Continuous Amsteel loop as second bridge?

[Jrain904]

I’m trying to utilize a second bridge and tether for piece of mind. I want to utilize my linesman belt and my linesman loops for this. I also wish to avoid having to install a permanent bridge to my linesman’s loops. I came up with this idea of using a 36” long continuous loop of Amsteel. Please see picture. Yellow are my linesman’s loops, purple would be continuous loop, green would be carabiner, orange prusik, red tether. Would this be adequate?

 

[raisins]

if you fall, then that style is gonna squeeze your hips together like no other

 

[Jrain904]

if you fall, then that style is gonna squeeze your hips together like no other

The way I imagine using this my main tether would be supporting my weight and this one would be below it and slightly taught as to not get in the way. If my main tether broke I figure the “fall” would be no more than 6” until my full weight was on the continuous loop back up tether. I think the hip pinch would probably be uncomfortable but not dangerous, but I don’t know.

Any better ideas?

 

[Jrain904]

I also experimented with girth hitching my linesman’s belt around the tree and clipping the prusik knot back to one of the linesman’s loops and leaving the line slightly loose. This would keep me from falling to the ground but I’d still fall several feet and slam sideways into the tree, platform, or stick.

 

[raisins]

The way I imagine using this my main tether would be supporting my weight and this one would be below it and slightly taught as to not get in the way. If my main tether broke I figure the “fall” would be no more than 6” until my full weight was on the continuous loop back up tether. I think the hip pinch would probably be uncomfortable but not dangerous, but I don’t know.

Any better ideas?

it's the loop of the amsteel going through like that.....i would try it at ground level and see if you can self rescue like that

if you have a rated belt on your saddle, then i would just connect to it

another option is keep you lineman's on the lineman's loops but shorten it to be the size of a bridge, then use a second tether and clip off to that lineman's lanyard not acting as a backup bridge

 

[NimbleTimbo]

Any better ideas?
[/QUOTE]

Quick Draw Backup/Rappel Saddle Bridge

Comes in 1/4 AmSteel®-Blue. Total length of 2' and have a 4” fixed eye on one side, and a 2” fixed eye on the other. 1/4 AmSteel MBS: 7700 LB

hangfree.co

 

[Spartan]

Know your gear.
Check your gear.
Trust your gear.
Climb.

If you feel you need a second bridge and a second tether, then you are missing too many of those elements to climb a tree. It's akin to feeling that you have to wear two independent seat belts while driving. In that case, the answer would be to not drive the car at all.

My recommendation: Spend lots of time researching your gear to understand why it does what it does, how it's made, and why it is used. Next, spend lots of time practicing with the gear at safe heights to get comfortable with it. Stop often to check that the gear is configured how you expect it to be configured and that things are working properly. Next, begin to climb higher while repeating all of the above. Develop a relationship with your gear and you will trust it.

 

[Brocky]

The carabiner would be tri loaded if set up up like the picture.

 

[raisins]

Know your gear.
Check your gear.
Trust your gear.
Climb.

If you feel you need a second bridge and a second tether, then you are missing too many of those elements to climb a tree. It's akin to feeling that you have to wear two independent seat belts while driving. In that case, the answer would be to not drive the car at all.

My recommendation: Spend lots of time researching your gear to understand why it does what it does, how it's made, and why it is used. Next, spend lots of time practicing with the gear at safe heights to get comfortable with it. Stop often to check that the gear is configured how you expect it to be configured and that things are working properly. Next, begin to climb higher while repeating all of the above. Develop a relationship with your gear and you will trust it.

I've been climbing trees and hunting for over 30 years, and saddle hunting exclusively for 3 years.

I like hooking up a redundant system at height and climbing with tether and lineman's. It has nothing to do with not knowing my gear. If he wants help to set up a redundant system, then we can help him.

Risk assessment is a personal thing and rightfully done by the person pondering life decisions.

 

[bfriendly]

I've been climbing trees and hunting for over 30 years, and saddle hunting exclusively for 3 years.

I like hooking up a redundant system at height and climbing with tether and lineman's. It has nothing to do with not knowing my gear. If he wants help to set up a redundant system, then we can help him.

Risk assessment is a personal thing and rightfully done by the person pondering life decisions.

Newbie here but this^^^^^ no doubt. I use a ropeman on main bridge, but I have a second bridge on my lineman’s loops that I’ll rappell down on. It’s connected below my ropeman via carabiner and prussik. I used to have my secondary connection on 1 lineman’s loop, but tried hanging like that in even of failure and it’s a no go! I 100% trust my main bridge and gear even though I’m somewhat out of spec with my ropeman. Anywho if it does fail, I’ll be centered and I like that much better than hanging on my side.

id connect my secondary bridge separate from main and lock it in place.I’d be afraid the loop style may slide and put you on your side.

