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Converting to Lower - Single Strand

Description

The situation: Your rappel rope is less than twice the rappel length. You rigged a single-strand rappel from an anchor at the top using a non-contingency rigging method ('biner block, knot block, toggle, etc.). Someone rappelling down got their shirt wedged in their rappel device, and they can't continue rappelling.

The solution:

1. Unweight the rappel rope from the anchor by raising the rappeller. One way to do this is to:
   1. Attach a progress capture device (Micro Traxion, Ascender, or Slide-and-Grip knot) several feet below the anchor. It should be able to slide down but not up.
   2. Attach a carabiner to the progress capture device.
   3. Attach a carabiner to the anchor.
   4. Attach one end of a thin sling or pull cord one of the carabiners.
   5. Loop the sling or cord multiple times between the two carabiners. This will create a 6x or 10x mechanical advantage.
   6. Pull the cord to raise the rappeller.
   7. Tie off with a mule hitch and safety knot. 
2. Undo the rigging of the rappel rope from the anchor.
3. Feed a second rope through the anchor.
4. Tie the original rappel rope and the second rope together using an EDK or Double Fisherman's Bend. 
5. Rig for lowering.
6. Release the mule hitch.
7. Release the sling or cord until the rappeller's weight is back on the original rappel rope.
8. Remove the progress capture device from the rappel rope.
9. Lower the stuck rappeller.

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Converting to Lower - Double Strand