альпинистская переправа

20:22 May 14, 2011 

Mark, I actually changed my mind and think 'rope bridge' would be the most universal term. It includes a commando bridge, a one-rope bridge,
http://www.mountain-survival.net/chapter7/rope-bridge.html
and a Tyrolean traverse. Of course they all require climbing gear and all fit your description.

'A Tyrolean Traverse is a rope bridge that is capable of carrying passengers between two high points. Under the guidance of a West Lakes Instructor build a Tyrolean Traverse across a deep Gorge above a river and have the nerve to put faith in your own construction.'
http://www.westlakesadventure.co.uk/other-activities

19:49 May 14, 2011 

Kamilw, I ended up circumventing all the instances with "переправа" using "climbing gear," as per your suggestion. Please submit it as an answer, because the points are rightfully yours.

19:39 May 13, 2011 

Mark, that really helps so that we can exclude the belayed crossing where all get wet :) For a Tyrolean or a commando bridge e.g. one man wades belayed, fixes the ropes at the other bank, women cross the river dry-footed on fixed ropes and finally the last man unties the ropes and wades, being belayed from the opposite bank.

17:20 May 13, 2011 

Kamilw, thank you very much, this is very informative. The only additional context available is that all women had to remain dry during the crossing, but men didn't. Does that help?

12:54 May 13, 2011 

In theory a rappel in the proper sense would be possible if one bank was much higher than the other :)
When it comes to river crossings using some kind of climbing gear, except a simple belayed crossing and a Tyrolean there is also a so called commando bridge, with two ropes, one above the other, one for hands and the other for feet. So without context we know nothing. It may be safest to write "to set up/fix/rig a crossing using climbing gear".

12:23 May 13, 2011 

Hey, nothing to be sorry about. That's precisely what we seem to be after here, technical knowledge. I am definitely not a climber, unless climbing out of bed in the morning counts. Cheers!

08:47 May 13, 2011 

We don't actually know if they set up a Tyrolean crossing (in the air) or just an ordinary belayed crossing, where you wade or even swim across the river being belayed by your partner(s) and the rope from one or both sides. Fixing a Tyrolean requires one man to wade across the river first anyway. Tyrolean is a much more complicated thing and only makes sense when the banks are high and vertical or otherwise difficult to access, or at least there are suitable trees on both banks. I would guess they just made a belayed crossing. Are there any more clues about the terrain, what the river looked like etc?