"Retrievable Anchors" are those where the webbing used to form an anchor is retrieved, leaving nothing behind. There are several good reasons for doing this including:

Anchor Techniques, Ghosting, Rigging the Rope, Tech TipstjonesDecember 10, 2012anchoring, basic canyoneering knots, basic climbing knots, Canyoneering, canyoneering knots, climbing knots, how-to, Leave no Trace, retrievable anchors, tech tips, anchors

How To Lock Off a Figure Eight Rappelling Device

One advantage of a Figure of Eight rappel device is that it can be locked off on the rope, a useful trick for some circumstances.

Rappel Devices, Tech TipstjonesNovember 27, 2012Canyoneering, Gear for Canyoneering, how-to, Rappel Devices, Rope Descenders, figure eight knots, figure eight, tech tips

Knots for Webbing and Anchors: The Overhand on a Bight

OVERHAND ON A BIGHT The other "most-useful" knot in webbing is another overhand-type, the Overhand on a Bight. This is tied in webbing just as it is in rope.

Anchor Techniques, Knots, Tech Tips, Rigging the RopetjonesNovember 22, 2012anchoring, basic canyoneering knots, basic climbing knots, bight, Canyoneering, canyoneering knots, climbing knots, Knots for Canyoneering, overhand, tubular webbing, anchors, webbing, tech tips

How to Tie a Water Knot and Build a Webbing Anchor

As a prelude to Water Knot instruction, a bit of mountain wisdom from Edward Whymper is appropriate: "There have been joys too great to be described in words, and there have been griefs upon which I have not dared to dwell…

Anchor Techniques, Knots, Tech TipstjonesNovember 9, 2012anchoring, basic canyoneering knots, basic climbing knots, bight, Canyoneering, canyoneering knots, climbing knots, knots for webbing, rappelling, water knot, tech tips, anchors

The Swiss Seat - A Simple and Safe Webbing Harness for Canyoneering

Sometimes it is a good idea to tie a harness from a length of webbing. Canyons in North Wash often only have one or two rappels, so a temporary webbing harness works well there. Sometimes your partner will goof up and forget his harness…

Improvised Harness, Tech TipstjonesJune 26, 2012Canyoneering, how to tie a swiss seat, how-to, rappelling, Swiss seat, Swiss Seat harness, tied harness, tubular webbing, tying a swiss seat, webbing harness, tech tips

Ghosting Techniques in Canyoneering: an Introduction

Ghosting is the art of descending a canyon and leaving nothing behind. Ghosting techniques are used in selected places where leaving no visible anchors has a benefit.

Anchor Techniques, Ghosting, Tech TipstjonesMay 24, 2012Canyoneering, fiddlestick, Ghosting, Leave no Trace, LNT, Omnisling, SandTrap, tech tips

The Stone Knot (aka Stein Knot): A Canyoneering Secret Weapon

The Stone Knot (or Stein Knot) is a blocking knot technique that can improve safety and speed things up on canyoneering descents.

Knots, Rigging the Rope, Tech TipstjonesMay 10, 2012Canyoneering, fiddlestick, stein knot, stone knot, technique, knots, Knots for Rope, Knots for Canyoneering, tech tips

How to Tie Two Ropes Together

There is a lot of discussion about the "best" knot for tying two ropes together. For canyoneering, for climbing, for whatever!

Knots, Tech TipstjonesMay 8, 2012Canyoneering, connecting rope, edk knot, european death knot, how to tie two ropes together, joining two ropes, knots for tying two ropes together, tying ropes together, tying two ropes together, tech tips, Knots for Rope, Knots for Canyoneering, knots

Biner Blocks and Pull Cord Techniques for Backcountry Canyoneering

Knowing how to rig a carabiner block (biner block) and pull cord allows for retrievable single-rope rappels, creating several advantages for the backcountry canyoneer.

Rigging the Rope, Tech TipstjonesApril 27, 2012biner block, Canyoneering, carabiner block, pull cord, tech tips, Knots for Rope, Knots for Canyoneering, knots