Ascending tree on a figure eight

[Nohvah]

@BowhunterXC thanks for clarifying that.
Yeah, so that works as a separate method for descending.

I’m looking for a method to ascend and descend with the same method using a figure eight. No changes on stand.

I don't do it very often, but I will use a friction hitch on my hip (lineman loop on saddle) to the tag end of rope. I know the argument is that is unsafe that it could get sucked into the figure 8 in an emergency, but I use the shorter Cruzr prussik loop so it's impossible. I use a single wrap soft lock on the 8 for more friction. I use the double wrap lock at hunting height when I'm set. See @phatkaw post on that. That's where I learned it.

I do this to change up from my Safeguard for fun every once in a while as I definitely love rappelling with the 8. however, the 8 has a lot more potential to ding the platform and is WAY louder if it does hit even if I'm careful. Yes, I have it taped, but still louder. Safeguard is easier to pull slack out of when you are ascending so there is much lower opportunity for it to slack and hit the platform/stick.

 

[Iron_llama]

I like having my friction (Sticht) hitch below my Figure-8. I tried 1-sticking with the 8 attached and it was just too much. Too much friction to tend effectively, too much metal swinging and clanking around, too much hassle. I liked the idea of being able to instantly switch from climbing to descending in the unlikely event of an emergency but it just didn't work out for me. With a second tether I can switch off my main line to install my 8 relatively quickly, so that's the approach I've settled on.

 

[Nohvah]

I like having my friction (Sticht) hitch below my Figure-8. I tried 1-sticking with the 8 attached and it was just too much. Too much friction to tend effectively, too much metal swinging and clanking around, too much hassle. I liked the idea of being able to instantly switch from climbing to descending in the unlikely event of an emergency but it just didn't work out for me. With a second tether I can switch off my main line to install my 8 relatively quickly, so that's the approach I've settled on.

I'm 100% in the same boat as you. There are advantages to using a short tether (w/ Kong Duck for me) then transferring to 8 for rappel. However, I hate transferring up top. While safe, it's a pain and when I get down, I always immediately go back to my Safeguard with my rappel line as the tether as I mentally feel WAY more comfortable knowing if anything hits the fan at all, I can immediately rappel down with zero issues.

 

[RMcDonald7]

I'm 100% in the same boat as you. There are advantages to using a short tether (w/ Kong Duck for me) then transferring to 8 for rappel. However, I hate transferring up top. While safe, it's a pain and when I get down, I always immediately go back to my Safeguard with my rappel line as the tether as I mentally feel WAY more comfortable knowing if anything hits the fan at all, I can immediately rappel down with zero issues.

Do you climb with your rappel line? This was my first year saddle hunting and I settled on using a short tether to climb 1 stick with and hunt from. Right before dark I would attach my rappel line and fig8, finish my hunt, then unhook tether, gather gear, then descend. Its def a pain once you hit the ground in the dark to gather everything but doable.
I'll practice this off season climbing with my rappel line for sure.

 

[Nohvah]

Do you climb with your rappel line? This was my first year saddle hunting and I settled on using a short tether to climb 1 stick with and hunt from. Right before dark I would attach my rappel line and fig8, finish my hunt, then unhook tether, gather gear, then descend. Its def a pain once you hit the ground in the dark to gather everything but doable.
I'll practice this off season climbing with my rappel line for sure.

I do... I cut my 40' of rope down to 35' and now use that rappel line with my Safeguard 98% of the time. Again, I LOVE rappelling with the 8, but love the safety of knowing if anything goes wrong with the climb in any way, I can immediately get down if i'm on my rappel line. Also, i'm using less stuff to get up as I use that same rappel line as my pull-up rope for my bow. Once I get setup at hunting height, I bundle it up and stuff it into my hip bag so it's not seen from the ground.

If I use a short tether, i use my Kong Duck. It's really easy to climb with it, but I simply don't like to have to transfer up top to my 8. It's not a big deal, but considering the alternative of ascending, hunting, and rappelling with one Safeguard/rappel line, I always groan when I use short tether/8 and always go up with Safeguard the next time.

Here's a video I made for us old guys per request.

This walks through my standard setup and technique. As I say in the video, I took many elements from other guys on these boards, but this is how I do it when actively hunting as I practice this method the most.

 

[Iron_llama]

Do you climb with your rappel line? This was my first year saddle hunting and I settled on using a short tether to climb 1 stick with and hunt from. Right before dark I would attach my rappel line and fig8, finish my hunt, then unhook tether, gather gear, then descend. Its def a pain once you hit the ground in the dark to gather everything but doable.
I'll practice this off season climbing with my rappel line for sure.

I do. I also tie the tag end of my ascent/descent line to my pack, and haul it up the tree once I get my gear hanger set. That way I'm not climbing with my pack, and my pack and weapon are separate on the ride up, which makes me more comfortable for reasons I don't quite understand.

 

[Bigfoot522]

I been tying the new wlr hitch and irs a beauty.

Now I can run one of my old configurations of 8.
A friction hitch tied above and to the 8.
I can climb with it and to rappel I just take the bite thru the big hole, unclip and around the lower 8, reclip and ready to descend and stop at any point working hands free.
It worked fine before this hitch but it was a pain getting a good grab and retying.
This hitch has solved that.
In this manner I unclip for two seconds and thats all.

 

[Bigfoot522]

This how I climb with my 8.
WLR hitch above and soft shakle below.

It works just the way I want.
I one stik.