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Mountain & Outdoor industry news

Rappelling

For more than fifteen years, the AAI Blog has kept the mountain community up to date on news, events, and developments in the outdoor industry, leavened with a bit of humor.
The AAI Blog

Recent Blog Posts

Rappelling is a core skill that is used in all aspects of mountain travel. This includes rock climbing, ice climbing, alpine climbing, mountaineering, technical rescue and canyoneering, every discipline uses it at some level.

Add a Friction Hitch to Hold Rappel in Place

American Alpine Institute
February 17, 2026

Rappelling on an Ice Bollard

American Alpine Institute
November 23, 2025

Firefighter’s Belay

American Alpine Institute
November 11, 2025

The Balin Miller Accident and Knots at the End of Your Rope

American Alpine Institute
October 9, 2025

Knots for Rappelling

American Alpine Institute
September 30, 2022

Rappelling into a Crevasse and Climbing Out

American Alpine Institute
August 19, 2022

Rappel Technique: Throwing Ropes

American Alpine Institute
August 15, 2022

Saddlebags for Rappelling

American Alpine Institute
August 8, 2022

The Problem with Rappel Backups Off Modern Leg-Loops

American Alpine Institute
July 8, 2022

Closing the System and Staying Alive

American Alpine Institute
January 10, 2022

Cleaning an Anchor and Setting Up a Rappel

American Alpine Institute
July 27, 2021

Improvised Rappels

American Alpine Institute
June 25, 2021

Rappelling with a GriGri

American Alpine Institute
May 7, 2021

Rappelling – The Basics

American Alpine Institute
April 27, 2021

The Euro Death Knot

American Alpine Institute
March 9, 2021

Santa’s Rappelling Dilemma

American Alpine Institute
December 25, 2020

Rappelling Safety

American Alpine Institute
October 26, 2020

Why Would a Climber Need a Knife?

American Alpine Institute
July 17, 2020

Tag Lines for Rappels – Reepschnur Hitch

American Alpine Institute
November 11, 2019

Counter Ascending a Rope to Perform a Climber Pick-Off

American Alpine Institute
November 16, 2018

Extending Your Rappel

American Alpine Institute
October 19, 2018