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New to one sticking, need help with the repelling.

Ozarkshunter5106

Ozarkshunter5106

New Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2018
Messages
19
I know I’m late to the game with one sticking but I just learned of it and decided to give it a shot as I’m always looking to be lighter going in. Tried it the first couple times with my normal tether and going up is awesome but coming back down that way is a pain so I’m trying to get the repelling thing down. When I learned of it the safeguard was sold out everywhere and after watching Saddle Hunting’s video on alternatives, I purchased the Mammut smart 2 with their hms carabiner that was recommended for it. I’m using 10mm rope and I just can’t get the device to act the way it was working in the video. I’m backing it up with a hollow block clipped into my lineman’s loop on my right side and am currently relying on that to stop me. I weigh about 230 and the mammut just doesn’t seem to get enough bite on the rope to hold without putting tension on my backup. It’s breaking and releasing good when going down, but I can’t come to a stop without putting all my weight onto the backup which is twisting me sideways and is a pain to get moving again. I don’t know if this is a rope, carabiner, or just user error problem. I’m new to this and have no experience with these devices so I’m wondering if anyone’s had this problem and knows the fix. On a budget so I would like to stick to this device and not buy something different.
 
Which friction hitch are you using? I know some experimentation with various knots have helped others. Also, you can set aside the Mammut device for the time being and rappel on a munter hitch (or other munter variety) with just a carabiner. Start low, slow, and safe and see if you like the results better.
 
I was using an autoblock but I didn’t like the way it would take a second to constrict and stop my rope from feeding through the mammut so I switched to a prusik cause that’s what I’m familiar with and when I let go of it I stop right there. And I haven’t heard of that hitch before but I will look it up and give it a shot! If I want to go back to the mammut though, any tips on getting it to bite the rope more and stop me without having to rely on my backup?
 
I use a klemheist hitch rather than an autoblock. It bites quicker than the autoblock and releases much easier than a prusik would.


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Ditto on the Klemheist. Unfortunately I can’t speak to the Mammut question since I’ve never used that device. But I’ve had good experiences using just a carabiner on a munter hitch or a figure 8 plate paired with a carabiner (either with a Klemheist backup) for rappelling. I did not at all like the Autoblock.
 
And I don’t suggest the munter hitch or figure 8 to deter you from the Mammut. You have to decide what works best for you! Just tossing it up there since they are cheap/free (if you already have enough biners) and lightweight options for confident rappelling.
 
Marmuzz said:
And I don’t suggest the munter hitch or figure 8 to deter you from the Mammut. You have to decide what works best for you! Just tossing it up there since they are cheap/free (if you already have enough biners) and lightweight options for confident rappelling.
Click to expand...
Yeah I’m gonna give it another go with the munter hitch as it looks super easy. Wish I would have done more research and learned of that before I bought the mammut. Question for you, do you sit and hunt with that hitch or do you just switch to it to rappel down? And if so what does your process look like for safely switching? I currently sit at hunting hieght with a ropeman and love how easy it is to make quick and stealthy tether adjustments if I need to reposition for a shot. When I last tried with the mammut, I couldn’t stand having to use two hands to tend my backup hitch and pull rope to go up or down. I like to be able to make an adjustment with my bow in one hand
 
I climb and hunt from my rappel rope using a standard prusik knot. To switch over, I put on a secondary tether and remain clipped into that while unhooking out of the rappel rope pruisk, tying on a Klemheist much lower on the rappel rope to clip into my linesman belt loop (as a backup and descent control), and then rigging up my rappel method (carabiner munter or figure 8). Next I’ll slide down the secondary tether prusik to the point where the Klemheist on the rappel rope has to grab, to test everything is biting correctly. Then I take off the secondary tether and rappel. When on rappel, only my right hand applies pressure to the Klemheist to control descent. My left hand is totally free, and at any time I can immediately let go with y right hand, stop, and have two hands to push away branches or untie gear.

Admittedly, the switch over is kinda a pain and requires two ropes, but I never want to be un-tethered from the tree in case of a misstep or freak failure of my platform. That’s how I’ve found to safely disconnect and rig things up. In my view, having one anchor point from which you can climb, hang, and rappel is the primary advantage of a mechanical device.
 
