Self rescue pouch

[fwafwow]

The post by @tracker12 about rescue knives got me thinking about the broader question of what else you carry up the tree to self rescue or for other emergencies. I carry at least a tourniquet wherever I go, but please let me know what you think is good to have - an extra eye-to-eye, extra tether and/or rope or cord, and extra carabiner(s)? If it matters, I’m currently on the JRB path. Thanks!

 

[Weldabeast]

I have a little pouch attached to my saddle with a grapple hook, tiny little flashlight, whistle, and 2 loops of webbing I can use for temporary footholds .....those items and a tether and linesman I think I can get myself out of good majority of sticky situations

 

[Abishai]

I keep a pouch in my hunting bag (not saddle related). It has a lighter, flint/steel, TQ, battery pack, extra phone cord, compass, Sawyer filter, and mylar blanket. I figure I can at least stay alive for a few extra days if needed with these few things.

 

[GeoFish]

Amsteel daisy (2tc down) also,, backup gear strap. Bridge, tether or linesman.
Extra carabiner and Beal Jammy.

 

[MNFarmHunter]

This is why I have pouches on my saddle. I can forget or drop everything at height but I always have my tether and linemans belt (2TC) with me so I can always climb and always descend.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[tracker12]

I carry a daisy chain, carabiner and one step aider that I can use to get down. Pretty much use it like 2TC.

I do like the idea of having a whistle and plan to add that to my pack. Good suggestion.

 

[Still Kicking]

I carry a small first aid kit containing a roll of kerlex, small roll of tape, six 4x4 inch sterile dressings, and 2 trauma dressings, one triangle bandage with extra safety pins; 4 small flashlights, 3 knives, whistle, waterproof match tube with light in the rain matches, 30 foot of 7mm escape rope, spare caribiners, small figure 8, 4 extra prusik cords, 3 ten to 15 foot lengths of paracord. This all fits in a small shoulder pack with my kill kit and toilet paper/folding trowel. Sounds like a lot but it's small and lightweight and gives me peace of mind.

 

[LoadedLimbs]

The post by @tracker12 about rescue knives got me thinking about the broader question of what else you carry up the tree to self rescue or for other emergencies. I carry at least a tourniquet wherever I go, but please let me know what you think is good to have - an extra eye-to-eye, extra tether and/or rope or cord, and extra carabiner(s)? If it matters, I’m currently on the JRB path. Thanks!

@fwafwow - I carry several extra items for self rescue and/or “setup/descent problem solving” in one of the pouches on my saddle:

(2) 8’ dyneema versa-straps (or Amsteel daisy chains): They are so lightweight & compact I don’t even notice them, but super-versatile since you can use them to lengthen a strap for your platform or ROS on a large diameter tree and you can fashion a tether/footloop/lineman belt in a pinch if you carry a spare carabiner.

(1) Beal Jammy and (1) spare 6’ hank of hitch cord: Either of which can be used to replace a damaged friction hitch in a pinch

(1) spare ATC: In case I drop my primary one

(1) tether w/friction hitch & locking carabiner

Also note that I keep a few spare locking carabiners on the MOLLE loops on my saddle.

All of the above (and my rescue knife that’s on my saddle’s belt) are ON me when I’m in the saddle so they’re always accessible if I’m uninjured. Also on me at all times is my cell phone, which is tethered to me with shock cord so I can’t drop it to the ground. I keep it in a breast pocket of my shirt or jacket for easy access. If I had a personal locator beacon or a Garmin inreach (or similar satellite communication device), that would also be ON me and always accessible at all times.

I raise and lower my backpack separate from my climb - consequently the items in it are not always immediately accessible. In one of the OUTER pockets of my pack is an IFAK with bandages and sterile gauze and Quik Clot to stop the bleeding if I get a really bad cut. I also keep a can of bear spray on the waist belt of my backpack for an encounter with an over-curious or aggressive bear.

Hope this helps.

 

[Dmathews87]

I have a molle pouch on my saddle that has backup fig 8, spare biners, and a foot loop. A good knife is attached to molle loops on saddle. I have a small trauma kit in my pack (quick clot, tourniquet, gauze, etc) I also keep a spare tether in my pack.

 

[Weldabeast]

Uz guz learn the munter or super munter and uz don't need extra stuff to rappel if uz dropped primary device

 

[LoadedLimbs]

Uz guz learn the munter or super munter and uz don't need extra stuff to rappel if uz dropped primary device

Very true - but I always seem to introduce twist in my rope when I use the Munter, even using the rappelling technique that is supposed to prevent that. So I’ve been using an ATC instead - it’s just a personal preference of mine. If the Munter is working for you - great!

 

[Red Beard]

Uz guz learn the munter or super munter and uz don't need extra stuff to rappel if uz dropped primary device

Yeah I need a super-munter crash course.

