Whispers death, in your video you use the "screw link for your cinch" to run your rope through. Is that just something like one of these? http://www.amazon.com/Camp-Oval-Qui...413374541&sr=8-1&keywords=climbing+screw+link
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Climbing rope for tree access
- Thread starter BlinemanB
- Start date
Whispers Death
Well-Known Member
I cut the rope into 4 pieces and melt and tape the ends. That way I can leave a few ropes out in the woods.
I have tried many of the methods that cavers and arborists use and most of them require switching over to descend and unhooking a reattaching a bunch of stuff. That is the beauty of the rads system. All you remove is the carabiner/pulley and hand ascender which is all together. You don't do anything else and you are ready to come down at a moments notice.
Yes....those are the links I use or just like them. My favorites are the deltas though because they have a much larger opening. I only have one delta....I need to get more.
I have tried many of the methods that cavers and arborists use and most of them require switching over to descend and unhooking a reattaching a bunch of stuff. That is the beauty of the rads system. All you remove is the carabiner/pulley and hand ascender which is all together. You don't do anything else and you are ready to come down at a moments notice.
Yes....those are the links I use or just like them. My favorites are the deltas though because they have a much larger opening. I only have one delta....I need to get more.
Do you use a left or right hand ascender? Which is easier for someone right handed? Do you pull the rope with one and and use the other to ascend or do you switch and do both with the same hand?
justsomedude
Well-Known Member
Exactly.
Though I used Prusik for my Foot Loop.
And pay attention to his tips "Don't be too greedy" trying to descend too much at a time.
Pump your foot DOWN and not out.
His tip about BACKING UP and also clipping into the Foot Prusik is a GREAT THING TO DO.
Where he Larksfoots (Girth Hitch) the short sling to his harness, you would Girth Hitch your Paws together.
When you get to height, you will have to switch over to your Bridge so you will have to be able to unweight enough to do the switch.
I hook up the Rope Bridge FIRST!!!!
Then stand and unclip the short sling and separate the paws.
About quick descent....I have practiced Rappeling down and have also practiced Descending with a Blake's Hitch (you squeeze it to descend and LET GO to stop...practice at LOW HEIGHTS!!!!)
If you have a Blake's Hitch on Top instead of the Ropeman, you just take your foot out of the Foot Loop.
The Blake's Hitch runs into the Prusik and will move it down freely (Prusik is unweighted).
You can stop descending at any time and put your foot back in the foot loop and climb back up.
NOW....I have only done this with a large diameter rope Blake's Hitch....didn't jam
That would be faster than descending with the Ropeman, but again....if you aren't climbing high, it isn't a huge deal.
And slow methodical descent is safer.
Though I used Prusik for my Foot Loop.
And pay attention to his tips "Don't be too greedy" trying to descend too much at a time.
Pump your foot DOWN and not out.
His tip about BACKING UP and also clipping into the Foot Prusik is a GREAT THING TO DO.
Where he Larksfoots (Girth Hitch) the short sling to his harness, you would Girth Hitch your Paws together.
When you get to height, you will have to switch over to your Bridge so you will have to be able to unweight enough to do the switch.
I hook up the Rope Bridge FIRST!!!!
Then stand and unclip the short sling and separate the paws.
About quick descent....I have practiced Rappeling down and have also practiced Descending with a Blake's Hitch (you squeeze it to descend and LET GO to stop...practice at LOW HEIGHTS!!!!)
If you have a Blake's Hitch on Top instead of the Ropeman, you just take your foot out of the Foot Loop.
The Blake's Hitch runs into the Prusik and will move it down freely (Prusik is unweighted).
You can stop descending at any time and put your foot back in the foot loop and climb back up.
NOW....I have only done this with a large diameter rope Blake's Hitch....didn't jam
That would be faster than descending with the Ropeman, but again....if you aren't climbing high, it isn't a huge deal.
And slow methodical descent is safer.
redsquirrel said:
justsomedude
Well-Known Member
Whispers Death said:
I also wondered about rope movement.
Like if you moved around the tree you would be swinging the rope under you.
My ropes are Brown or Black at the moment but I still worried about it.
