Dangers of a Ropeman 1

[Apex7]

Glad he's alright.I never adjust my ropeman 1 when it's under a load and I always put a stopper knot in the ends of all my tethers and linesman belts. Backing with a prussic is another option.

 

[TooBigToFit]

Did something similar with the prusik on my tether once. Wanted tether a little longer for a different position. Stood up on platform to take weight off. Grabbed prusik and slid it down a few inches. Not thinking, I slowly lowered my weight back into the saddle using my hand that was grabbing the prusik. Because I was holding the prusik it wouldn't tighten on itself. It slid about eight ten inches. As soon as I let go of the prusik to grab the tether rope it tighten down and stopped me. 100% totally my fault and something that I am mindful off now.

I try to push my Distel hitch from above it on the tether. That way if I panic, I grab the rope instead of the hitch.

 

[raisins]

I try to push my Distel hitch from above it on the tether. That way if I panic, I grab the rope instead of the hitch.

This is an excellent idea. Also, stopper knots should always be used, of course, but worth mentioning as many times as possible.

I think it is totally rational to be overly cautious when handling firearms, hanging 20 feet off the ground, cleaning an alligator's enclosure, etc.

 

[bowhunthard88]

Ropeman 1 and Kong Duck, on my tether, user here! I have taken to always tying the tag end of my tether back into my carabiner... Either two rope contacts (tether & lineman's) at a time or back everything up if you're on a single line... I even back up my SRT ascent to my hand ascender via sling and additional bridge, and usually will tie an alpine butterfly below me on the line a few feet above the ground (there's less redundancy on descent though...)!

Light and fast is good; but slow, smooth, and safe is better. I'm not afraid of a little redundancy, I need to be able to get back to my wife and son!

 

[Hoytaholic]

I am glad that your friend ended up alright. However I don't see this as a fault of the ropeman. Whether it was a friction hitch or what, had he grabbed hold of it while falling backwards it would have unloaded. I guess my bigger concern is why he was trying to let out slack with his weight on the tether under load? The ropeman is an ascender, not a descender. That being said, backing up your gear with an extra Alpine butterfly stopper is never a bad idea if you are concerned.

Mad this is great advise and one that I was planning to utilize this year (first year saddle hunting). Plan would be to tie this alpine butterfly knot at the end of the tether rope and then connect it to the carabiner on the bridge. Have not tried it yet, but thought process is if the Ropeman were to fail, then the butterfly knot would hopefully act as a safety backup.

 

[MoBowGuy]

i have a prussic back up and tie a knot about 6-8 inches from where the ropeman is that way i have some adjustablity

 

[Patriot38]

@Shakeandbake

 

[jspradley]

Scary stuff... I only use my Ropeman for my saddle, my RCH is on a prusik, I have a stopper knot on the end of my tether and tie a loose another loose stopper under my RCH prusik once im set up at height.

I'm far too delicate to fall out of a tree... lol

Glad your buddy is ok!

 

[bowhunthard88]

Ropeman 1 and Kong Duck, on my tether, user here! I have taken to always tying the tag end of my tether back into my carabiner... Either two rope contacts (tether & lineman's) at a time or back everything up if you're on a single line... I even back up my SRT ascent to my hand ascender via sling and additional bridge, and usually will tie an alpine butterfly below me on the line a few feet above the ground (there's less redundancy on descent though...)!

Light and fast is good; but slow, smooth, and safe is better. I'm not afraid of a little redundancy, I need to be able to get back to my wife and son!

Switched over to CT Rollnlock devices because they are rated better for "how" we are using them.

 

[nyxhc93]

When it comes to safety, especially on rope, remember that 2 is 1 and 1 is none. Meaning if you can follow your line to a failure point, than that failure point should be backed up. A stopper knot is a good idea and is a must have but I personally like adding another prusik or distal hitch on either and both systems ( the tether and the lineman). Im also a big fan of the Ropeman 1.

Be safe everyone.

 

[Still Kicking]

You can never have too many opinions or views when it comes to safety. My earliest rope rescue class was in the early 80's and our instructor had us tie our own harness out of 5/16 inch hemp rope and descend 90 feet off of a grain bin. After many classes with other instructors I find it incredible no one died in that class. It taught me to do some of my own thinking about what I feel is safe for me.

 

[Sugarglider]

Ropeman1 slips demo. Details are in the description.

 

[DroptineKrazy]

You can never have too many opinions or views when it comes to safety. My earliest rope rescue class was in the early 80's and our instructor had us tie our own harness out of 5/16 inch hemp rope and descend 90 feet off of a grain bin. After many classes with other instructors I find it incredible no one died in that class. It taught me to do some of my own thinking about what I feel is safe for me.

80 ft. I could see but 90?

 

[gwhalin]

Yikes. I have a stopper knot on all my ropes, but also tie an alpine butterfly few inches below my friction hitch and clip that into my carabiner. I don't find I need to adjust much on my tether when I get settled.

 

[DanielB89]

I got sweaty and my heart raced reading that. Glad your friend is ok!

I have lots of contrarian thoughts on safety, risks, equipment here, but I won't bore you with those. I'll give some quick thoughts though.

The well built saddle didn't save your friend. The knot you tied didn't save him. Nothing he did after the ropeman slipped saved him. The fact of the matter is luck saved him. A whole bunch of things needed to fall into place for him to even be in the position to be sliding down that tether. But everyone seems to have a very poor understanding of just how often those things actually do fall into place. Our brains suck at internalizing statistics.

And once those things fell into place for him to even be in that position, quite a few other things had to fall into place to get him out of it alive. And the one that dominates is luck. Your friend should recognize that it was almost entirely luck that saved his butt, and think about what to do to prevent as much of his life riding on luck in the future. Lots of information here and threads to go through and get informed.

My only piece of advice to him would be to remember it's just a deer. Slow down, enjoy the ride, and don't rush to kill one and in the process take unnecessary risks.

I agree with your sentiment here, except I think you need to replace the "luck" with "God's grace".

You're spot on!

 

[DOMMA]

I back my Ropeman 1 with a prusik

I do as well.

 

[Maustypsu]

Back around 2015-16 when we were getting on the Ropeman bandwagon here, lots of folks talked about the "Ropeman drop". Because we all had done it. Usually just a few inches before we let go. But I see how your friend wanted to hold onto it. It's natural to grab for something. I use a knot but recognize that it is lower than ideally safe.

This is a good reminder. I didn't saddle hunt at all last year so I have to re-learn to let go. And honestly that is something you should practice a few times each season from low height. Because you need to condition yourself to let go - it's not natural.

 

[RJK314]

I back my Ropeman 1 with a prusik

BEST ADVICE!!!! Back any ascended with a prusik. once you're at height this set up allows for a six or seven inch adjustment in length without looking.

A Kong Duck is a bit bulkier that the Ropeman. and might be a bit more idiot proof. i have both cause sometimes i feel like a nut and sometimes i don't. (anyone else remember that 7 up commercial?)

 

[DroptineKrazy]

BEST ADVICE!!!! Back any ascended with a prusik. once you're at height this set up allows for a six or seven inch adjustment in length without looking.

A Kong Duck is a bit bulkier that the Ropeman. and might be a bit more idiot proof. i have both cause sometimes i feel like a nut and sometimes i don't. (anyone else remember that 7 up commercial?)

7 Up? I remember that Almond Joy has nuts and Mounds don't.

 

[RJK314]

7 Up? I remember that Almond Joy has nuts and Mounds don't.

Hahahaha, AND I make my own modifications!!! Shoot I might have go ri a ground blind now that I'm writing my mental acuity...lol