How many times would you wrap the rope around a figure 8 descender/rescue 8 for a two-person load?

• A. single wrap
• B. double wrap
• C. triple wrap
• D. quadruple wrap

Answer: (B)

The main idea is how friction and control change when the load gets heavier. When you’re using a figure‑8 descender (rescue 8), wrapping the rope around it more times increases the friction between the rope and the device. With a two‑person load, the force on the rope is greater, so a single wrap may not provide enough friction to keep the descent or haul under control. A double wrap adds enough friction to slow and manage the movement reliably, helping you hold the load, feed rope smoothly, and reduce the chance of the rope slipping through the device.

Adding more than two wraps would increase friction further, but it can make feeding rope awkward and generate more heat, which isn’t desirable in standard two‑person operations. So, for a two‑person load, two wraps strike the right balance between control and practicality.