Whispers Death
Well-Known Member
yep...used to worry about that too. I would pull up about 3' of slack and tie a fig 8 with a bite of rope and hang it on one of my hooks. I don't anymore. The rope barely moves and if I'm swinging around the tree, the target is usually on the other side. It would only take a minute to pull up your rope, girth it with a small sling and hang it on a hook.....I just don't.
Whispers Death
Well-Known Member
I just watched that ropeman video. There are undoubtedly better ways to rig that than he is doing. If I had to use that system to climb trees, I would use sticks. Grabbing that rope with one hand while trying to advance the other is so awkward. a ropeman with a carabiner and a gri-gri would be better.
Ascending with Gri-gri and petzl Ascension
Much more ergonomic.
[youtube]NJHBQVkBxj0[/youtube]
Ascending with Gri-gri and petzl Ascension
Much more ergonomic.
[youtube]NJHBQVkBxj0[/youtube]
Whispers Death
Well-Known Member
He is using a carabiner for a pulley on his re-direct. That isn't efficient, but still way easy to climb.
justsomedude
Well-Known Member
And that's the million dollar question....Whispers Death said:
If you were never climbing higher than 20', would you still climb with rope?
I hunt with Recurves and Longbow.
Higher than 20' my shot angles start to get bad.
Whispers Death
Well-Known Member
JSD,
You asked if I would still climb with rope like its a big pain in the ass or something.
Up until 4 years ago, all I used was climbers....since 1981. I had Baker death traps back then and tied a winch rope around my waist with a bowline for safety. I had an Amacker climber that weighed about 40 pounds. Then I had steel summit climbers, then aluminum. For a brief spell, I used tree steps and hang ons. It was during that period that I developed a hatred for screw in steps.
4 years ago I bought a Tree Saddle and tried all kinds of ways to climb. I spent a small fortune on Lone wolf sticks, flexi-ladder, buck steps, jim stepps system, bear paws, and stick ladders.
One day after putting 5 sticks on a pine and attaching a lifeline rope system to the tree so I could climb up and down safely, I was hanging there soaking wet with sweat (85 degrees) and I thought, this is freaking ridiculous. There has to be a better way. I wish there was a way to just climb this rope and get rid of everything else.
It took me an entire season to work everything out. I sold all the stuff I hated so I could finance some climbing equipment. Once again, I have way more stuff than I use. I have about 6 different ascenders, 2 gri-gris, a petzl rig, 5 pulleys, about 10 good carabiners and a bunch of other stuff I will likely never use. I like to play with it though.
I taught myself several different ways to climb rope. Both DRT and SRT. I hated most of them because I have a weak right leg due to a bone disease when I was young. (another reason sticks are difficult for me)
Setting up the trees is part of the fun now. I don't dread setting up a tree in the dark. I enjoy climbing trees with this system just for fun. I am not trying to convert people, though it may seem that way.
Sooooo, if I only hunted 15' off the ground all the time, YES...I would still use a rope because I like it and it is fun. Sticks and screw in steps and strap on steps are not fun for me.
If you have a system that you like no matter what it is, then by all means stick with it. I wasn't happy at all and was always looking for a better way.
You asked if I would still climb with rope like its a big pain in the ass or something.
Up until 4 years ago, all I used was climbers....since 1981. I had Baker death traps back then and tied a winch rope around my waist with a bowline for safety. I had an Amacker climber that weighed about 40 pounds. Then I had steel summit climbers, then aluminum. For a brief spell, I used tree steps and hang ons. It was during that period that I developed a hatred for screw in steps.
4 years ago I bought a Tree Saddle and tried all kinds of ways to climb. I spent a small fortune on Lone wolf sticks, flexi-ladder, buck steps, jim stepps system, bear paws, and stick ladders.
One day after putting 5 sticks on a pine and attaching a lifeline rope system to the tree so I could climb up and down safely, I was hanging there soaking wet with sweat (85 degrees) and I thought, this is freaking ridiculous. There has to be a better way. I wish there was a way to just climb this rope and get rid of everything else.
It took me an entire season to work everything out. I sold all the stuff I hated so I could finance some climbing equipment. Once again, I have way more stuff than I use. I have about 6 different ascenders, 2 gri-gris, a petzl rig, 5 pulleys, about 10 good carabiners and a bunch of other stuff I will likely never use. I like to play with it though.
