PSA: How I fell from 30ft and still celebrated the 4th!

[denots]

Also, the ropeman wasn't rated when that article was put our 8 years ago. The design has changed. The latest ropemans are rated at 15 kN for the spec rope diameter range (10-13mm).

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Sorry I wasn't aware of changes. Apologies if I shared bad information.

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[BassBoysLLP]

Sorry I wasn't aware of changes. Apologies if I shared bad information.

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I don't mind. I'm just like everyone else. I make a ton of mistakes too. Some of my post above is opinion. Some is fact. Always strive to keep the facts straight here. Sometimes we miss the mark. I would rather have your comments than none at all. It keeps us safe. We all want safety.

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[bigjoe]

I think all should read this from tree stuff. The ropeman ascender is to be used in conjunction with a friction hitch.



http://www.treestuff.com/store/catalog.asp?item=1971


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[brydan]

I think all should read this from tree stuff. The ropeman ascender is to be used in conjunction with a friction hitch

The "friction hitch" they're referring to in the copy is different than what y'all are discussing. Some Arborists use the Rope Man as a bridge adjuster to make it longer or shorter on the fly. The friction hitch is their primary support. The reason for this set up is during the course of working a tree, sometimes you want the hitch arms length away so you can get a full pull on the rope. Other times you want the hitch down closer to the saddle.

As the article states, it's not to be used as primary support. There's several reasons for that, one of them is illustrated in the OP

 

[donnieballgame]

I tend to agree that we go way overboard on the single ropeman, but it is a single point of failure. I've got some dynamic rope I might mess around with as a tether to see how it feels. I think the issue is really for the folks that are XOP hand climbing because they have the potential to build up a little slack which could lead to a larger fall and therefore more kN's on the system. Normal tether use after climbing with a lineman belt isn't really an issue in my mind.

I do think it's a good idea to never have a single point of failure, and I'm going to upgrade my line that connects my XOP hand climber to my harness, I've been using an old strap, I think I'll upgrade to some accessory cord or a spliced Amstel loop, not sure because I like to pull up on it with my hand.

Here's Petzl's take on a single rope, which is the closest thing I can find to what I do when I climb with my XOP hand climber.

https://www.petzl.com/INT/en/Sport/...o-ascenders?ActivityName=Multi-pitch-climbing

Curious what other folks think. I've got a few ideas, but I need to play around a bit before I post anything and look like an idiot, lol.

 

[bongo]

I tend to agree that we go way overboard on the single ropeman, but it is a single point of failure. I've got some dynamic rope I might mess around with as a tether to see how it feels. I think the issue is really for the folks that are XOP hand climbing because they have the potential to build up a little slack which could lead to a larger fall and therefore more kN's on the system. Normal tether use after climbing with a lineman belt isn't really an issue in my mind.

I do think it's a good idea to never have a single point of failure, and I'm going to upgrade my line that connects my XOP hand climber to my harness, I've been using an old strap, I think I'll upgrade to some accessory cord or a spliced Amstel loop, not sure because I like to pull up on it with my hand.

Here's Petzl's take on a single rope, which is the closest thing I can find to what I do when I climb with my XOP hand climber.

https://www.petzl.com/INT/en/Sport/...o-ascenders?ActivityName=Multi-pitch-climbing

Curious what other folks think. I've got a few ideas, but I need to play around a bit before I post anything and look like an idiot, lol.

I agree it’s a single point failure. But if you tie off the end to your biner like @Bassboys was saying you will only go to end of tether.
I think it’s very unlikely I’ll ever part the tether or slide off the end with a stopper knot tied in. But I do know I’m taking that chance hence the life jacket. Boat company’s and the Coast Guard all tell you to wear them. Is it safer yes. No facts here just my opinion.
It’s kida like a Sitdrag with leg straps.

 

[donnieballgame]

I agree it’s a single point failure. But if you tie off the end to your biner like @Bassboys was saying you will only go to end of tether.
I think it’s very unlikely I’ll ever part the tether or slide off the end with a stopper knot tied in. But I do know I’m taking that chance hence the life jacket. Boat company’s and the Coast Guard all tell you to wear them. Is it safer yes. No facts here just my opinion.
It’s kida like a Sitdrag with leg straps.

I'm with ya their @bongo, I tie in my tether at the bottom anyway, this year, I'm gonna splice a small eye for the end and a big one for the tree/girth hitch, but I think the issue is if the ropeman cuts the rope(which I still think is pretty far-fetched), the knot will be below that cut, so your redundant system isn't really redundant at that point. Maybe I'll just wear a parachute at all times just in case.