 

[Bigterp]

I also experimented with girth hitching my linesman’s belt around the tree and clipping the prusik knot back to one of the linesman’s loops and leaving the line slightly loose. This would keep me from falling to the ground but I’d still fall several feet and slam sideways into the tree, platform, or stick.

That or girth hitch that continuous loop to one side of your linesman belt and clip into the other. I think as drawn it creates more problems physically than it solves for you mentally. As mentioned before if it gives you some peace of mind by all means add some redundancy, I thought I needed a lot of that initially but have since just built trust in a safe repeatable system ( checking gear/ connections frequently)

 

[Jrain904]

Any better ideas?

Quick Draw Backup/Rappel Saddle Bridge

Comes in 1/4 AmSteel®-Blue. Total length of 2' and have a 4” fixed eye on one side, and a 2” fixed eye on the other. 1/4 AmSteel MBS: 7700 LB

hangfree.co

[/QUOTE]

im going to go with this. I can quickly take this on or off my linesman’s loops for any occasion I’d like a second bridge and tether or not. Thanks!

 

[cedar paul]

I tie an Alpine butterfly under my SRT device(Roperunner) and clip my carabiner through it in case the device were to fail I am still attached to my climbing line/tether.

 

[Burk]

That or girth hitch that continuous loop to one side of your linesman belt and clip into the other. I think as drawn it creates more problems physically than it solves for you mentally. As mentioned before if it gives you some peace of mind by all means add some redundancy, I thought I needed a lot of that initially but have since just built trust in a safe repeatable system ( checking gear/ connections frequently)

This is what I did. I wanted a shorter bridge for DRT climbing so I girth hitched a loop to one side and clipped it on with carabiner on the other.

 

[Fl Canopy Stalker]

I am so confused… I can understand the mental need for redundancy. That makes sense. But why am amsteel continuous loop in a squeeze configuration? Do you have a lineman’s rope? If so, girth hitch it to your bridge loops underneath your normal bridge or on top of it. From there either use the prusik and carabiner to clip it on the other bridge loop or just tie off the free end onto the other bridge loop.

 

[raisins]

I am so confused… I can understand the mental need for redundancy. That makes sense. But why am amsteel continuous loop in a squeeze configuration? Do you have a lineman’s rope? If so, girth hitch it to your bridge loops underneath your normal bridge or on top of it. From there either use the prusik and carabiner to clip it on the other bridge loop or just tie off the free end onto the other bridge loop.

If the saddle belt is rated, do you see any issue girth hitching a climbing sling loop to that belt and then clip that sling to a second tether on the tree?

I put the sling off to the side so it can't disconnect my Cobra buckle....it probably would slide to the side though and put me at an angle.

 

[Fl Canopy Stalker]

If the saddle belt is rated, do you see any issue girth hitching a climbing sling loop to that belt and then clip that sling to a second tether on the tree?

I put the sling off to the side so it can't disconnect my Cobra buckle....it probably would slide to the side though and put me at an angle.

The only issue I see from a fall like that is if you fell, that sling connect on your belt would put literally all the force directly onto your back and spleen area. From a strength standpoint it’s plenty strong. From a fall force stand point, I wouldn’t want that much force concentrated to one particular area. The more weight spread, the better. As you said though this is a back up safety connection so if it came into play, something horribly wrong has already occurred…. And ideally your primary connection has reduced a lot of force before failing

 

[raisins]

The only issue I see from a fall like that is if you fell, that sling connect on your belt would put literally all the force directly onto your back and spleen area. From a strength standpoint it’s plenty strong. From a fall force stand point, I wouldn’t want that much force concentrated to one particular area. The more weight spread, the better. As you said though this is a back up safety connection so if it came into play, something horribly wrong has already occurred…. And ideally your primary connection has reduced a lot of force before failing

Good call....I'll rethink some things now.

 

[n6dlh]

Know your gear.
Check your gear.
Trust your gear.
Climb.

If you feel you need a second bridge and a second tether, then you are missing too many of those elements to climb a tree. It's akin to feeling that you have to wear two independent seat belts while driving. In that case, the answer would be to not drive the car at all.

My recommendation: Spend lots of time researching your gear to understand why it does what it does, how it's made, and why it is used. Next, spend lots of time practicing with the gear at safe heights to get comfortable with it. Stop often to check that the gear is configured how you expect it to be configured and that things are working properly. Next, begin to climb higher while repeating all of the above. Develop a relationship with your gear and you will trust it.

I agree. When I first set out in this game I wanted redundant systems. You then realize that having more stuff to do while up in the tree increases the chance of messing something up. KISS standard for me.

 

[Ken Ruppel]

Years ago when I first started saddlehunting I added a metal d-loop to the belt of my saddle and put a prussic on the tail of my tether so I could clip to them together with a carabiner. Over time I just got to where I trusted my gear.