I know you said you are on a budget, but here is my personal suggestion, and you would actually be dollars ahead. Get rid of the Smart 2 (use the classifieds here or AT, or sell on FB marketplace) and get yourself one of these: https://www.karstsports.com/black-diamond-super-8/

Then watch some videos on using a soft lock. @phatkaw has a video that demonstrates a soft lock with a double wrap that will hold you right where you want. I was running about 235 (about 220 now) and the double wrap works great.
 
Figure 8 is all you need watch @phatkaw video on it it’s so simple snd works great I liked it so much I sold my MR devices I personally use my tether to climb with Kong duck then when I’m ready to rappel I take that rope out and switch over it’s really easy as I’m connected all the time once I’m set with figure 8 rappel set up I take my tether off and throw in my pouch and rappel away
 
^^^ Hey you guys I'm glad to hear that my way works for you.
Ozark, check out the thread leading up to the video...

Figure of 8 progress capture???

Any of yins guys heard of doing this? I never have. I’ve been doing it for over a month. I think I invented it? It’s legit. It works great! I saw Nice Guy Dave from Wesspur do sumthin’ like this but my way is waayyy easier... Just rig yourself up to descend, then take your tag end and wrap...
saddlehunter.com
 
A munter hitch is really all you need. If you have a couple carabiners and an autoblock or a friction hitch of your choice, you're set.
 
I gave the Munter hitch a try and it worked great so thanks for the input. Also tied a klemhiest instead of my usual priusik and I get why y’all are saying it’s a superior hitch. Bites fast and is easy to release. I did figure out the mammut last night while hanging my tether from the kitchen door hinge as I’m sure we all do when messing with gear lol. So I guess the rope you are using is critical. For my tethers and lineman’s ropes, I’ve always just bought safety lines from bass pro and cut them up to make what I need. The rope I was trying to repel with was a hunter safety systems brand and the mammut would not bite it enough to stop me without putting all my weight on my backup. Last night when messing around in the kitchen I was using an old tether I had made from a section of a muddy safety line with the black and orange rope that in all their stuff. The device worked perfect and just how it showed online. They are both 10mm rope so I guess the type of rope is important with the mammut. The rope hss was using felt slicker if that makes sense and I guess that why it wouldn’t bite. Functioning properly, the mammut I think is going to replace my ropeman all together and it ascends and descends easily when you find the combination of rope and carabiner that bite well. Thanks for y’all’s help and I think I am going to mess around with the minter hitch anyways because there is some noise with the mammut. Thought I would share this for anyone having the same troubles I was
 
A super/monster munter and an autoblock then clip in to your left or right lineman loop are almost effortless. Just a slight squeeze on the autoblock will get ya moving again and it stops on a dime. I'm 220lbs and haven't found anything smoother or more controlled and I've tried a couple atcs and a safeguard.
 
huntin_addict said:
I know you said you are on a budget, but here is my personal suggestion, and you would actually be dollars ahead. Get rid of the Smart 2 (use the classifieds here or AT, or sell on FB marketplace) and get yourself one of these: https://www.karstsports.com/black-diamond-super-8/

Then watch some videos on using a soft lock. @phatkaw has a video that demonstrates a soft lock with a double wrap that will hold you right where you want. I was running about 235 (about 220 now) and the double wrap works great.
Click to expand...

I climb with a standard tether and ropeman1. When its time to come down I switch over to my rappel rope (CIV) on a figure-8 using the double wrap method. I used to use a Beal Jammy tied in to my linesman loop below the 8 as a backup but I found the double wrap secure enough bouncing around on it at ground level that I dont bother with the backup anymore. I can lower nice and slow with 1 wrap and add the second wrap to unhook my platform and move laterally to remove my stick hands free. I can then take the second wrap out and rappel down super controlled with the single wrap. Using the figure 8 without the wraps is easy too but I find the single wrap for the decent to be a nicer. If you fly down with 1 wrap it does warm up the rope much more than using the 8 standard.
 
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