How to Self-Rappel on a Single Line With a GriGri

If you’ve been rappelling on a double line and want to level up your systems, learning to self rappel on a single line with a GriGri is a natural next step. It opens up longer descents and gives you a clean, retrievable setup once you know how to rig it.

Rappelling with a GriGri on a single line lets you rappel longer distances than you can on a double line, and it’s a relatively quick option if you’re canyoneering and don’t plan on climbing back up the same system. On top of that, the GriGri, like other assisted-braking belay devices, makes it easier to control your speed without needing a separate Prusik backup. Just remember it’s assisted-braking, not hands-free, so you always keep a brake hand on the rope.

Warning: Always consult a professional before rappelling. This guide is only a recommendation and should be evaluated critically before use. By reading this guide, you understand that Send Edition is not responsible for anything that may happen.

Before you take this off the ground for real, get hands-on instruction from a certified guide or an experienced mentor who can watch you rig it and check your system. A single-line rappel with a blocking knot is an advanced setup, and reading about it is no substitute for someone qualified confirming you’ve done it right. If you’re still working out the basics, start with the safest way to rappel and build up from there.

What you need to self rappel on a single line with a GriGri

In addition to the GriGri, you’re going to need safety gear and gear for the anchor system. This is what we recommend when you’re planning to climb up and down the route after rappelling down.

1. Climbing/rappelling rope
2. Harness
3. Helmet
4. 1 locking carabiner
5. 1 GriGri (this works with other assisted-braking belay devices, but not all of them are made equal. One alternative I’ve used is the Mad Rock Lifeguard.)
6. Pull-cord (the same length as the rope)
7. Gear for an anchor system (see below)

If you’re not sure the GriGri is the right tool for the job, it’s worth reading up on whether to upgrade to an assisted-braking belay device and the best rappelling device for canyoneering before you commit.

What you need for an anchor system

The anchor system depends on what you have available on route, whether that’s bolts, boulders, or trees. Rappelling off a tree can damage it, so it’s best to avoid that if you can.

What you’ll need for making a retrievable anchor on a bolt

1. Small locking carabiners (you can use one if the bolt doesn’t have a rappel loop. If that’s the case, the carabiner won’t be retrievable from the bottom of the rappel.)

Creating an anchor with bolts for rappelling

Before you use the bolts to build the anchor system, make sure they’re in good shape and safe to use. Check each bolt for signs of wear, tear, or rust. If they look okay visually, then make sure each one is seated securely by trying to twist or move it. If it seems sound, you’re good to use the following for the anchor system.

1. If there isn’t a rappel loop, clip the locking carabiner into the bolt
2. Run one end of the rope through the carabiner or rappel loop

What you’ll need for creating an anchor with a tree or a large boulder

If bolts aren’t available, you’ll need a large boulder or tree that you can wrap your sling around to anchor. Before you do, make sure the boulder or tree is solid, seated in place, and won’t move.

Using a tree for an anchor can hurt the tree, so use a boulder if you can.

1. 1 sling big enough to go around the boulder or tree
2. 2 locking carabiners

How to create an anchor system on a boulder or tree

1. Wrap the large sling around the boulder or tree, and make sure there’s no way for it to slip up, down, or off in any way
2. Clip a locking carabiner to both ends of the sling
3. Run one end of the rope through the carabiners

Now that the anchor is in place, it’s time to rig the system so you can rappel safely while still being able to recover the rope, and in the case of a boulder or tree system, retrieve the anchor as well.

Preparing the rope and anchor for rappelling

The next step is to create a stopper of some kind on one end of the rope with a pull-cord attached to it. This keeps the rope from slipping through the rappel loop, which would cause an uncontrollable fall to the ground. The pull-cord also gives you a way to retrieve the rope once everyone has safely landed at the bottom of the rappel.

How to tie a figure 8

The figure 8 is commonly used for tying someone into a harness, but it’s also a great knot for joining two different ropes, such as the pull-cord and the rappelling rope.

1. Take a bight of climbing rope about an arm’s length from the end, with the short end facing your body
2. Take the short end and wrap it around the back of your hand and back to the starting position (by your body)
3. Thread the end of the rope through the hole (from the bight)
4. Pull the end through until you have a loose single-rope figure eight
5. Using the pull-cord, thread it through the figure eight, following the way the climbing rope wraps around itself
6. Once it’s threaded through, pull it tight
7. Run your check to make sure it’s right. You want two rope strands at the bottom, two at the start of the knot, two in the middle, two near the top of the knot, and two above the knot
8. Make sure there’s at least a fist-width of tail from the top of the knot to the end of the rope
9. If there’s a lot of excess rope at the end, tie it off with a backup knot. Stopper knots work great.

Make sure the knot sits on the side of the anchor that the pull-cord is on. When you weight the rappel rope, the figure 8 should keep the rope from pulling through the anchor.

