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Hung up rappel line

W

wardergy

New Member
Joined
Jan 15, 2020
Messages
19
I have about 30 days of single stick climbing and rappelling experience in tight tree conditions in NH. Also have years of rock climbing and rappelling experience and I cannot believe how hard it can be to retrieve 25’ of rap line at end of hunt. Most recently I clip small biner through bight loop of the figure 8 and pull. Tried other set ups. Obviously tough trees are big part of problem. Any advice?


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A lot of people retrieve their rappel rope that way, everytime I've tried it I wonder "why??!". Instead I attach my pull down line to the line opposite from the quick link but still within the girth hitch of the tree. You'll have to pull the tag end out of your bight/quick link and then pull the rest of the rope out of the tree, but it all follows your path out of the tree.

The one disadvantage to this is that if you have a bulky knot it can get stuck in the crotches of limbs. I mitigate that by splicing a tight eye around my quick link, makes retrieval super slick.
 
wardergy said:
I have about 30 days of single stick climbing and rappelling experience in tight tree conditions in NH. Also have years of rock climbing and rappelling experience and I cannot believe how hard it can be to retrieve 25’ of rap line at end of hunt. Most recently I clip small biner through bight loop of the figure 8 and pull. Tried other set ups. Obviously tough trees are big part of problem. Any advice?


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Click to expand...
Tying my pull down line to the bight loop is what I do. I had the knot end stuck in a crotch before when I clipped to the tag end. Making a loop in your pull down line and sitting on it can pull it free. If using 550 paracord you should not be able to break it unless you are very large.
 
I attach my pull down line exactly where shown here at 14:10.
Only difference is I use a small carabiner attached to paracord that I use to raise/lower my bow.
The times I've had the most trouble is after dark when I can't see the line coming down. If the knot/quick link hang up on a branch it can get stuck in a fork. I've been able to free all of those cases by whipping the rappel line while pulling on the paracord.

I wish I was a headlight on a north-bound train
 
If your using pull down line that stretches, like paracord, stop. Buy some dynaglide. Walk back away from the tree instead of pulling straight down. Find a stick to make a handle, wrap the line around it and give her heck. Yet to find one I can’t get down that was being contrary.
 
Paracord works fine if you do it right. If you don't do it right, I don't know if Dyneema line would work or not. If you are just girth hitched around the trunk and not over a crotch you would have to try really hard to get it stuck.
 
Rough bark can make it more difficult but I’ve never had any rope retrieval issues.

777740e8e728bfc530d3edfdff8e1b58.jpg



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bj139 said:
Paracord works fine if you do it right. If you don't do it right, I don't know if Dyneema line would work or not. If you are just girth hitched around the trunk and not over a crotch you would have to try really hard to get it stuck.
Click to expand...
Dyneema line works great. Paracord has to much stretch. A Few people can attest to hang ups with paracord. It’s like saying you’ve never missed a deer... you just haven’t taken enough shots. But use whatever you like!!
 
Squirrels said:
Dyneema line works great. Paracord has to much stretch. A Few people can attest to hang ups with paracord. It’s like saying you’ve never missed a deer... you just haven’t taken enough shots. But use whatever you like!!
Click to expand...
I have gotten my rope stuck a few times in a few crotches. Paracord was never the problem. Wrong technique was always the problem. That's what learning is for. If paracord breaks at 550 lbs I cannot break it by hanging on it, if there are no knots. I did break 300 lb Dyneema fishing line by crossing it over itself around a stick and pulling down. I was surprised but Dyneema has no stretch and crossing the line over itself probably made this lack of stretch break the line. Learning. Stretch makes the pulling less critical. Dyneema breaks easily in fall tests compared to nylon. I'll bet you will not see paracord made of Dyneema since if it broke on your parachute you would be in big trouble. Stretch is good.
 
bj139 said:
I have gotten my rope stuck a few times in a few crotches. Paracord was never the problem. Wrong technique was always the problem. That's what learning is for. If paracord breaks at 550 lbs I cannot break it by hanging on it, if there are no knots. I did break 300 lb Dyneema fishing line by crossing it over itself around a stick and pulling down. I was surprised but Dyneema has no stretch and crossing the line over itself probably made this lack of stretch break the line. Learning. Stretch makes the pulling less critical. Dyneema breaks easily in fall tests compared to nylon. I'll bet you will not see paracord made of Dyneema since if it broke on your parachute you would be in big trouble. Stretch is good.
Click to expand...
If you say so...
 
Spectra (the most common parachute line material) is very similar to dyneema. Paracord is used by the military for traditional static line application but that’s about it as far as parachute line is concerned.

I use paracord for rope retrieval so not trying to participate in an argument, just wanted the point that out.


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Last edited:
I found this.
www.paracordplanet.com

Paracord: What is it?

Are you wondering what everyone is talking about when you hear about "paracord?" Read to find out!
www.paracordplanet.com www.paracordplanet.com
houston.skydivespaceland.com

What Line Type for My Parachute? - Skydive Spaceland Houston

What line type should I have on my parachute? This is a question that rarely comes up until someone has already decided on what canopy to buy, but then causes a reason to pause because no one wants to spend that much money and make a wrong decision. But who do you ask? What’s the right …...
houston.skydivespaceland.com houston.skydivespaceland.com
 
Squirrels said:
If you say so...
Click to expand...
I only posted what I found by my own testing and several videos I have seen. Maybe my analysis of my experience is wrong. I am not trying to force anyone to do what I do. Everyone is free to choose for themselves.
 
bj139 said:
I only posted what I found by my own testing and several videos I have seen. Maybe my analysis of my experience is wrong. I am not trying to force anyone to do what I do. Everyone is free to choose for themselves.
Click to expand...
Me either brother. Use whatever works for you....that goes for everyone.
 
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