that this setup is less versatile and makes things like self rescue or passing a knot much more difficult. What is your take on this? I'm sure you've noticed it seeing that you are showing an identical setup to what I'm using.
I would never clip the VT into the top eye of the CRITR. As you mentioned you are limiting yourself from rescue options and being able to completely remove the CRTIR from the system if need be. If done right, you can still rig the rope in and out of the CRITR, but it complicates the system. Passing a knot would be impossible unless you had a 2nd rappel device to rig below the knot. The VT may not stretch out during the tranisition phase far enough to remove it. (I'm doing a rescue class next week, maybe I'll rig this setup up and give it a try.)
I have noticed the hang up with the arms when rigging the VT as I do, it's just a matter of keeping it all organized and straight - it hasn't been an issue enough to make me decide not to do it anymore. Usually both item (CRITR and VT) are not weighted at the same time. When the VT is weighted, the CRITR should be slack because you are hanging on the VT. When the CRITR is weighted, the VT is slack and being drug down the rope while rappelling.
@@NorthWashOutdoors Just finished up a U-Turn/Tierdrop run in Arches today. I had my VT prussik quickdraw clipped through both of my hard points rather than the belay loop and I found that this greatly reduced the interference between the Critr and the VT. I was able to stop mid-rappel on the 135 footer at the end of Tierdrop, allow the VT to take my weight and then lock off the Critr without even thinking about the two devices getting in the way of each other! I recommend testing it out and seeing if it improves your setup as well.
Thanks for the feedback. We are starting our Rescue Course today and I will try to play around with this a few times. Our drops aren't nearly as long as the one you did so I'll have to see if I can re-create it quick enough from the top and have it hold.
Where can I purchase the locking QuickDraw?
Locking quick draws are made with individual pieces. Either buy a regular quick draw and swap out the carabiners or just buy the dogbone/draw sling and add the locking carabiners to the sling.
Why not just use a Klemheist knot using a single-runner loop?
A Klemheist Doesn't grip as well as the prusik.
It Can damage the sling with use and Works best in one direction only. Whereas the VT can be released under load, can run both directions if needed and the cord material it is made out of won’t melt or cause damage to either prusik or rope. The VT can be used above the rappel device creating a more natural rappelling position for most people and doesn’t require awkward rappel device extensions that can twist and turn while on rope. The klemheist along with a regular prusik or Auto Block are good options for back ups, but each one has pros and cons that to me the VT seems to eliminate. But each person can have their own preference they like to use.
@@NorthWashOutdoors , thanks for your detailed explanation. I gave the klemheist my full weight and found it gripped so well that I couldn't release it! And yes, it is one directional only.
@@NorthWashOutdoors Thank you for clarification, sir. Will explore the VT.