 

[bongo]

I'm with ya their @bongo, I tie in my tether at the bottom anyway, this year, I'm gonna splice a small eye for the end and a big one for the tree/girth hitch, but I think the issue is if the ropeman cuts the rope(which I still think is pretty far-fetched), the knot will be below that cut, so your redundant system isn't really redundant at that point. Maybe I'll just wear a parachute at all times just in case.

I’m with you also on both points. I need a little longer tether spliced at both ends. And I will clip in. I like my leg straps. I also like the 8mm tether.
But backup friction knot probably not.
But after all this writing I might try one just to say I did.

 

[donnieballgame]

I’m with you also on both points. I need a little longer tether spliced at both ends. And I will clip in. I like my leg straps. I also like the 8mm tether.

I like the idea of an 8mm tether, but I think I'd have to switch to a ropeman 2.

 

[bongo]

I like the idea of an 8mm tether, but I think I'd have to switch to a ropeman 2.

Yep that or the Duck. I’m afraid the ropeman2 would stick with a little weight. The Duck if you jerk it frees up pretty easy.
I haven’t used the ropeman2 but think it has teeth and would stick.
If you want to try the 8mm I’ve got 3 more lengths I took off my leverage sticks. They are a little short but smaller trees it works great. I can send you a piece when I get home if you remind me. You could use a friction knot to try it out.

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[denots]

Yep that or the Duck. I’m afraid the ropeman2 would stick with a little weight. The Duck if you jerk it frees up pretty easy.
I haven’t used the ropeman2 but think it has teeth and would stick.
If you want to try the 8mm I’ve got 3 more lengths I took off my leverage sticks. They are a little short but smaller trees it works great. I can send you a piece when I get home if you remind me. You could use a friction knot to try it out.

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I use the ropeman 2 on the rope that came with the kestrel. I went with the 2 because I figured that I would eventually go to a smaller rope to reduce bulk/weight. It catches some but not to bad. It's a little worse on the linemans belt. I saw someone at saddlepalooza use 5.5 mil cord with a ropeman 1 and it still worked just fine. I know that's not what it's rated for, but it worked, and he definitely didn't look concerned that it wouldn't. I won't say his name just in case, but I know for a fact he has a lot more time in a tree than I do.

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[bongo]

I use the ropeman 2 on the rope that came with the kestrel. I went with the 2 because I figured that I would eventually go to a smaller rope to reduce bulk/weight. It catches some but not to bad. It's a little worse on the linemans belt. I saw someone at saddlepalooza use 5.5 mil cord with a ropeman 1 and it still worked just fine. I know that's not what it's rated for, but it worked, and he definitely didn't look concerned that it wouldn't. I won't say his name just in case, but I know for a fact he has a lot more time in a tree than I do.

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Well I think I showed you the lineman’s belt I have while there. It’s 9mm and for lineman’s belt it works fine but I tried it as tether and I put all my weight on it it jammed up the ropeman1. Had a pretty hard time getting it out. I’ve got 2 ropeman1’s and the Duck. It didn’t slip but jammed it where you couldn’t slide it. That rope was stiff clam rope I used on my clam farm not rated but I’m going to try and splice some when I get home and try it with the Duck. It worked real good for a flip line with spurs.


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[Wirrex]

I honestly can't see myself doing any of these back up measures on my ropemans. Tag to the biner is fine but if I need to double up, I should reconsider my equipment choice. Does anyone double up a prussic with a prussic?


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I understand what you are saying but I did use two, one on my sitdrag and one on my climbing harness. Just loosen up the lower one on my harness when I’m situated. I will feel weird in the mantis with only one Prussick.

Are people using the hollow blocks as their only connection? I just got some in the mail and see that they are not listed for that use.

 

[BassBoysLLP]

I understand what you are saying but I did use two, one on my sitdrag and one on my climbing harness. Just loosen up the lower one on my harness when I’m situated. I will feel weird in the mantis with only one Prussick.

Are people using the hollow blocks as their only connection? I just got some in the mail and see that they are not listed for that use.

I have zero friction hitches in my setup. No prussics, Blake’s hitches, etc. I have a ropeman on my tether. A ropeman on my lineman’s belt. And if I need it, a ropeman for my adjustable bridge.

I did go through a phase in my saddle hunting career shortly after having children where I wanted redundancy everywhere. Redundancy in the bridge, tether, etc. Every point of potential failure had redundancy. Eventually, I re-evaluated all my movements in the tree and accepted the very small risk of static failure and eliminated the redundancy. It was a journey but I’m happy in the end.


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[denots]

Curious what other folks think. I've got a few ideas, but I need to play around a bit before I post anything and look like an idiot, lol.

Don't worry Donnie I think I already took care of this. I guess it's a good thing I'm used to it.

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