I taught myself several different ways to climb rope. Both DRT and SRT. I hated most of them because I have a weak right leg due to a bone disease when I was young. (another reason sticks are difficult for me)
Setting up the trees is part of the fun now. I don't dread setting up a tree in the dark. I enjoy climbing trees with this system just for fun. I am not trying to convert people, though it may seem that way.
Sooooo, if I only hunted 15' off the ground all the time, YES...I would still use a rope because I like it and it is fun. Sticks and screw in steps and strap on steps are not fun for me.
If you have a system that you like no matter what it is, then by all means stick with it. I wasn't happy at all and was always looking for a better way.
justsomedude
Well-Known Member
No, I asked because you do some crazy high climbs which I don't need.
The rope lets you get places where sticks and climber stands can't go.
I have practiced short climbs in my yard enough to know that the climbing part wasn't an issue.
Just needed a good system for getting the rope up and I knew that at least for THIS season I wasn't going to be using a throw line in the dark.
And I was thinking I was going to have to carry 50' of rope so I could DRT.
Pre-Drilling trees for Tree Bolts is a good bit of work and there isn't really anything fun about it and after setting 3 of them, I am pretty tired.
And hand drilling a tree that you are hunting right then doesn't take very long, but it is fatiguing and you can work up a sweat.
Hiking around with a Throw Line and a bunch of paracord to preset trees sounds pretty attractive.
I love the idea of carrying a Rope and having trees already set up with paracord to pull up my rope.
Going to have to order a throw line/bag and practice ....
The rope lets you get places where sticks and climber stands can't go.
I have practiced short climbs in my yard enough to know that the climbing part wasn't an issue.
Just needed a good system for getting the rope up and I knew that at least for THIS season I wasn't going to be using a throw line in the dark.
And I was thinking I was going to have to carry 50' of rope so I could DRT.
Pre-Drilling trees for Tree Bolts is a good bit of work and there isn't really anything fun about it and after setting 3 of them, I am pretty tired.
And hand drilling a tree that you are hunting right then doesn't take very long, but it is fatiguing and you can work up a sweat.
Hiking around with a Throw Line and a bunch of paracord to preset trees sounds pretty attractive.
I love the idea of carrying a Rope and having trees already set up with paracord to pull up my rope.
Going to have to order a throw line/bag and practice ....
WD- You hit on a key point. This method looks fun! So fun that I splurged on the equipment today. Hopefully it all comes next week. I had some amazon points and gift cards so it didn't hurt that much :lol: You can be my new best friend for a while.... 
I also love the idea of having a bunch of trees pre-set with paracord and just bringing the rope to get up. Hunting on the fly, at least in the afternoon, doesn't look so bad either. Although I can see myself struggling with my aim to get the bag over the branch lol. Also if you are in a tree, especially during the rut, and need to be in a tree 20 yards away you can move quick and quiet.
And it doesn't matter if you want to hunt 15' or 30', this works for both.
The only limitation I see is that you need to have a branch to throw your line over. Is that true?
I also love the idea of having a bunch of trees pre-set with paracord and just bringing the rope to get up. Hunting on the fly, at least in the afternoon, doesn't look so bad either. Although I can see myself struggling with my aim to get the bag over the branch lol. Also if you are in a tree, especially during the rut, and need to be in a tree 20 yards away you can move quick and quiet.
And it doesn't matter if you want to hunt 15' or 30', this works for both.
The only limitation I see is that you need to have a branch to throw your line over. Is that true?
Whispers Death
Well-Known Member
JSD,
When you are finished hunting each stand this season, put cord up in that tree and you have a future hunting location ready to go. I only hunted real high once.
I killed a few does with a Martin longbow. I also have a Rivers Edge Retro recurve. Haven't taken anything with it. I have not used my longbow or recurve from my saddle. Would be nice not to lug my boat anchor of a hoyt trykon out with me. That would save a lot of weight right there.
Fox Squirrel,
Yes....or have some other means to get up there and put a bolt in or a screw in tree step. I have several tulip poplars with a single tree step about 25' up. That is my limb. One tree was in a spot I felt I just needed to hunt. I carried dad's climber back in there and climbed up and put a step in. I draped paracord over it and was ready from then on. There is very little pressure on it. It just basically keeps your rope from sliding down the tree.
