I wonder if anyone could briefly teach me how one would attach himself to a large tree, as a safety measure, while going down a steep hill (lets say around 45 degrees).

What I have on hand :

o A 50 meter rope, about 6 mm;
o A large climbing carabiner;
o Good knowledge and sufficient practice of useful knots (bowline, figure 8, etc.).


I am not asking for a rappeling crash course; i'm just wondering what is the simplest, fastest way to do it. Right now, if you'd ask me how i'd do it, I would have a natural tendency to tie a bowline around a tree, another around my body and just let the rope slide between my gloves slowly going backwards. Is this the most efficient way to do it? Probably not.

Is there a way to rig something up so that once i'm down the hill, I can untie my rope to get it back? I think i've seen this done somewhere in a video.

Any thoughts? Thanks!

Edit;


This is not something you learn on the internet so I deleted my post.

It's tough to describe.
Tie off the line to your tree.
Attach the biner thru your belt.
Wrap your para cord 3 times thru the gate of the biner then slide the loops to the solid side. You now have the line ties off to the tree and running to your biner, loops then free end.
As long as you keep tension on the free end the line will grab the biner. When you slack off tension on the free end the line will slip thru the biner. Descend by keeping or loosening tension on the free end f the line. Do not descend steep sloops or anywhere you would not want to fall down.
Try it out somewhere safe first to get the concept and be careful.
Ron Hood had a demonstration in Woodsmaster volume #3.

An arm rappel is commonly used in caving and skiing for low angle
slopes like you describe. Main concern would be a secure anchor.

Large trees, boulders and snow bollards would take no extra gear
for an anchor. Rappel on the doubled rope then pull one end down.
No knots, no carabiner.

Military likes this since it takes so little time and leaves you
less exposed to fire. And if someone is shot they just fall away
from the rope and don't leave it clogged up for the next soldier.

Thanks, this kind of reply is what I was looking for.

It's indeed simple and a good idea.

Bee:

If you would like a belt but don't want to carry a full fledge climbing belt, you might try this: http://www.animatedknots.com/harness/ind...imatedknots.com
This is called a swiss seat, and I have use it many times to repel with on a steep slope.

A better picture of the above...

Note, this



doesn't show the arm rappel I was speaking of, only the
dulfersitz, which is good if you have lots of clothes on for padding.

True...