How to set up the GriGri for self-rappelling

Before you even touch the GriGri, the loose end of the rope should have a stopper knot. This makes sure that if the rope is too short, it won’t run out through the belay device and drop the person rappelling into an uncontrollable fall.

How to tie a stopper knot on the other end of the rope

1. Take a small bit of rope about an elbow’s length from the end
2. Wrap the loose end around the bight 1 to 2 times
3. Fold the loop of the bight toward the wrapped pieces of rope
4. Thread the end of the rope through each of the loops, including the folded bight
5. Pull it tight. You should have a nice bulky knot at the end, big enough to keep the rope from slipping through any belay device.

Once the stopper knot is in place, it’s time to load the rope into the assisted-braking belay device.

How to set up the GriGri

1. Open the GriGri by sliding the side plate out
2. Using the icons as your guide, place the strand that leads up to the figure eight at the anchor into the part of the device closest to the carabiner hole
3. Run the rope through to the other side of the device, following the groove in the GriGri
4. Slide the GriGri side plate back into place
5. Clip a locking carabiner through the GriGri and through your harness belay loop, then lock the carabiner
6. To check you did it right, first make sure the end with the figure 8 (the anchor side) is closest to your body, and that the other end (with the stopper knot) hangs away from your body and reaches the ground
7. Pull on the strand that runs up to the anchor (the one with the figure 8). The device should lock and keep the rope from running through it.

How to self rappel with a GriGri on a single line

Now that the gear is all set up, it’s time to actually lower yourself down the cliff side.

Practice: Consider testing this out at home or at the base of the cliff before you do it off the side of the cliff, so you can practice and make sure you understand how everything works.

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How to lower yourself with a GriGri

Before you lower yourself, run one more check on your figure 8, the belay device, the anchor system, and the space below you, so you know it’s safe to descend.

1. Walk off the edge of the cliff with your back facing out
2. Once you’re off the edge, lean back so your feet are against the wall and you’re sitting into your harness, roughly horizontal (this keeps you from hitting your face or getting scraped up on the wall while you lower)
3. Keep your right hand on the brake strand and place your left hand on the handle of the GriGri
4. Lightly pull the handle back until the cam of the device eases off the rope slightly and the rope slowly starts to feed through the device
5. The further back you pull the handle, the faster the rope will run through the system
6. In an emergency, let go of the handle and put both hands on the brake strand, pulling it back toward your hip or below your seat
7. Keep lowering yourself until you reach the bottom

Never take your brake hand off the rope, even for a second. The brake hand is what stops you if anything else fails.

Now that you’re at the base of the cliff, it’s time to retrieve the rope.

How to recover the rope

After you’ve reached the base of the cliff, you can take the GriGri off the rope.

1. You should have two strands of rope at the bottom, the climbing rope you just rappelled down and the pull-cord you tied to the figure eight
2. Pull the pull-cord down toward the ground until the rappel rope runs through the anchor and then falls to the ground
3. Watch your head, as the figure 8 and the rope can be heavy on the way down

Single-line rappelling is a skill that rewards practice and good judgment. The more comfortable you get with anchors, knots, and your belay device, the safer you’ll be. For more on the gear side of things, take a look at how to self rappel with a GriGri on a standard setup before you push into longer, single-line descents.

Frequently asked questions

Can you self rappel on a single line with a GriGri?

Yes. You can self rappel on a single line with a GriGri by rigging the rope through the device and blocking the anchor side with a figure 8 so the rope can’t pull through. A pull-cord tied to that knot lets you retrieve the rope from the bottom. It’s an advanced setup, so get instruction from a qualified guide before you rely on it.

Why rappel on a single line instead of a double line?

A single line lets you rappel longer distances than a double line, and it’s a quicker option when you’re canyoneering and don’t plan on climbing back up the same system. The trade-off is that you have to rig a blocking knot and a retrieval cord instead of just pulling one end.

Is a GriGri auto-locking, and do I still need a brake hand?

The GriGri is an assisted-braking device, not a fully automatic or hands-free one. It helps you control your speed and can catch you if you panic, but you always keep a brake hand on the rope. If you let go of the brake strand and something goes wrong, the device may not hold you.

Do I need stopper knots on the ends of the rope?

Yes. Put a stopper knot on the loose end so the rope can’t run out through the belay device if it’s too short, which would drop you into an uncontrollable fall. The figure 8 on the anchor side does a similar job by keeping the rope from pulling through the anchor.

How do you get the rope back after a single-line rappel?

You retrieve the rope with the pull-cord. Once everyone is down, pull the cord until the rappel rope runs through the anchor and drops to the ground. Watch your head, because the figure 8 and the rope can be heavy on the way down.

Sara Climbing Coach, Climbing Trainer, Writer

Sara is the founder of Send Edition, author of '77 Drills to Help You Climb Better,' the creator of 'Elevate Your Climbing: Training Planner and Tracker,' and climbing coach.

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