Helpful Hint for throwing bags. You can pull one back over a limb, but don't try to pull one back through a crotch if you make a bad throw. It will jam in there like a tick. Just get to the bag and pull the line the rest of the way through. Some of these things sound really simple, but boy, when you can't get your bag out of the tree and your 75 year old Dad is standing there snickering, it can be annoying.
What all did you buy?
When you are finished hunting each stand this season, put cord up in that tree and you have a future hunting location ready to go. I only hunted real high once.
I killed a few does with a Martin longbow. I also have a Rivers Edge Retro recurve. Haven't taken anything with it. I have not used my longbow or recurve from my saddle. Would be nice not to lug my boat anchor of a hoyt trykon out with me. That would save a lot of weight right there.
Fox Squirrel,
Yes....or have some other means to get up there and put a bolt in or a screw in tree step. I have several tulip poplars with a single tree step about 25' up. That is my limb. One tree was in a spot I felt I just needed to hunt. I carried dad's climber back in there and climbed up and put a step in. I draped paracord over it and was ready from then on. There is very little pressure on it. It just basically keeps your rope from sliding down the tree.
Helpful Hint for throwing bags. You can pull one back over a limb, but don't try to pull one back through a crotch if you make a bad throw. It will jam in there like a tick. Just get to the bag and pull the line the rest of the way through. Some of these things sound really simple, but boy, when you can't get your bag out of the tree and your 75 year old Dad is standing there snickering, it can be annoying.
What all did you buy?
justsomedude
Well-Known Member
WD,
I was going to ask you about Throw Bags.
10oz thrown by hand is good?
That was something that slowed me down when researching this.
I started reading about people carrying multiple throw bags, slingshots....people talking about shooting Flu Flu arrows with throw lines attached....
I was going to ask you about Throw Bags.
10oz thrown by hand is good?
That was something that slowed me down when researching this.
I started reading about people carrying multiple throw bags, slingshots....people talking about shooting Flu Flu arrows with throw lines attached....
I knew you would have a good answer! Tha'ts an easy solution for trees set up in the offseason, I can just use my sticks to get the step up there.Whispers Death said:
Haha! Thanks for the laugh!Whispers Death said:
I ended up going pretty much with everything you suggested. I also based it off the "Petzl advanced rad kit" here: http://www.treestuff.com/store/catalog.asp?item=441#detail
Petzl pro ascension
petzl pro descender
oval carabiner
william carabiner
delta screw lock
throw bag
45' kermantle 7/16" static line
12 oz throw bag.
I went with the petzl pro fixe pully instead of the micro pulley you posted. I was able to get every piece of hardware in black.
Whispers Death
Well-Known Member
Still need a foot loop or are you making one? I like the strap ones. They stay on your feet better and don't roll like a rope.
If you have a good slick throw line.....10 oz bags are good. If you have a little toothier heavy throw line, a 12 or 14 is better.
If you have a good slick throw line.....10 oz bags are good. If you have a little toothier heavy throw line, a 12 or 14 is better.
Maybe I'm complicating things but since many of us already have a bow on hand, has anyone tried using an arrow with rope attached to get the throw line up?
I was looking into this type of climbing when I got my aero. At the time I judged it too difficult and expensive, but I would love to give it a try down the road. Thanks everyone for sharing their system...it helps.
I was looking into this type of climbing when I got my aero. At the time I judged it too difficult and expensive, but I would love to give it a try down the road. Thanks everyone for sharing their system...it helps.
I have plenty of webbing so I'm just gonna make my own foot loop for now. I went with a 12 oz bag. Do I need special throw line or can I get away with paracord anything else?
Whispers Death
Well-Known Member
Also, I weave the strap from the foot loop trough the bottom of the handle of the ascension....no carabiner to rattle around. Then it's easy to wrap the foot strap around the ascender, clip your carabiner/pulley to it and stuff it in your pack all tidy.
You will need throw line. Paracord is to heavy and won't slide good=nightmare.
You will need throw line. Paracord is to heavy and won't slide good=nightmare.
Great, thanks! Picked up some throw rope.