A radially compressive rope assembly is provided for enabling controlled descent from altitude. The radially compressive rope assembly is comprised of a load-bearing rope core surrounded by a flexible, compressible mantle, capable of recovery after deformation thereof. The flexible, compressible mantle is covered by a flexible sheath, disposed adjacent the outer perimeter of the mantle, which allows a user to slide easily against the sheath down the radially compressive rope assembly while compressing the mantle material through the sheath during descent, resulting in increasing or descreasing the speed of descent.