what is rappelling

Rappelling, also known as abseiling, is the controlled descent of a steep slope, such as a rock face, by moving down a rope. It is a climbing technique used to descend a mountain or cliff in a timely and efficient manner, as opposed to having to climb back down. The person descending controls their own movement down the rope, in contrast to being lowered off, in which the rope attached to the person descending is paid out by their belayer. Rappelling is inherently dangerous and should be learned in person from a trained professional. It usually involves two ropes and two people, although it is possible to self-rappel using only one rope. Rappelling is commonly used in climbing, canyoning, spelunking, and even by the military to access hard-to-reach locations. The term "rappelling" is used in the United States, while "abseiling" is more common in the United Kingdom, and both terms are used interchangeably in Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. The technique of rappelling is attributed to Jean Charlet-Straton, a Chamonix guide who lived from 1840 to 1925, and the term "rappel" is attributed to Roger Frison-Roche circa 1944.