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Waterpocket as a Rappelling Anchor

Description

The Waterpocket is ideal for use as a rappelling anchor when there is a vertical edge to the pothole and the water level is below the brim.

There are two ways to rig a Waterpocket.

Method 1 - Release on Rappel Strand

  1. Fill the Waterpocket with enough water to support your rappelling weight, and preferable a lot more.
  2. Clip a carabiner to the top straps.
  3. Attach the end of your rappel strand to the bottom of the Waterpocket.
  4. Pull up some slack and feed a bite of rope through the carabiner. Ensure that the section of rope between the top and bottom of the Waterpocket is underneath the Waterpocket.
  5. Rig a toggle on the rappel rope.
  6. Back up the waterpocket with a meat anchor for all but the last person.
  7. All but 2 people rappel down.
  8. Attach the pull cord to the toggle.
  9. The second-to-last person deploys the pull cord and ensures there are no tangles.
  10. The last person removes the safety carabiners from the toggle and rappels down.
  11. From the bottom, pull the pull cord. This will pull the toggle out, and the pull cord and toggle will fall to the ground.
  12. Pull the rappel strand slowly until the Waterpocket tips over and releases the water. You may have to pull a little then wait then pull then wait.
  13. Pull the rappel strand to pull the empty Waterpocket down.

Method 2 - Release on Pull Strand

  1. Fill the Waterpocket with enough water to support your rappelling weight, and preferable a lot more.
  2. Clip a carabiner to the top straps.
  3. Rig a toggle on the rappel rope.
  4. Back up the waterpocket with a meat anchor for all but the last person.
  5. All but 2 people rappel down.
  6. Attach the end of the pull rope to the bottom of the Waterpocket.
  7. Give a couple feet of slack in the pull rope and attach a bite of pull rope to the toggle. Ensure that the section of rope between the top and bottom of the Waterpocket is underneath the Waterpocket.
  8. The second-to-last person deploys the pull rope and ensures there are no tangles.
  9. The last person removes the safety carabiners from the toggle and rappels down.
  10. From the bottom, pull the pull rope. This will pull the toggle out, but the pull rope will not fall to the ground. The rappel strand will fall to the ground.
  11. Pull the pull rope slowly until the Waterpocket tips over and releases the water. You may have to pull a little then wait then pull then wait.
  12. Pull the pull rope to pull the empty Waterpocket down.

 

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W'anchor as a Rappelling Anchor