Coat Hanger

In 1968, Rick Banning invented three unique descenders, and described them in the Potomac Caver. The first was a sand-filled box with a handle that compressed the sand, squeezing it against the rope to increase friction. The second was a well-trained boa constrictor. The third was an ordinary coat hanger. The first would be hard to build and training a snake isn't easy either, so I've only tried the third. Perhaps this is what inspired the Lirakis Sidewinder? (oh - wrong snake!). The idea really isn't bad, except that most coat hangers aren't designed to be strong enough to rappel on. I found one that wasn't too bad, if belayed. A coat hanger works well if you find a strong coat hanger, and very poorly if you don't. At least the lower opposing turns help cancel any spinning tendency imparted by the upper turns.

Don't rappel on a coat hanger, an organic snake (the steel snake is OK), or a sandbox.

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©2007, Gary D. Storrick