Back up tether?

[Jeff F.]

Howdy,

I'm running a Kestrel saddle that I bought before the 2018 season. I couldn't get my system down in time so I shelved it for the 2018 season and kept on with my lone wolf hand climber.

I'm practicing again and I'm confident I'll be ready for this season. The saddle is unbelievably comfortable.

One thing I am thinking about is redundancy. I feel like my lone wolf handclimber is about the safest way you can climb a tree. I move a treestrap right from the ground all the way up as I climb. By doing this I have the climber itself and the treestrap (2 points of failure). I am connected to the tree from the ground up and connected to the tree by two separate systems.

I think the saddle is very safe but my two concerns are 1) the linemen's rope which really isn't a fall arrest system (I don't want to get in to that here) 2) not having a second point of connection when up in the tree (this is what I was hoping to get some feedback to).

Does anyone run a second point of attachment? Does anyone think this is a good idea?

I have a really simple tree rope that I considered using when up there but I'm not sure how I would incorporate it into the setup. I could wear my rock climbing harness under my saddle but I don't want to add that much more gear. Could I use the loops that the linemen's belt utilizes somehow?

Any thoughts are welcome.

Thanks!

 

[dlist777]

I do. I wear a minimalist rock climbing harness and bring another tether. Total weight of both is probably 1.5 lbs. Maybe less. I use sticks and steps. So, when I climb, I'm using my lineman's belt attached to my saddle loops. Also, I've got my secondary tether hitched around the tree above the sticks and connected to the belay loop on my RC harness. As I move up, I keep moving the secondary tether up.

When I get up onto my ROS, I then hook up my primary tether and wrap it around the tree (above my secondary tether) and connect it to the saddle. I leave the secondary tether with some slack. I then lean back and put weight on the primary tether, and remove the lineman's belt. I leave the secondary tether attached (with slack) while at hunting height.

This is the link to the RC harness I wear: RC Harness Link. This harness is very small and lightweight and not noticeable.
For my secondary tether, I incorporated a ripstop so that it provides me with protection even with slack developing (which it does while climbing from time to time and at height). I use the set up pretty much the same as Kyle recommends here: Kyles' Tether

I am sure I am quite an outlier in taking this approach.

 

[dlist777]

One thing to add: I view the risk of a tether failing under weight as essentially zero.

But, using a tether while you climb is (IMHO) is a good safety add and can make a meaningful difference. I have had a stick slip out on me before and the lineman's belt did not stop me. I think it does stop you sometimes, but it's hit or miss. You might be able to just use your primary tether in addition to the LB while climbing and avoid the system I described above while still getting this safety benefit. I use the JX-3 and I can't figure out a way to do that w/o the bridge getting in my way while climbing. So, this is what I do.

However, I do leave this secondary system attached even at hunting height. So, does that contradict my first statement above? I don't think so. I mainly leave it attached to stop my error from killing me.....not tying the prussik right......not having the caribiner hooked into my loop in the dark before I lean back..etc

If you do your part, the commercially available saddle systems combined with rated ropes and caribiners will not let you down. So, I view this backup as more about backing up for my mistakes; not equipment failures.

 

[Jeff F.]

I do. I wear a minimalist rock climbing harness and bring another tether. Total weight of both is probably 1.5 lbs. Maybe less. I use sticks and steps. So, when I climb, I'm using my lineman's belt attached to my saddle loops. Also, I've got my secondary tether hitched around the tree above the sticks and connected to the belay loop on my RC harness. As I move up, I keep moving the secondary tether up.

When I get up onto my ROS, I then hook up my primary tether and wrap it around the tree (above my secondary tether) and connect it to the saddle. I leave the secondary tether with some slack. I then lean back and put weight on the primary tether, and remove the lineman's belt. I leave the secondary tether attached (with slack) while at hunting height.

