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Thanks for the info Kyle. Is one sticking around branches hard?
So, you're basically backing up the Madrock with a prussic then?
I may end up switching to a dedicated tether, I’m playing with some things. If I do, I’ll just use an ATC sport descender, but same basic layout. The auto brake is nice. I don’t think I’d rappel without it.
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That's a good ideaNope - It's just an auto block. Your hand acts as a brake normally. But in the event you have to let go, or want to stop and let go, the prussic catches, and holds you in place. You just place your right hand over prussic, and start pulling on the lever with left hand. As you squeeze the prussic and get it started sliding down, you'll begin descending. If you let go with right hand, regardless of how hard you pull lever with left hand, you won't move.
Do you have a hard time getting your lifeguard to release when it's loaded? I'm struggling rappelling with mine, I find that when I try to use the lever to disengage it it is VERY hard to get it to release and then when it does it goes FAST making for a very jerky descent. any idea what I might be doing wrong?Nope - It's just an auto block. Your hand acts as a brake normally. But in the event you have to let go, or want to stop and let go, the prussic catches, and holds you in place. You just place your right hand over prussic, and start pulling on the lever with left hand. As you squeeze the prussic and get it started sliding down, you'll begin descending. If you let go with right hand, regardless of how hard you pull lever with left hand, you won't move.
I'm definitely not the expert on rope stuff. But from my experience, I get better results by actually pulling hard to start with my brake hand, then slowly pulling the lever, and easing off tension on my break hand. It's like it was not designed to start descending with no tension - that's when bad stuff happens. I think you can pull all the way and cam that thing over though and override and get it to start flying.
I'd let one of the resident rope experts chime in. But I wouldn't dream of rappelling without an autoblock.
Right now:
1 muddy stick - 2.5lbs
Rappel setup(35' of Sterling HTP 9mm, madrock lifeguard, 2 biners, prussic, screw link) - 2.5lbs
Samson Predator Lineman's/Tether - .6lbs
Total - under 6lbs.
I have a couple of changes I may be making - below is the lightest I could get it with gear on hand
1 custom welded stick - 1.75lbs
Rappel setup (35' Sterling Oplux 8mm, atc sport, 2 biners, prussic, screw link) - 1.75lbs
Sterling Oplux Linemans setup - .4lbs
Total - a shade under 4lbs
This would force me to use the dedicated tether for climbing and while hunting, but could drop a couple pounds. Need to see which way makes more sense.
For reference -
My Treehopper, 4 carbon and 10 titanium rods, Linemans belt and tether weighs 3.8lbs
I was wondering the same thing, but I think in the safeguard instructions it says something like the device isn't meant to be used as an auto braking/locking device (or something to that effect). It would probably be good redundancy.Maybe a dumb question. But would the prussic be redundant if you had a safeguard instead of a lifeguard
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Like the title says. Couple of notes:
This is the first time I've used one stick with the hybrid, and first time I've used the method in a while. As you can see I'm pretty rusty. Same with rappel.
I purposely filmed my first climb and descent with the method to give you new guys an idea - I didn't want to film it going perfectly.
The edit in the middle of the video was just while I was hanging out at height. I didn't cut any of the time spent climbing, descending, or packing up. As you can see - it fares about the same as most other climbing methods when you factor all the time together.
I'll probably use this setup some this season.