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Climbing rope for tree access

The rope doesn't interfere, it just hangs through your legs.

Here is a pic of the petzl rig. The carabiner goes through the hole on the bottom and then hooks on to your bridge.
petzl_rig-d21.jpg
 
boone0 said:
Ok... in doing some research on this I see that most people using SRT are using a longer line which goes up to the limb/crotch then back down to the trunk, where it is anchored (IE a basal anchor). Is anyone here doing this?

Most people seem to be arborists using SRT to access the tree, and they need to be able to be lowered by someone else in case of an emergency, which is understandable.

Also, is there anything wrong with the Advanced RADS kit by Petzl which is sold for around 280-300, for our purposes? Like this: http://www.treestuff.com/store/catalog.asp?item=441

Just wondering. I think I will be doing something like this in the off season.
Click to expand...

I almost bough that kit, but then I ended up buying all the pieces individually. I got them for within 10 bucks of the cost of the kit. I bought them individually because I was able to get them all in black that way. I ended up liking my homemade foot strap better than the petzl footpro also.
 
Whispers Death said:
Srud very clearly explains exactly how I do it except my hunting bridge is short enough to rappel without re-adjusting. about 18" on each side.
Click to expand...

I also descend without re-adjusting, my bridge is 12" on each side. You can easily reach the rig while you are descending with it at this height.
 
WD- I have a couple of questions:

1. Have you ever tried climbing with 2 foot loops? Would this make it easier and similar to climbing with a climber?
2. Do you hunt trees with lots of branches? I've had a couple trees I tried to setup that had a lot of branches all the way down to the base, and it was hard to get the rope past all of them to secure around the trunk.
3. Have you ever just hooked up to a single large branch rather than going around the trunk?
4. You said you use 30-35' of rope. Lets say you are using 30 to make the math easy. Now you throw your line up over a branch that is 30 foot high. You now aren't able to reach both ends of your climbing rope to slide it through the delta link. How are you dealing with this? I just put my throwline through the delta link as that left the ground. The first time I did this I attached it close to the end of the tag end and it kinda got hung up going through the delta link. The next time I attached it further up (maybe a foot) and it pulled through easier. Does this sound good or do you have any tricks? I'm using a 45' cutoff I got on ebay right now but if I could feel comfortable going down to 30' of rope that would save some bulk.

Thanks bro!
 
1. Yes....not hard to do. Takes twice as long....coming down sucked. Really tough on rough trees. Some guys swear by it. I'm not saying RADS is better, but it is.
2. Yes....I throw from one side, then the other.
3. 6" or better in diameter and live leaves on the limb are my guidelines.
4. You use the paracord tied to the rapide to help maneuver the line through the hole. This also might help.
[youtube]OUIhGrb2MFg[/youtube]

Sometimes things don't go well. Saturday at lunch, I had an old guy stop by camp and showed me a spot on a map that he wanted to "pass on" because he can't walk good enough to get there anymore. I charged off with my backpack, a piece of rope, my harness and bow. I found the spot and took a long time deciding where I wanted to set up. I finally picked a tulip poplar and the first limb I figured was 35 feet. I had to throw about 5 times to hit the limb. Got it. Problem was I guess it was more like 42' I didn't have enough rope. Wasted a lot of time. Ended up 25' up a beech tree that was better anyway. Saw 6 deer out of it this this morning....nothing big enough to arrow.
 
1. Yes....not hard to do. Takes twice as long....coming down sucked. Really tough on rough trees. Some guys swear by it. I'm not saying RADS is better, but it is.
Unless I'm confused, sorry I don't think I explained myself. Instead of just using one footloop going up, have you tried using 2 so that you stand up with both feet? Everything else in the RADS system would stay the same. I thought using 2 feet to stand might make it easier.
2. Yes....I throw from one side, then the other.
What about when you have a tree with like 12 branches? Do you try to avoid trees like that? The one tree I tried like that I ended up putting myself in a worse situation when I didn't get it over the correct branch on the second throw...
3. 6" or better in diameter and live leaves on the limb are my guidelines.
Thank you.
4. You use the paracord tied to the rapide to help maneuver the line through the hole. This also might help.
That was very helpful, thanks!