This is the link to the RC harness I wear: RC Harness Link. This harness is very small and lightweight and not noticeable.
For my secondary tether, I incorporated a ripstop so that it provides me with protection even with slack developing (which it does while climbing from time to time and at height). I use the set up pretty much the same as Kyle recommends here: Kyles' Tether

I am sure I am quite an outlier in taking this approach.

Thanks for the input. My rock climbing harness is also very minimal. I'm taking bow season off this year so I'm going to keep practicing and experimenting until gun.

 

[ThomasHemlock]

I actually have two amsteel bridges on my saddle. One is my primary that hooks to my tether and holds my weight. The other one is shorter and is hooked to a second tether that is lower on the tree. the secondary bridge hooks to my linemans loops on the saddle. For me to fall, once I'm tethered in, many things would have to go very wrong all at once.

 

[emrah.oruc.7]

Yep. And bridge.

Emrah

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Jeff F.]

One thing to add: I view the risk of a tether failing under weight as essentially zero.

But, using a tether while you climb is (IMHO) is a good safety add and can make a meaningful difference. I have had a stick slip out on me before and the lineman's belt did not stop me. I think it does stop you sometimes, but it's hit or miss. You might be able to just use your primary tether in addition to the LB while climbing and avoid the system I described above while still getting this safety benefit. I use the JX-3 and I can't figure out a way to do that w/o the bridge getting in my way while climbing. So, this is what I do.

However, I do leave this secondary system attached even at hunting height. So, does that contradict my first statement above? I don't think so. I mainly leave it attached to stop my error from killing me.....not tying the prussik right......not having the caribiner hooked into my loop in the dark before I lean back..etc

If you do your part, the commercially available saddle systems combined with rated ropes and caribiners will not let you down. So, I view this backup as more about backing up for my mistakes; not equipment failures.

Thanks for the input. I practiced a new set up with two tethers and climbing sticks this weekend and it works like a dream. I run a mini bridge and tether from where my linemen’s belt used to be and climb with that. When I get to height I hook up my main tether and leave my mini on a little lower.

 

[Exhumis]

What I did is tie a figure eight in the end of my tether and put a biner on it. That way, once my tether is girth hitched to the tree and prusik is clipped to the bridge I then clip the end of the tether onto my bridge. In this way, if for whatever reason my prusik was to fail I have another point of connection to my bridge.

 

[dlist777]

Thanks for the input. I practiced a new set up with two tethers and climbing sticks this weekend and it works like a dream. I run a mini bridge and tether from where my linemen’s belt used to be and climb with that. When I get to height I hook up my main tether and leave my mini on a little lower.

Do you also use a LB when you climb? Or just the tether attached to the mini bridge?

 

[Jeff F.]

Do you also use a LB when you climb? Or just the tether attached to the mini bridge?

Just the mini tether when I climb. I think there are some concern as the ropeman on my mini tether is not designed for fall arrest (though it would likely stop a fall in my context). If I keep slack out of it and be careful I feel more comfortable over the linemen's belt.

 

[Jeff F.]

Bump

First live hunt tonight. Double tether worked well.

 

[Rmurraymd]

Howdy,

I'm running a Kestrel saddle that I bought before the 2018 season. I couldn't get my system down in time so I shelved it for the 2018 season and kept on with my lone wolf hand climber.

I'm practicing again and I'm confident I'll be ready for this season. The saddle is unbelievably comfortable.

One thing I am thinking about is redundancy. I feel like my lone wolf handclimber is about the safest way you can climb a tree. I move a treestrap right from the ground all the way up as I climb. By doing this I have the climber itself and the treestrap (2 points of failure). I am connected to the tree from the ground up and connected to the tree by two separate systems.

I think the saddle is very safe but my two concerns are 1) the linemen's rope which really isn't a fall arrest system (I don't want to get in to that here) 2) not having a second point of connection when up in the tree (this is what I was hoping to get some feedback to).

Does anyone run a second point of attachment? Does anyone think this is a good idea?

