A system for passively slowing a descent rate of a load includes a rope having a fixed end and an opposing free end below the fixed end, a descent device having a base plate with first and second opposing plate ends, first and second pins fixedly mounted to the base plate, the first pin located at the first opposing plate end, and a carabiner attachment portion located at the second opposing plate end. A carabiner is attached to the carabiner attachment portion of the descent device, and a load attached to the carabiner. The system disposes a rope within the descent device about the first and second pin in serpentine manner, with the free end of the rope balanced against the load by the device disposed between the load and the free end, and the rope contacting first and second non-rotatable rope-contacting surfaces of the first and second pins, respectively.