University of Virginia
Rappelling Log

Technical details:

I acquired my University of Virginia Rappelling Log from Dwight Deal in 2007.

This Rappelling Log is 304 mm tall, 204 mm wide, and 78 mm thick. It weighs 1927 g. The log portion is wood, of course, roughly in the shape of a hyperboloid of revolution, with a single two-turn rope groove. The log portion is 138 mm. long with a 72 mm. central diameter and a 78 mm. diameter at the ends. A 304 mm. length of 26 mm. angle is bolted to each side with a pair of 11 mm. carriage bolts that pass through holes drilled in the log portion. There are 11 mm. holes drilled in the bottom of each side piece. Two 50 mm. by 9.4 mm. cold shuts on each side form the attachment points.

Comments:

Dwight wrote a long history of the University of Virginia Rappelling Log for the January 1999 NSS News, so I won't repeat all of the details here; instead, I'll just give the following few highlights:

Dean Abbott came up with the idea in 1955. This was just three yeas after my friend Bill Cuddington introduced single rope descending and prusik knot climbing. Manila rope was the norm at the time.
Bob Geil made the first working rappelling log in 1956 using the limb from a catalpa tree. Lore later changed this to a locust post, creating a persistent but false rural myth.
It was the second log, made by Earl Geil, that came from a locust post.
Earl had a bowling alley, and made the later logs from bowling pins.
There were about 12 to 15 University of Virginia Rappelling Logs made, and an unknown number of imitations.
University of Virginia cavers called this the "rappeller" or "block rappeller," but everyone else called it the "rappelling log."
Most logs had the ends cut at an angle so that the side angles converged at the bottom.
Dwight wrote, "The one I ended up with appears to be the crudest of the lot."
Dwight used this log in Hellhole, Sites, Haynes, Higgenbothem No. 2, Catawba Murder Hole, Clover Hollow, and Cass.
Rappel logs pass knots easily.
The log works best on 5/8" or 3/4" (16-19 mm.) manila rope.
One caver soaked their log in linseed oil for two weeks prior to using it in Catawba Murder Hole (on a manila rope). Friction ignited the oil, and the log burned with a 3" flame.

Do not use a rappelling log on synthetic ropes. The rope will melt, and may even fuse to the log and strand the caver on rappel.

Dwight donated his log after seeing my display again at the 2007 NSS Convention. We've know each other for years, but after the donation, Dwight wrote, "Gary,...I do not think of you as a Person, I think of you as a very specialized museum." I appreciate the compliment, Dwight, Thank you!