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Lightest SRT or Rappel

paxamus said:
I’m going to give the GriGri+ a shot in the off season. I figure that way I can stop on the way down and take off steps/sticks with both hands


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Same here but much safer. A friction knot allows you to work hands free, just squeeze the knot to continue down. Autoblock works the best for this application but a prusik and others will also work.

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JBDaddy said:
This looks like what I'm interested in, I think. Do you leave it connected that way all the way up the tree, while hunting, and all the way back down, or is that just for the rappel back down? I suspect it's just for the way down, since i would think the autoblock gets unwieldy during the ascent and while hunting.

So when you're at height and on a platform/ROS, you switch to the amsteel bridge plus a ropeman and carabiner?

I was wondering if a single device could be used in all phases. Like an amsteel bridge, carabiner, plus Sterling ATS, or ATC, or Rock Exotica Mini 8 - long as there was a reliable lock involved that could be trusted. I'm worried about when there's slack (like you've just climbed up your stick and need to move your tether up) or you're standing on your platform, etc. I wouldn't want the rope setup to move/slide... but I would want it reasonably easy to switch into rappel operation for when it's time to come down, fingers are cold/wet, gotta stop and undo platform & stick, etc.

Sorry for repeating some questions here, or asking dumb ones. The concept is really capturing my attention to save weight.
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The autoblock and ATC are just for rappelling. I use a Petzl left hand ascender and Safeguard for the ascent. At hunting height I completely transition to my normal tether (just make sure you’re connected 100% of the time during transition!). After the hunt I completely rig my rappel set-up prior to detachment from my tether.


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weekender21 said:
Should go without saying but....if you go that route ensure your bridge is fall rated.


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Was going to make a shorter bridge from an extra HSS lineman rope that has never left my garage


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weekender21 said:
Should go without saying but....if you go that route ensure your bridge is fall rated.
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Yep.
And keep slack out of your line.
Remember that 'fall ratings' are for climbers that free fall a little before getting caught.
Never climb up above your tether. One of the original One-Stick Youtube videos, he was climbing a good bit past his tether every step
 
paxamus said:
Was going to make a shorter bridge from an extra HSS lineman rope that has never left my garage
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I have used a Prusik on my Bridge to adjust it shorter when using ascenders or rappel and then adjust it for hunting when I got to height.
Another technique I used was to have a second shorter bridge attached to my saddle.
One version of that was a Sling with a carabiner on one end and girth hitched to the saddle.
While still hanging from my tether and standard bridge, I would connect my ATC to the short bridge.
That way I could stay connected and even test my ATC connection before unloading my tether bridge.
 
I am in agreement to keep slack out of your system. In tree climbing(arborist) you are not dealing with falls in the same way as rock climbing- fall arrest and rated for climbing are two different entities. Having a device that allows both ascent and descent without changeover is a big safety improvement- the transition between the two can be a very dangerous time. Us that climb to hunt are usually not climbing all that high<30 in most cases I would guess but make no mistake you don't have to be very far off the ground to sustain a life threatening fall(landing).
 
Can somebody explain to me why this wouldn't work to lock off an atc at hunting height? It is also backed up with a prusik. New to this but seems solid to me.




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mbucks27 said:
Can somebody explain to me why this wouldn't work to lock off an atc at hunting height? It is also backed up with a prusik. New to this but seems solid to me.




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To untie that knot, do you have to open the carabiner that your ATC is connected with? That'll get the knowledgeable climbers in a snit. Being less knowledgeable, it makes me a bit concerned too. There's an overhand mule knot intended for this that looks safer.


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Yeah you do. I ha e also seen the mule knot and it works great also maybe I'll go that route instead.
 
The question that comes to my mind, is WHY? That setup doesn't seem to address a need.
 
Just trying to one stick method and repel with easiest setup possible
 
mbucks27 said:
Just trying to one stick method and repel with easiest setup possible
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I really think it's worth using a separate tether for the one stick method. Managing your 25-40' rappel rope adds exrtra work for no reason. If you insist on using your rappel rope as a tether, connect your bridge to it via a prusik and carabiner. No reason to reinvent the wheel.
 
mbucks27 said:
Just trying to one stick method and repel with easiest setup possible
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In your picture we can’t see how that tether is attached to the tree. Probably is girth hitched around the tree. So how will you pass over limbs on the way up? You’re gonna need a Lineman’s rope or you’re gonna need to use another length of your SRT rope below the part you’re using as a tether. And if you do that, how will you get the girth hitch loop undone to pass the tether over the branch? It is not impossible but is going to get complicated. Maybe you could use a quick link rather than girth hitch on tether. Also, if you take your platform off the tree before you untie that knot on your ATC, you’ll have the struggle of a lifetime getting that knot untied with your full weight on it. You have to have weight off that line to untie it and rappel down. Practice all these transitions near the ground. Or have your cell phone handy to call for help getting out of the tree. Don’t ask how I know. And in the Navy I learned the value of “2 for reliability.” Even if I could do everything with one rope, I’d still have a replacement rope ready.
 
Question for the OP and others who SRT up. I looked through this thread and didn't see anything about backing up the Safeguard (or whatever other device) on the way up. Is there a simple way to back up the Safeguard belay device while using an ascender with foot loop, such as with a friction hitch? I'm sure people do it, I guess I'm curious where it would be positioned for ease of use.
 
PastorKen said:
In your picture we can’t see how that tether is attached to the tree. Probably is girth hitched around the tree. So how will you pass over limbs on the way up? You’re gonna need a Lineman’s rope or you’re gonna need to use another length of your SRT rope below the part you’re using as a tether. And if you do that, how will you get the girth hitch loop undone to pass the tether over the branch? It is not impossible but is going to get complicated. Maybe you could use a quick link rather than girth hitch on tether. Also, if you take your platform off the tree before you untie that knot on your ATC, you’ll have the struggle of a lifetime getting that knot untied with your full weight on it. You have to have weight off that line to untie it and rappel down. Practice all these transitions near the ground. Or have your cell phone handy to call for help getting out of the tree. Don’t ask how I know. And in the Navy I learned the value of “2 for reliability.” Even if I could do everything with one rope, I’d still have a replacement rope ready.
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Oops my original response applied to other climbing methods mainly

If U are one-sticking using links then could run as dual tethers while climbing and just undo links to pass limbs as needed or if running girth hitched tethers then alternate girth hitching and undoing girth hitches as u climb

Could hook up rappel line once at hunting height

If SRT climbing I would assume u’d wanna start with rope thrown over a high enough limb to not need to change it

If not then I’m sure with tethers or extra rope u could navigate around limbs

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