Sometimes things don't go well. Saturday at lunch, I had an old guy stop by camp and showed me a spot on a map that he wanted to "pass on" because he can't walk good enough to get there anymore. I charged off with my backpack, a piece of rope, my harness and bow. I found the spot and took a long time deciding where I wanted to set up. I finally picked a tulip poplar and the first limb I figured was 35 feet. I had to throw about 5 times to hit the limb. Got it. Problem was I guess it was more like 42' I didn't have enough rope. Wasted a lot of time. Ended up 25' up a beech tree that was better anyway. Saw 6 deer out of it this this morning....nothing big enough to arrow.
Yes, I know that feeling. This method works GREAT, but like all over methods, nothing beats having a tree prepped already!
 
1. I think it is a lot easier to lift one leg and advance the ascender than to lift both. That sounds more like a frog technique with a two handed ascender and a Petzl Croll ascender on a chest strap. I like to use my right leg to control myself against the tree......but knock yourself out if you like it.

2. Yes it can get to be a mess. My best advice is throw two separate lines......then when you have two good throws, tie them together and pull your rope on around. I have two throw lines (they weigh hardly anything) and one throw bag.

Yes, it is nice to have trees prepped.......I have been known to take an hour just to pick out the right tree.
 
I have some webbing to make another foot strap so I'll try it out and see. Its easy to put on/take off anyway.

2 lines.. good idea!

An hour.. yes that happened to me too.. and I was so stubborn that I said I'm not giving up until I make this work lol.

Thanks for the info again! :cool:
 
Great thread! I just moved and now I only have public ground to hunt. I think this would be a great alternative to sticks and web or climbing stand. I like the idea of preset trees with paracord too. Has anyone used the RADS system with a guidos web? Or does anybody have a reason it wouldn't work with a web?
Thanks
 
I used the web a couple times. It works with RADS fine but I could not get as long of a stroke on each pull because you just can't shorten the bridge enough. The yokes come way out on a web and even with a 6" bridge, it is long. I could only get about 10"-12" on each stroke. Still only takes a few more minutes to get to the top. Now then.......if you are a tall, long-armed gorilla, it wouldn't matter nearly as much. I have a short reach.
 
Thanks for the reply, I'm 6,2 160 lbs so I have a decent reach. Looking forward to that video!
 
Whispers Death said:
Now then.......if you are a tall, long-armed gorilla, it wouldn't matter nearly as much. I have a short reach.
Click to expand...

If you were a tall, long-armed gorilla, I don't think you would need to use the RADS system. :lol: :lol: :lol:
 
I am currently searching for a videographer to help with the video. I asked my wife and she said she would.....but then she started making fun of me again. She said, "Can I say stuff?" I said, "Like what.....what would you need to say during this video? She said, "Oh, stuff like: Shhhhhh.....It's a shooter or Man.....It doesn't get any better than this...I don't know what to say....I just don't know what to say." Yeah I don't think she is gonna work out.
 
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Whispers Death said:
I am currently searching for a videographer to help with the video. I asked my wife and she said she would.....but then she started making fun of me again. She said, "Can I say stuff?" I said, "Like what.....what would you need to say during this video? She said, "Oh, stuff like: Shhhhhh.....It's a shooter or Man.....It doesn't get any better than this...I don't know what to say....I just don't know what to say." Yeah I don't think she is gonna work out.
Click to expand...

LOL. :lol: Let her do it. I'm betting it'll be hilarious (and educational, of course).
 
Looking forward to the video as well.
I was also curious as to how well this method works with the web. I am 6'4" with some gorilla arms so hopefully I can make it work. I think I may switch over to rope next year.
 
Well after climbing up on sticks again... I have decided that rope is going to be the way to go for next season. Now to save up for the RADS...
 
Does anyone have an online source for the petzl RADS system? I can only find documentation for the individual parts. I'm looking for general setup instructions.
 
Yes, it does. But I was looking for a setup guide for the system. Doesn't matter, I think I get it from the picture. Thank you!
 
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