Canyoneering 108a - solo canyoneering scenario

One solution would be to leave the 40 foot rope in the canyon. Not ideal, but could be a safer option than dropping a weighted pack onto yourself. Fix the 40 ft to the anchor, tie a rap ring to the end and rappel down. Rig the 120 ft off of the rap ring and transfer onto it (same technique as passing a knot in a single rope). Pull the 120', then when you get out of the canyon make your friend who mis-informed you about the beta go run the canyon again and retrieve the rope you left there.

Thanks for providing some midnight entertainment for my insomnia, Tom.

Winner Winner! Chicken Dinner!!! You can, ultimately, complete the rappel up to 140 feet - but you end up with only a 40 foot rope to complete the canyon.

Thanks for playing.

Tom

I have to say I'm glad I found this thread because I love these games! I love the answer above as well as the Beal Escaper. One answer I didn't see is using a hook! I would attach my hook to the quick link and retie the quick link to the webbing with a barrel knot (or any knot that holds the quick link tightly). Keeping the quick link relatively in place allows for a pretty easy pull, I would guess it would come down after 5 or so shakes. I have tried the hook in the quick link one on a 20-foot rappel and it was hard to release while weighted and pretty easy to release at the bottom so I am assuming securing the quick link would help.

The pack counterweight is a really interesting concept, better to sacrifice a throw bag or a drybag though, pack it full of sand and you have a viable counterweight....or rocks, just seal it good so you don't create painful rain...

We almost ran into this exact situation earlier this spring. I think I may have replied to vanyoneer in the picture thread after his vigilant eye noticed the rope didnt seem to reach.

We arrived at a rappel with 2 x 200's and I believe a 150' rope. This was an exploration and we didnt know the height of the rappel, but we felt that it could be larger than 200', so we rigged the 200' rope with a contingency of another 200' to lower. Once I got about 80' down the rappel, there is a large lip and overhang, where it became apparent that the 200' did not reach. I still had a bit of line of sight to the anchor, and communicated that it did not reach with my whistle. The plan was for me to rappel down to near the end of my bag, and be lowered the rest of the way. The first picture below shows my wife in a similar situation to the one I was in. you can see the orange bag is about 80' short.

The last person down tied to 200' rope that was already hanging down to their harness, and rerigged the anchor with a fixed 150' rope. They rappeled down till I could see the 200' rope reach, and I signaled to them that the 200' rope now reached. They locked off, secured themselves to the rope, cut their 150' rope below their rappel device and fixed a quick link to the newly cut 80' rope. they then re-rigged the 2 x 200's off the 80' rope. Unfortunately I wasnt able to capture that 80' rope in the photos, as it sits just above that lip.

The next week, a member in our group went back with the appropriate ropes for the rappel and to retrieve the 80' rope they had left.

Hopefully that makes sense. for the more visual people, I made a little drawing in paint which I hope helps.

As the rappel gets longer, the shake becomes less and less effective. Your best bet on this is to use a fifi hook which is somewhat designed to do this (though by using a release cord).

Tom