Front View	Right Side View	Rear View	Left Side View

Front View: Open for Rigging	Rear View: Open for Rigging

Technical Details

I acquired my Elk River from Franklin T. Finley, 2007.

My Elk River is 240 mm. tall, 24 mm. wide, and 24 mm. thick. Mine weighs 701 g.

The Elk River consists of a central shaft and a sheet metal cover. The central piece is a machined forged aluminum shank with a rope guide and attachment hole at each end. The central shaft is 20 mm. in diameter and 108 mm. long. There are two 9.5 mm. rope grooves (spaced 180° apart) each at the top and bottom of the shaft. There is a 14 mm. wide, 23 mm. high eye at the top and a 16 mm. wide by 21 mm. high eye at the bottom. The lower eye is used to clip in, while the top must never be used for this purpose. Two notches at the top aid in tying off. A 4.7 mm. pin near the top fits a, L-shaped notch in the cover to lock the cover in place. A spring-loaded button near the bottom fits a hole in the cover, also helping to hold it in place.

The cover is made from 3.6 mm. sheet aluminum rolled into a near-cylinder, with a 12.3 mm. gap for inserting the rope. The internal diameter of the cover is 52 mm.

There are no raised or stamped markings on the metal pieces, but the cover has a printed sticker that contains fewer words than "War and Peace." These include."Descendor," "™," and "Controlled Descent Device." Beneath these are figures of an outdoor scene and a drawing of the descender rigged on the rope, but with the cover removed, next to an arrow pointing up with the word "UP above. The outdoor scene has an "®" mark. Beneath is "Elk River, Inc.," "Cullman, AL USA," and "combining modern technology with old fashioned values." Beneath this is "Part Number 19600" and "Made in Canada."

The real verbiage lies to the right of the arrow. It reads as follows:

        WARNING!!
DO NOT USE THIS DESCENT DEVICE
  WITHOUT PROPER TRAINING!
   Misuse of this product can cause
     serious injury or death.
______________________________________

    PRIOR TO EACH USE
1. Thoroughly inspect both rope and descent
  device.
2. Make sure that anchorage selected is capable
  of supporting 5000 pounds.
3. Ensure that the rope does not come in contact
  with any sharp or abrasive edges.
4. Read the enclosed instructions.
______________________________________
     Basic Instructions for Use
 (Also read enclosed instructions completely.)

1. When using this device, a separate fall arrest
  system must be used and anchored separately
  from this suspension system.
2. Use only approved 1/2" braided rope.
3. For a medium rate of descent, make four (4)
  complete turns of the rope over the shaft.
4. For a faster rate of descent, use one less turn.

NOTE: Descent speeds are based on a weight of
150 to 200 pounds. Add one more turn per each
additional 50 pounds.

Comments

The Elk River descender is clearly a copy or derivative of the Sky Genie. The rope is rigged by removing the cover, wrapping the rope around the helical groove the proper number of times, and then running it out the longitudinal groove. The recommended number of wraps agrees with the Sky Genie recommendations, although I prefer fewer wraps (in part because I use stiffer ropes). You should follow the manufacturer’s instructions, not mine.

Like all vertical spools, I find that this one causes me to spin as I descend.

Warning: The Elk River descender is NOT reversible. If used upside down, the cover may come off, leaving the rope free to uncoil.