tntrker
Member
Well it happened. I've been up and down with my system in the yard a few times with no issues and packed it all in, except the weapon, to do an all day sit in the woods Saturday. I use 4 Muddy sticks with a 22" aider for the climb. Everything went great and I sat for about 5 hrs. I forgot to pack a lunch, so when it sounded like a bear was in the tree with me, I decided test was complete enough and I was satisfied. So down I go and collect the 1st stick down, 2nd stick down, 3rd stick **)&%#$!!! For whatever reason, the 3rd stick down, turned and became unusable. so, I'm standing on my aider trying to figure out how/what/where! I get tired and decided to hang the saddle back up to "rest" and figure things out...I found out, it's ALOT harder to set up a stick below you. I'm not sure how long all this took, but it felt like at least an hour because after the first few attempts and realizing this was not something easily done, the adrenaline kicked in. Then the stick ropes and lineman rope where all getting caught, tangled, on top of, a pretty impressive feat and probably funny or scary to watch from a distance. I finally inched my way down re-placing a stick just below the top step of another, remove it then place it same distance and so fourth. I was still using the lineman's rope and after putting the saddle up thinking things were ok, wound up having to put it back up a 3rd time, and used it until I stood on the last step, due to over exerting and needing to rest. When I finally got my feet on the last step and then to the ground, I was SPENT! I didn't have the energy to walk 15 yrds without having to stop and catch my breath. I had my camelbak, still with plenty of water thank God, but I was hot, soaked through with sweat, no energy and only about 500 yrds in the woods. When I finally made it back, I sat in the truck with the air on for a good 30 min before I felt like I had enough energy to turn the steering wheel to drive home, approx 10 miles. I'm in shape and have not experienced anything like that before. Must have just been the mixture of heat, confusion, frustration, adrenaline, exhaustion. I'm still not quite sure what happened to cause that stick to slip sideways on the tree, but it definitely screwed me coming down. Having the aider really saved me, I think, as with out it I would have only been able to move down a few inches at a time vs the few inches plus the aider. I've played that scene over and over but can't figure out why/how the step, that I had went up with no issue on, slipped and left me stranded.
Anyone else know a cause or have a plan when/if a stick becomes unusable? Might want to think ahead and have a plan.....
Anyone else know a cause or have a plan when/if a stick becomes unusable? Might want to think ahead and have a plan.....