Swiss soldiers abseiling using the Dülfersitz
Abseiling by means of the Dülfersitz (not free-hanging)

The Dülfersitz (named after mountaineer Hans Dülfer who had developed a different but related technique[1][2]), also known as body rappel, is a classical, or non-mechanical abseiling technique, used in rock climbing and mountaineering. It is not used frequently any more, since the introduction of belay devices. In the Dülfersitz, the rope is wound around the body, and the speed of descent is controlled using the friction of the rope against the body.

The advantages of the Dülfersitz are that one can descend without a climbing harness or belay device, and because the rope is not kinked or subjected to concentrated forces, it does not experience as much wear. The major disadvantage of this method is that intense heat is generated by the friction on the shoulder, neck and thigh, which can be painful, and can damage clothing.

Technique

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  • The doubled rope is passed between the legs
  • The rope is passed behind one thigh
  • Crossing the chest, the rope is taken to the opposite shoulder
  • From the shoulder, the rope is passed diagonally across the back to the braking hand (the hand on the same side as the thigh around which the rope has been passed)
  • The rope is placed under load
  • The free hand is held forward, maintaining the balance
  • The braking hand controls the movement of the rope: to allow the rope to move, the braking hand moves backwards; to arrest movement, it moves forwards.

Although the Dülfersitz is an effective method of abseiling when practised correctly, it is less safe than some modern methods: if the braking hand releases the rope (due to panic, impact from a falling stone, or cramp), a fall is unavoidable if no additional means of security, such as prusik cords, is used.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Body abseil history". Tarquin's Caving Site. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
  2. ^ Royal Geographical Society (2011). Mountaineers. Dorling Kindersley Ltd. p. 42. ISBN 9781409383314. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  3. ^ Günter Sturm/Fritz Zintl: Alpin-Lehrplan 2, Felsklettern, BLV München, Bern, Wien 1979, ISBN 3-405-11943-X, S. 64 f.

📚 Artikel Terkait di Wikipedia

Abseiling

These techniques range from wrapping the rope around their body (e.g. the Dülfersitz technique) to using custom-built devices like a rack or a figure of 8

Rock-climbing equipment

carabiner (replaced many knots), the descender/abseil device (replaced the dülfersitz), the ascender (replaced the prusik knot), the belay device (replaced

Hans Dülfer

techniques, such as the Dülfersitz rappel, a basic emergency abseil skill. He died in World War I, on the battlefield at Arras. "Dülfersitz rappel – 101 years

Aadhi

revealed that the 10th-floor exit was an escape plan, and Aadhi performs a Dülfersitz just before Ebin turns the fire alarm on, to shower gasoline on them.

Glossary of climbing terms

additional restrictions and particularly a prohibition on yaniro moves. Dülfersitz A classical non-mechanical abseiling technique where the fixed rope is

1936 Eiger climbing disaster

As belay devices had not yet been invented, they rappelled using the Dülfersitz method. Contact was made with a railway guard at the Eigerwand railway

History of rock climbing

Charlet-Straton [fr] invents the basic body rappel in the French Alps; the more popular dülfersitz is introduced 1910 by Hans Dülfer. 1881: Mountain guide Benedikt Venetz

List of climbers and mountaineers

Hans Dülfer (1892–1915) Germany, pioneer free climber, inventor of the Dülfersitz abseil technique; killed in World War I Hayatullah Khan Durrani (born