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Sterling ATS for rappel?

redsquirrel said:
Agree, not bad at all. Huck is a self proclaimed dinosaur so I want him to fully know what he's getting into lol.
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Lol@Red !!!!! If only it was just a self proclaimed observation. My friends have accused me of such once or twice.
 
g2outdoors said:
I am using this EXACT equipment/setup.

Rock Exotica Mini 8 Descender:
https://www.amazon.com/Rock-Exotica...478552786&sr=8-1&keywords=Rock+Exotica+Mini+8

Rock Exotica Carabiner:
https://www.amazon.com/Rock-Exotica...=1478552824&sr=8-2&keywords=rock+exotica+orca

Camp Delta Screw Link:
https://www.amazon.com/Camp-Oval-Qu...sim_468_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=AJ9V69DF3662DE169C67

Samson 8mm Ultratech (35 feet) with 1 spliced/sewn eye:
http://www.treestuff.com/store/catalog.asp?item=1675

Samson 1.75mm Zing it Throw Line (35 feet):
http://www.treestuff.com/store/catalog.asp?item=1693

Here are two videos on how to use the setup. Video 1 shows descending. Video 2 shows locking it off to retrieve your platform.

When you are ready to rappel down, run your Ultratech 35' rope around the tree through the Delta Screw Link. Attach your descender/carabiner to your rope and then to your Saddle. Attach your Zing it to the Delta Screw link and keep it separate from your rappel line. Rapell down far enough to remove your platform. Lock off your mini 8 decender. Remove your platform and continue your rappel down the tree. When you get to the bottom, pull the yellow Zing It line (that you attached to the Delta Screw Link) to retrieve your rope. It's actually pretty simple.


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g2outdoors said:
I am using this EXACT equipment/setup.


So i may be a dinosaur like huck lol. Let me if I got this right just having a visualization thing.

1) when running your rope around the tree you are running it through the eye splice and attaching the delta link in the eye as well?

2) zing it line is just to get your rope back?

It sounds simple but I want to make sure I understand this before buying it all and then attempting. I need to work my mobile setup for next year. I love my sticks but they suck to carry no matter how you hold, pack, or strap. I think spurs with a rappelling setup would be more efficient and optimal even if it requires a little more gear. Its still got to be lighter than lugging sticks!!!
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When you use a screwlink the rope goes through the screwlink instead of the eye. The screwlink is in the eye.

One advantage is that you can put the rope through the open screwlink instead of girth hitching a long rope.

Screwlink weighs more. Can be easier to retrieve though
 
justsomedude said:
When you use a screwlink the rope goes through the screwlink instead of the eye. The screwlink is in the eye.

One advantage is that you can put the rope through the open screwlink instead of girth hitching a long rope.

Screwlink weighs more. Can be easier to retrieve though
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Ok i see now but one more thing if you are putting the screwlink length through the eye and then the rope through the screwlink essentially you are stilling forming a girth hitch type setup??? Im new to this so I apologize for stupid questions!!
 
Yes! Generally not good practice to do this with a carabiner due to possible side loading.

I'm not using very long ropes and have opted to just rig it like a long tether
 
Eye of rope attaches to screw link. Rope goes around tree back through screw link. Girth hitching through the link instead of the eye of the rope makes retrieval work.

Length of zing it attaches directly to screw link and is only used to retrieve your climbing rope. It plays no part in the rappel. Once you hit the ground, pull on the zing it and the screw link will fall down.
 
I generally tie my throw line of to the rope itself with a clove hitch and two half hitches. It helps keep the rope from twisting up while it's getting pulled up into the tree from the ground.
 
An interesting feature of the Sterling ATS....

You need a round carabiner. A Petal Attache is a PERFECT fit. Zero rattling and it keeps the carabiner in position (no cross loading).
What's cooler though is that you don't detach the ATS to attach rope. You just pull a bight of rope through and clip it into the carabiner which is already on the ATS and the ATS is already on your harness. You won't drop the ATS or your biner.

It won't fit my Petzl William or some of my smaller locking carabiners (not round) but the better function is a plus.
 
g2outdoors said:
Eye of rope attaches to screw link. Rope goes around tree back through screw link. Girth hitching through the link instead of the eye of the rope makes retrieval work.

Length of zing it attaches directly to screw link and is only used to retrieve your climbing rope. It plays no part in the rappel. Once you hit the ground, pull on the zing it and the screw link will fall down.
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What size screwlink would work best for 11mm rope? The mm sizes I see refer to the thickness of the link not the width of inside the link. Thanks.
 
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justsomedude said:
Descender: ATC, ATS, Figure 8, Petzl Pirana....And extra biner

Long tether. Stopper knot in the bottom!

Rope Retrieval: bow rope tied to tether loop

Practice switching from hunting Ropeman/Prusik to descender
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Lol, Pro Tip,. put that stopper knot about 3' off the ground. If you ever need it, its not gonna do you a bit of good at ground level.
 
LooyvilleLarry said:
Lol, Pro Tip,. put that stopper knot about 3' off the ground. If you ever need it, its not gonna do you a bit of good at ground level.
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That assumes you know how high you are or will be :)

I just don't want to fall of the end if I am too high.
A free rappel fall while very unsettling isn't too bad from 20'
 
justsomedude said:
That assumes you know how high you are or will be :)
I just don't want to fall of the end if I am too high.
A free rappel fall while very unsettling isn't too bad from 20'
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Putting the knot a few feet from the end is a good idea but I have a different reason for it and I guess I'm the same way, I always viewed the stopper knot as a failsafe to keep from rolling off the end of the rope as opposed to keep from hitting the ground. In my work though it would be impractical, the groundie would have to stand at the end of the rope retying it all day to keep it in the right spot :blush:. It sounds like it would be a good idea though in cases where it's known where to tie the knot to prevent a hard crash.

The reasoning I used for putting it off the end is because if it actually jammed, it's better than falling but could still be a real PITA to get unstuck depending on the situation. With a tail below the stopper, you can footlock the tail to get your weight off the device. If the rope needed to be slack too, a prusik could be tied above to take your weight, let off with your feet and now both your weight is off the device and the rope is slack to be able to unjam everything.
 
I had an issue with a knot the first time I rappelled. My rope got stuck and wouldn't come down. Then the screw link got hung up on the stopper knot. I had to put the spurs back on and climb halfway back up the tree. I wasn't happy.
 
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