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Rope retrieval after rappel- prussic problem

J

Jokerswild

Active Member
Joined
Dec 11, 2019
Messages
163
Im still practicing! Working on my system. So I plan on using the rappel line as My tether for one sticking. Using an ATC and Autoblock to Rappel. This set up has less moving parts to fail...and less error factor with fewer switches and movement to different ropes.

How do most deal with the prussic up at hunting height when it comes time to get your rope down? Im assuming it can turn into a pain getting it through the loop or quick link. Slide it with? (slow) pre-feed it through(need slack), tug-n-shake?
 
This sounds complicated...Not trying to talk crap at all. just trying to understand. Whats the prussic for?

Ive found and i know they are hard find now is to just get a safegaurd.

I run that with my oplux repel line as my tether and its simple and three things if you include the line, the safegaurd and the carabiner

The pull down is simple with this just a bow pull up rope behind the scaffold knot and she drops or pulls through
 
Someone posted last week about sliding their Prusik down then adding the ATC. The Prusik becomes their autoblock knot and just stays on the rope and ends up on the ground with you. I thought it was pretty neat. They mentioned clipping onto a loop in the tether while adding the ATC, for safety during the switch.
 
I use my prusik as my auto block for rappelling. 10mm main line and 8mm accessory cord that is pretty good in terms of abrasion resistance for a prusik.

In your scenario, you need to take the prusik off of your main line prior to coming down if you're using different cordage as your auto block.

EDIT: If you are using some little dinky cordage as your prusik (like I've seen some guys use in pictures) you may not want to use it as your auto block like I do
 
You can't leave the prusik attached on you rappel line at hunting height and rappel down expecting to ever get you rappel line out of the tree, ain't happening. I'm not sure we fully follow your thought or question though. My safegaurd is less complicated than what you are talking about....by a long shot.
 
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bj139 said:
Someone posted last week about sliding their Prusik down then adding the ATC. The Prusik becomes their autoblock knot and just stays on the rope and ends up on the ground with you. I thought it was pretty neat. They mentioned clipping onto a loop in the tether while adding the ATC, for safety during the switch.
Click to expand...

That’s me. Insanely simple.


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I’ve tried to video myself transitioning and without some sort of GoPro I haven’t been able to!

Basically, once I decide to go down I clean all my stuff up and put it away. Set my linesman’s belt. Pull slack, tie an overhand knot in a bight, after I slide the friction hitch down and above the hitch. Then I clip that to my bridge. Unclip friction hitch. Slide further. I use a figure 8, put it in the system and clip my friction hitch to a Lineman’s loop. Unclip overhand knot and untie. Weight test the system and then remove lineman’s belt. And away we go. This takes me all of 30 second.

I do have to carry an extra carabiner for this method but it’s so easy.

Lately I’ve been using the lifeguard. (Yes I said LIFEGUARD) and I’ve really liked it a lot. But I rappelled this way for the last two years.


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Im opposed to the whole safeguard, ropeman, gri-gri thing. Just too many moving parts to fail. Too much chance of a panic fall. Too much chance of hitting a lever or release by accident. So Im looking at hunting from a prussic. Attaching an atc/auto-block, and rappeling down after unloading tension on the hunting prussic. Thus- its still up there in the way...

I hadnt thought of the tether prussic AS the Autoblock. Probabaly kind stiff? Also, wouldnt one be kinda in a bad situation while moving the prussic down...not clipped in???? Linemans Belt or backup tether i suppose?
 
Jokerswild said:
Im opposed to the whole safeguard, ropeman, gri-gri thing. Just too many moving parts to fail. Too much chance of a panic fall. Too much chance of hitting a lever or release by accident. So Im looking at hunting from a prussic. Attaching an atc/auto-block, and rappeling down after unloading tension on the hunting prussic. Thus- its still up there in the way...

I hadnt thought of the tether prussic AS the Autoblock. Probabaly kind stiff? Also, wouldnt one be kinda in a bad situation while moving the prussic down...not clipped in???? Linemans Belt or backup tether i suppose?
Click to expand...

Why not use it as your autoblock? That makes the system exponentially safer because you can stop the rappel without locking off.

And even if you didn’t wanna do it that way, the obvious answer is to just untie it and put it in your pocket and the retie it after you rappel.


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Last edited:
Jokerswild said:
Im opposed to the whole safeguard, ropeman, gri-gri thing. Just too many moving parts to fail. Too much chance of a panic fall. Too much chance of hitting a lever or release by accident. So Im looking at hunting from a prussic. Attaching an atc/auto-block, and rappeling down after unloading tension on the hunting prussic. Thus- its still up there in the way...

I hadnt thought of the tether prussic AS the Autoblock. Probabaly kind stiff? Also, wouldnt one be kinda in a bad situation while moving the prussic down...not clipped in???? Linemans Belt or backup tether i suppose?
Click to expand...

You can work it where you’re always tied to the tree in some way, albeit a little slack. The only way to rappel without having ever put slack into your system is with a device that is progress capture and belay, like a Grigri or safeguard/lifeguard. You could use a brake bar rack but that’s a whole different PITA.


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Taking the prussic off IS the best option I think. I tend to loose stuff that isnt nailed down! Clipping it to the saddle probably best.
 
I’m gonna prophesy here.

You’ll wind up using the prussik as an autoblock. Because it works better, as you need to stop on the way down to get whatever platform and climbing method out of the tree.

But the prussik will hold too well in the 3 wrap configuration. So you’ll try a 2 wrap. And that will be better but nothing great.

So you’ll come looking for the right knot.

And behold; the schwebisch hitch.

@bj139 you’re my witness.


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The nice thing about using your Prusik as your autoblock is it is lightly loaded there and does not lock up tight. While hanging from it on your tether it is loaded with your full body weight and does lock up tight. If that is the only thing holding me in the tree I want it to lock up tight rather than slip.
 
bj139 said:
Someone posted last week about sliding their Prusik down then adding the ATC. The Prusik becomes their autoblock knot and just stays on the rope and ends up on the ground with you. I thought it was pretty neat. They mentioned clipping onto a loop in the tether while adding the ATC, for safety during the switch.
Click to expand...
I do that and attatch a beaner to my prussic loop at my waist height and to my lineman loop and use my MR in the upper end and use my left hand to pull lever on MR and right hand on prussic as a extra safety precaution and at height I use the prussic as a stopper knot and a extra handhold to move around
 
trailblazer75 said:
I’m gonna prophesy here.

You’ll wind up using the prussik as an autoblock. Because it works better, as you need to stop on the way down to get whatever platform and climbing method out of the tree.

But the prussik will hold too well in the 3 wrap configuration. So you’ll try a 2 wrap. And that will be better but nothing great.

So you’ll come looking for the right knot.

And behold; the schwebisch hitch.

@bj139 you’re my witness.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
I have only tried hitches other than a standard 3 turn Prusik and after having variable results with them I just use the standard Prusik.
 
bj139 said:
Who's @bj134? I have only tried hitches other than a standard 3 turn Prusik and after having variable results with them I just use the standard Prusik.
Click to expand...

I got ONE number wrong!

I meant this for the OP. Because it’s basically the process I went through to figure out what he’s working on now.


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Razorbak66 said:
I do that and attatch a beaner to my prussic loop at my waist height and to my lineman loop and use my MR in the upper end and use my left hand to pull lever on MR and right hand on prussic as a extra safety precaution and at height I use the prussic as a stopper knot and a extra handhold to move around
Click to expand...
I assume MR means Madrock? There was an advisory from Madrock in their instruction sheet. about not using an autoblock knot with them.
 
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