 

[TheBlindCat]

My rappel rope pouch is clipped into my saddle at the beginning of the climb, I’m climbing with sticks and a lineman’s belt. And I’m rappelling with a Madrock Safeguard.

In the outer pocket of my rappel rope pouch (Orca water bottle pouch) is a SMC Escape 8 and Hollowblock in case I dropped my Safeguard and couldn’t retrieve it. The Escape 8 is meant for firefighters as part of a bailout kit, very small and light.

Escape 8

Originally designed as a personal escape device to be used by firefighters in bailout situations, this ultra-light and compact descender is now the personal choice of countless members of SAR and Ski Patrol teams, law enforcement and military around the globe. Its compact size and lightweight...

smcgear.com

On the back of my saddle is a Leatherman Signal in a Miles Tactical magnetic closure pouch so I always have a knife, saw, whistle, and fire starter.

On and in my bag are a CAT 7 tourniquet, NAR 4” compression dressing, combat gauze, chest seals x2, and thoracostomy needle. I also have the NAR Survival Wrap, which would be more useful than a small space blanket in Minnesota.

Emergency Survival Wrap

The North American Rescue Emergency Survival Wrap is the ideal solution for a small, lightweight survival wrap as it balances performance, durability and size. The wrap reflects radiant body heat and is constructed of a combination of mylar and a tear resistant polyethylene fabric material. The...

www.narescue.com

 

[thedutchtouch]

I keep stuff spread out on purpose so I have options and if something (like a whole pouch) gets dropped I've got another backup. On my right hip (saddle connected) I have a water bottle pouch that had my rappel rope and an extra descender and a length of accessory cord that could be used on an oh s#it situation as a tether etc. On my left hip saddle pouch I have a tether in it, and it's where my LB rides but that's typically around the tree if I'm climbing. Either could be used as a temporary tether/2TC. In my front pocket I have an amsteel daisy chain and my Leatherman is on my belt, second knife in pack, backup ATC in back.

My pull down cord is 7/64 amsteel, half because I had it, half because it can be life supporting if I need it to having exhausted all these other options.

Yes I carry too much crap, I'm in the newbie becoming not a newbie and paring down the redundancy and weight stage, and generally have relied on my back to carry it instead of my brain to decide I don't need it. The backup ATC for example, could be replaced with more comfort with the minter or super munter hitch. With time and experience will come those decisions.

More of a ramble than answering the question asked, likely not the first or last time I'll do that lol

 

[BTaylor]

Yeah I need a super-munter crash course.

Munter/Super Munter is too avoid crashes.

 

[MNFarmHunter]

On and in my bag are a CAT 7 tourniquet, NAR 4” compression dressing, combat gauze, chest seals x2, and thoracostomy needle. I also have the NAR Survival Wrap, which would be more useful than a small space blanket in Minnesota.

I'm similar though I carry a SOF-T Wide and an Israeli when in the woods along with plenty of band-aids. Off duty, I should carry something and am waiting for the ECT's to come back in stock. On duty, I carry a SOF-T Wide in my pocket and H&H Mini Compression bandage, compressed gauze and (2) chest seals on my ankle.

 

[fwafwow]

These are great responses - thanks everyone. I have quite a few questions, but I will try to answer some on my own and may come back with follow-ups. In the interim - @LoadedLimbs - is your cell phone tethered to you via the cord connected to some sort of phone case? Something like this (https://www.roguefishing.co/products/the-protector-phone-tether-3) or more of a DIY approach?

 

[elk yinzer]

Two biners, hollow block and prusik cord, two dyneema slings, and a ropeman. Also have another full tether/LB with ropeman. Multiple ways to get up or down from just about any pickle I can think of. I don't carry a knife handy no flipping way I'm cutting myself down.

 

[deerfly]

I do SRT so always have a foot loop system with me anyway. But you guys that stick climb and rappel you can tie an alpine butterfly with a loop big enough to put your foot in, stand on it to be able to unload and fix your rappel attachment, reload on rappel mechanism, untie the apline butterfly and continue down. No extra stuff needed.

 

[LoadedLimbs]

@fwafwow - You could go that route, but that particular coil is way too bulky and rigid for me, and if/when the silicone stretch-case ages/cracks/breaks, you’ll have to ante up $20 again.

A cheaper DIY option is to purchase about 9’ of 1/8” shock cord (aka bungee cord) and fashion your own for under $3.00.

I’ve made it a habit that whenever I place an order for anything at Eastern Woods Outdoors, I always add about 20’ of shock cord to the order because I always seem to find unplanned uses for it. DanO only charges 25 cents per foot for the stuff, so it’s really cheap and it works great for fashioning retention cords for your range finder, GPS, binos, game calls, cell phone, etc.

Here’s how I fashion it for my cell phone retention cord. The measurements apply to a large format iPhone, which is about 6.25” x 3.25” with the case I’m currently using. Of course you can fashion a similar rig for any size rectangular device, you’ll just have to experiment with it until you get the fit you want…