Rappelling without an established anchor: Macrame/Equivocation Hitch

There are climbing situations where you do not have enough material to construct a rappel anchor, or where wilderness regulations do not allow you to leave anchor material behind. In these circumstances the Macrame (also called Equivocation Hitch) can be a handy way to set-up a rappel quickly and efficiently. I commonly use this system when descending from alpine rock routes, and sometimes during the walk-off from complex multi-pitch rock climbing objectives. Make sure to practice in benign terrain first, and keep in mind that this system can be fatal if not set-up correctly.