This is not your typical rock climbing rappel! You will be wearing a full-body industrial harness and using an industrial descender to go down. To a certain extent, you can control your speed. Should you go too fast, the back-up device will engage, and you will stop.
Getting yourself off the roof and into the harness is the most difficult part of the rappel for most people. You will have an opportunity to practice your technique during training, and an OTE Technician will guide you through these first few steps. Once you’re over the edge, you will have a radio to communicate with your OTE Technician.
Rappelling can take more effort than some people expect, and you may find that your hands or arms get tired. You can stop to rest or switch hands if you need a break.
If you keep your feet on the concrete/glass, it is easy to maintain the correct position. You won’t spin around or drift into the building. You can maintain the correct position by sitting up in your harness as if you were sitting in a swing. An Over The Edge staff member at the bottom of the rope will help keep you from spinning. Once you’re within 20’ of the ground, your landing will be assisted by the Over The Edge staff.
Training
Training begins in the Staging Area, where participants get into their gear and are provided the equipment they will need to rappel. Harnesses and other equipment are adjusted to fit each individual, and participants are taught the correct way to wear their gear.
In the Training Area, participants learn how to use the descender and back-up device, which are the two pieces of equipment needed during their rappel. The descender is a ‘Petzl I’D’. A ‘Petzl ASAP’ is the back up device. Participants are taught how to properly operate the I’D as well as what causes the back-up device to engage and how to correctly release the ASAP.
After demonstration by an OTE tech, each participant has the opportunity to simulate the actual rappel before going "Over the Edge."
The Main Rappel
Training takes about 20 - 30 minutes, and once training is complete, participants head over to the main rappel.
Our OTE tech will get each participant attached to the ropes, and their gear and equipment will get a final check to ensure that everything is correctly positioned prior to committing to the mainline. Once the final safety check is complete, the OTE tech will assist each participant "Over the Edge."
There are eyes on our participants at all times, from the OTE Technicians assisting at the top and monitoring the rappel, to our ropes volunteers below, who provide a fireman’s belay during the rappel to assist people with getting off rope at the bottom.
If a participant is unable to complete the rappel on their own, due to fright, fatigue, etc., we can lower the ropes from the top. This also allows us to facilitate rappels for people who may not have the strength or ability to work the descent device. Unlike recreational rappelling, if you release your hands during your rappel, you will simply stop! Feel free to do this during your rappel, and take some time to enjoy the view.