I am sitting here at 4:00 am playing with some goodies that came in from Wespur the other day. I got a few Petzl Ring Open-(thanks for the idea Ernie), 35’ of Predator, SMC micro pulley, 28” sewn eye prusik, TriTech 10’-custom flip line with both ends with a tight eye and thimbles. All to use with the tree squeeze and WE Stepps and perhaps some kiwi spurs.
I am putting together a system where you cannot fall, you may slip a foot or so before the tree squeeze or main tether grabs you but your not going to bounce. The main danger for us is during the climb and transitioning over from the lineman belt to the tether. So basically I am looking to be truly tied in from the ground all the way to my perch.
I love the idea of the Ropeman on my lanyard, the one hand adjustment is awesome, it is a vast improvement over the blake hitch for adjustment. However, it leaves a question in my mind with only having 880 strength in it. So that being said, I scoured the web for a hitch that would be one handed. I first looked towards the VT but quickly decided that with the nickname it has i.e. “suicide knot” and and what I read, on how it can finicky. Definitely not the knot for me.
I am quickly settling in on the Distel hitch with a micro pulley. It grabs every time and with a micro pulley it becomes one handed like a mechanical ropeman. Call me silly, and it may add a little weight over just the ropeman but for my piece of mind .....
One of the drawback on using a hitch is tree sap. The hitches can become gummed up. Whereas with most of the mechanical adjusters the sap from I have learned will not affect them. However, that is why they make soap. Another drawback is the added weight, but I will take that for safety. Then finally the biggest drawback I see is it takes a little more time to set up. Also, this system probably will not be user friendly for someone using sticks.
I am putting together a system where you cannot fall, you may slip a foot or so before the tree squeeze or main tether grabs you but your not going to bounce. The main danger for us is during the climb and transitioning over from the lineman belt to the tether. So basically I am looking to be truly tied in from the ground all the way to my perch.
I love the idea of the Ropeman on my lanyard, the one hand adjustment is awesome, it is a vast improvement over the blake hitch for adjustment. However, it leaves a question in my mind with only having 880 strength in it. So that being said, I scoured the web for a hitch that would be one handed. I first looked towards the VT but quickly decided that with the nickname it has i.e. “suicide knot” and and what I read, on how it can finicky. Definitely not the knot for me.
I am quickly settling in on the Distel hitch with a micro pulley. It grabs every time and with a micro pulley it becomes one handed like a mechanical ropeman. Call me silly, and it may add a little weight over just the ropeman but for my piece of mind .....
One of the drawback on using a hitch is tree sap. The hitches can become gummed up. Whereas with most of the mechanical adjusters the sap from I have learned will not affect them. However, that is why they make soap. Another drawback is the added weight, but I will take that for safety. Then finally the biggest drawback I see is it takes a little more time to set up. Also, this system probably will not be user friendly for someone using sticks.
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