• The SH Membership has gone live. Only SH Members have access to post in the classifieds. All members can view the classifieds. Starting in 2020 only SH Members will be admitted to the annual hunting contest. Current members will need to follow these steps to upgrade: 1. Click on your username 2. Click on Account upgrades 3. Choose SH Member and purchase.
  • We've been working hard the past few weeks to come up with some big changes to our vendor policies to meet the changing needs of our community. Please see the new vendor rules here: Vendor Access Area Rules

I think I’m done rappelling - Rant/Question

You should try a remote releaseable(aka an exploding) hitch like the Maverick or JRB hitch,, before you swear it off. It makes pulling a rope out of a tree so easy.
If you learn to use one of these methods you will be back to loving rappelling again, one tug and it all comes to the ground!
 
Rope management at the base is key. I started climbing with my pack with bow on my back, due to my paracord pull up line getting into briars and making a mess. I only had 2 of my 5 arrows still in the quiver when I got it up…..trust me, I know where you are coming from!
Keeping paracord separate and winding it up properly (do you figure 8?) is key. I’ll climb like that 1 sticking, but let my bow down first, so I don’t forget my pull down rope assist. i try to do everything in a certain order religiously so I don’t forget something and or make a mess of my ropes. Simple things like disconnecting the pull down line from the bow and the rope BEFORE winding up either of them etc…
That said, ain’t nothing wrong with sticks and a lineman’s belt!
 
Is this something I can find on YouTube?
Yes, do a search for JRB Maverick hitch. Works fantastic, holds to tree w/o need of ohm locker and so easy to retrieve. This is my method as well and love it. The JRB Running Hitch is also good but like the Maverick better. It's all preference but would much rather carry 35-40' of rope than 3 more sticks.
 
I’ve had trouble getting the running JRB hitch to explode after hunting in the rain, but I weigh 225 and it was using Dynaglide as my pull down line. It did eventually explode, but I had to tie a Clove hitch around a large stick and pull with all my weight from as far away from the base of the tree as I could get.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
I’ve had trouble getting the running JRB hitch to explode after hunting in the rain, but I weigh 225 and it was using Dynaglide as my pull down line. It did eventually explode, but I had to tie a Clove hitch around a large stick and pull with all my weight from as far away from the base of the tree as I could get.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
The maverick is much easier in my experience!
 
I pay attention to my rope, that comes from getting it stuck a few times. if I tie off above a limb I can't have rappel rope on 1 side and pull down rope on the other, to much friction. a stiffer, slicker rope works better than a supple grabby rope. taking a minute to go over my tie-off before I start down saves me a lot of trouble also. sometimes moving it before rappel is a good idea. where I hang from may not be the best place to rappel from
 
Is this something I can find on YouTube?
There's personal modifications that can be done as well.
So if you want the rope rope to "fall" out of the tree do the jrb hitch. Otherwise if you want to leave or put back a paracord preset, use the Maverick. I have yet to have one slip and I do my own 24" fall human drop tests on all new hitches i try, so I can have full confidence 30' up.
 
I’ve had trouble getting the running JRB hitch to explode after hunting in the rain, but I weigh 225 and it was using Dynaglide as my pull down line. It did eventually explode, but I had to tie a Clove hitch around a large stick and pull with all my weight from as far away from the base of the tree as I could get.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Ah, there is a difference to the JRB hitch and the running Jrb hitch. The first doesn't make your rope go around the tree so it'll fall off easier on just one side.
But like seekbigger said, the Maverick is easier and more functional (I love presets).
 
Ah, there is a difference to the JRB hitch and the running Jrb hitch. The first doesn't make your rope go around the tree so it'll fall off easier on just one side.
But like seekbigger said, the Maverick is easier and more functional (I love presets).

Yeah, I have used the running version because it can be tied with a lot less rope, but I am going to start messing around with the regular JRB and Maverick hitch to see if I like either better.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
for what its worth i fixed tangle issues when i stopped using longer paracord as a pull rope or an excessively longer pull rope period and clipped the pull rope to my pack vs on my saddle or anywhere that could tangle with my sticks or rappel line.
 
I will reiterate friction is not your friend during retrieval. Also how and where you connect to your climbing line affects how easily everything comes out of the tree. I climb a cinched SRT configuration and have had to reclimb up to a hang up on branches allowing me to figure out what works. My use of the Notch Quickie helps to reduce friction eliminating rope on rope contact.
 
This year I was using three EWO sticks (love that stand off) with three step aiders on the bottom two and no aider on the top stick. It’s doable without rappelling down but rappelling is a safer option. I kept forgetting to toss my rappelling gear in my bag and ended up not rappelling at all this season.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I use 35 feet of 8mm Oplux with a OHM tender. My rappel rope serves as my tree tether and I can use it as a retrival rope, however, my Doyle gear hoist is normally all I use to pull my weapon of choice up. I use the WEI steps. I rappel with a double looped figure 8 and a back-up friction hitch. If it ain't broke I don't planning on fixing it.
 
I'd invite you to consider using your rappelling rope as your pull up rope. At least that's why I did... I added a 7/64 continuous Amsteel loop to the very end of the rappelling rope. I use this loop to attach to my xbow and pull it up; my backpack is on my back when I'm climbing.

David
 
I'd invite you to consider using your rappelling rope as your pull up rope. At least that's why I did... I added a 7/64 continuous Amsteel loop to the very end of the rappelling rope. I use this loop to attach to my xbow and pull it up; my backpack is on my back when I'm climbing.

David
Do you happen to have a pic of loop attachment.

Am kinda in process of transitioning towards rappel as pull up as well. Usually use alpine butterfly, but am interested in alternatives

Thanks
 
Do you happen to have a pic of loop attachment.

Am kinda in process of transitioning towards rappel as pull up as well. Usually use alpine butterfly, but am interested in alternatives

Thanks
So I have 2 loops on my Canyon C-IV rappel rope; one on each end. One is a continuous loop where I have a brummel lock on it and buried each end. The other I just did a brummel lock and just shrink wrapped the tag ends because I didn't feel like burying the ends. Neither end is going to hold a large amount of weight so this works perfectly. Let me know if you have any more questions.

David IMG_20231227_211042769.jpgIMG_20231227_211058159.jpg

Sent from my moto g power (2022) using Tapatalk
 
Back
Top