I do agree with you there more complexity without the knowledge to know what to do with everything does make it more unsafe.I think the Prusik adds more complexity. Having 2 attachment points each of which will support you is great redundancy. A third is just usually more troublesome without providing any more safety. Complexity, and having to manage more devices can make it less safe, IMHO.
Stay near the ground and just climb up and down 4 feet until you are sure how everything functions. Last year, while learning, I got stuck 4 feet up while doing this and I figured out I can reach down below and tie a figure eight in the rope. If you step on this you can uweight a device to get it set up correctly. You could even tie multiple figure 8s and just climb down the ladder you just tied. Hey, there's a new climbing method, hand tied rope ladder(tm).I do agree with you there more complexity without the knowledge to know what to do with everything does make it more unsafe.
I tried serval times yesterday going up and down a tree I purposely set the hand ascender out of arms reach and made sure I was strong enough to pull myself up to it. The only issue I’m having is rappelling smooth with just the lifeguard. I find it smoother for me to run my rope back up to another biner to create more friction on the tail end. For my foot loop through I just use a long pull strap that you use to tie down a 4-wheeler. It being real long makes it easy to make the loop lower to get down if something happens you can only use a prusik to get down with.Stay near the ground and just climb up and down 4 feet until you are sure how everything functions. Last year, while learning, I got stuck 4 feet up while doing this and I figured out I can reach down below and tie a figure eight in the rope. If you step on this you can uweight a device to get it set up correctly. You could even tie multiple figure 8s and just climb down the ladder you just tied. Hey, there's a new climbing method, hand tied rope ladder(tm).
I have noticed rappeling can be a little jerky. Try to control your descent with your off hand pulling down on the tag end of the line. It works for me.I tried serval times yesterday going up and down a tree I purposely set the hand ascender out of arms reach and made sure I was strong enough to pull myself up to it. The only issue I’m having is rappelling smooth with just the lifeguard. I find it smoother for me to run my rope back up to another biner to create more friction on the tail end. For my foot loop through I just use a long pull strap that you use to tie down a 4-wheeler. It being real long makes it easy to make the loop lower to get down if something happens you can only use a prusik to get down with.
I use a safeguard and have a atc for backup. I like a autoblock because it seems to be a smoother descent. Just crank the safeguard open and slide down with knot . This picture is on oplux with autoblock on right hip.I tried serval times yesterday going up and down a tree I purposely set the hand ascender out of arms reach and made sure I was strong enough to pull myself up to it. The only issue I’m having is rappelling smooth with just the lifeguard. I find it smoother for me to run my rope back up to another biner to create more friction on the tail end. For my foot loop through I just use a long pull strap that you use to tie down a 4-wheeler. It being real long makes it easy to make the loop lower to get down if something happens you can only use a prusik to get down with.