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Pendulum (Tarzan Swing)

Description

The pendulum is a move that stronger or more capable canyoneers can use to assist other members of the group across a silo or crux move when stemming. 

1. The stronger canyoneer stems high over the top of the silo and plants themselves in a stable position, usually back on one wall and feet on the other.
2. The stronger canyoneer attaches a length of webbing or rope to their harness and lowers the other end to the lower canyoneer.
3. The lower canyoneer attaches their rappel device to the rope and locks it off or uses the rope as a handline.
4. The lower canyoneer uses the rope to Tarzan swing across the silo to the other side or as a security backup when bridging or stemming across the gap.

Note that it can be helpful to have a second tether attached to the Tarzan that is thrown to a member on the down canyon side. This person can use the tether to help pull the Tarzan across.

Advantages

The pendulum can save time and energy compared to lowering the person to the ground and raising them back up on the other side of the silo. It can also reduce exposure by not forcing everyone to make a riskier move unprotected.

Disadvantages

The pendulum only works if there is a solid place for the upper person to hunker down. The pendulum adds risk to the upper group member. The pendulum is much slower than everyone doing the move solo.

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