I have a really simple tree rope that I considered using when up there but I'm not sure how I would incorporate it into the setup. I could wear my rock climbing harness under my saddle but I don't want to add that much more gear. Could I use the loops that the linemen's belt utilizes somehow?

Any thoughts are welcome.

Thanks!
I took the prussik from the lineman’s belt and moved it to the tether near the end and connected a second carabiner from that to my saddle bridge loop on the right . I also wear a simple harness from a regular treestand purchase (the ones they send w it) and connect it to the tree at height. Crazy redundant I know but I just don’t trust any thing.

 

[MN_Rookie33]

I actually have two amsteel bridges on my saddle. One is my primary that hooks to my tether and holds my weight. The other one is shorter and is hooked to a second tether that is lower on the tree. the secondary bridge hooks to my linemans loops on the saddle. For me to fall, once I'm tethered in, many things would have to go very wrong all at once.

Do you have a picture of how you set that Double bridge/tether up @ThomasHemlock ?

 

[raisins]

You can turn your lineman's lanyard into a second tether once at height. My tether and lineman's are pretty much identical. One less thing to carry. For secondary bridge of sorts, you could make a pants belt out of climb spec webbing and a raptor buckle, girth hitch a sling around your saddle belt and new pants belt together in one loop, and connect this sling to your secondary tether. This would provide you a back up even to your saddle.

 

[Shane6491]

Is a second tether really necessary? Everything used in set ups is rated well over what anyone would weigh plus their gear. Even in a fall it’s all rated well over. What’s more likely to break I’d say saddle loops before tether or carabiners. So running a second tether is just peace of mind ? But now you guys got me thinking I should add one lol

 

[Ontariofarmer]

Is a second tether really necessary? Everything used in set ups is rated well over what anyone would weigh plus their gear. Even in a fall it’s all rated well over. What’s more likely to break I’d say saddle loops before tether or carabiners. So running a second tether is just peace of mind ? But now you guys got me thinking I should add one lol

No a second tether is not necessary, in 99.99999999999999% of cases. A tether could fail BUT,
Life is not without risk. A tether could fail but I expect driving a car is riskier.
The chance of an inspected, properly attached tether failing is very low. Rather than using two tethers. Save your nickels and inspect your equipment daily and keep the slack out of your tether and make sure your carabiners are properly locked and your knots are tied correctly instead of having two tethers.
If you do this you will be doing way more than the millions of kids who have climbed trees for centuries with no tether including me 50 years ago.
If you want no risk just give up hunting. Turkey hunting with decoys is really, really dangerous.

 

[Jeff F.]

Is a second tether really necessary? Everything used in set ups is rated well over what anyone would weigh plus their gear. Even in a fall it’s all rated well over. What’s more likely to break I’d say saddle loops before tether or carabiners. So running a second tether is just peace of mind ? But now you guys got me thinking I should add one lol

I use it to protect me from me. I will fail before my equipment more than likely. Hunting often takes place when it's dark, freezing cold, exhausted from lack of sleep.......sometimes (but not often) maybe a little hungover.....

 

[Treehopper2]

I personally don’t think a backup tether is necessary.
If you buy quality gear and learn how it’s used properly you will gain trust with each use and not need a backup to ease your mind.
No one installs an extra seat belt in their truck In case the factory one fails. We all trust the manufacturer tested it and installed it properly so it will perform as needed when needed if we do are part and buckle up.
I buy top quality gear rated at or above my needs and learn how to use it. I pay attention to how I set it up (due to my life being on the line) and not get in a hurry transitioning lines.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[slonstdy]

Not necessary as long as you keep your equipment in good working condition AND inspect it before each use.

Probably all who run a second tether do it for peace of mind, I've never heard or seen a tether failure post. A lot of guys have gone to smaller and lighter ropes for a tether like 8mm Oplux (which is an awesome rope btw) but for my peace of mind I've stayed with my 11mm tether.

"Necessary" is subjective, go with what is safe and makes you feel comfortable.