I'm going to give one sticking a try this summer to see if I want to do it during the season. Can someone please provide a list of the minimum equipment needed to one stick? I've already got a climbing stick to try it with, just not sure for the type and length of rope, and type of mechanical ascender/descender that might be needed. Thanks in advance, I'm sure someone here knows this with out much effort and I don't want to purchase stuff I don't need.
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One sticking starter list
- Thread starter jfinn
- Start date
Hang Free also sells repelling kits and all the tools you will need.
I bought a repelling kit from hang Free 35' Rope (they have a kit with Madrock for 179.00 right now which I think is a great deal)
Madrock Safeguard is my choice to ascender/descender (works great)
I modified one of my Trophyline sticks by adding a three step aider, Harken Cam Cleat and Full bury amsteal rope to attach to tree.
I bought a repelling kit from hang Free 35' Rope (they have a kit with Madrock for 179.00 right now which I think is a great deal)
Madrock Safeguard is my choice to ascender/descender (works great)
I modified one of my Trophyline sticks by adding a three step aider, Harken Cam Cleat and Full bury amsteal rope to attach to tree.
If you are just trying it out and already have a stick all you need in addition is: a quick link (can do straight trees with a girth hitch but for limbs need a link and a second tether/linesman), a climbing rated carabiner, and whatever hitch, ascender or prusik cord you usually hang off of. If you wanna try rappelling after you reach height (I recommend versus 1-sticking down), you need 35-40 feet of respectable climbing rope (Canyon Elite, Canyon C-IV, OpLux, Teufelberger Resc Tech). You can rappel using your carabiner with a super munter hitch
Lots of variables there. People’s opinions range far on devices vs. friction hitches. For that, I’d recommend you first decide if you want to climb on a standard tether and then rappel down on a separate dedicated rope, or climb and rappel on the same rope. If you go with the former, a standard figure eight plate with a backup hitch is a cheap and easy way to come down. You get into the weeds more if going up and down on one rope. It’s up to you.
I’d strongly recommend a Harken Cam Cleat, although technically you can also do it with a prusik and and Versa button. Not my preference but it totally works and is cheaper than a cam cleat.
I’d also suggest experimenting with tubular webbing for your aider.
I’d strongly recommend a Harken Cam Cleat, although technically you can also do it with a prusik and and Versa button. Not my preference but it totally works and is cheaper than a cam cleat.
I’d also suggest experimenting with tubular webbing for your aider.
Iron_llama
Well-Known Member
- 30+ feet of rappel line - Oplux, C-IV, Canyon Elite, Bluewater Assault, etc., etc., lots of options there
- Hitch cord suitable to your rappel line.
- Descender - Figure 8, GriGri, Kong Duck, carabiner for a Munter/SuperMunter, etc. This can also be your ascender, but you can also climb on a friction hitch like the Sticht or JRB or Cornell or etc...
- Suitable carabiner(s). I use 2, 1 for my friction hitch and 1 for my Figure 8. If you use a mechanical descender you'll want to pair your 'biner to your descender.
- Delta link. Or quick link. Or tie one of the JRB exploding hitches. Or a static loop with a carabiner for Pocono hitch as per JRB. I use a Delta link on my rappel line and a quick link on my tether and slightly favor the Delta link.
- Haul line to pull down your rope after rappelling. 550 cord works but is really too stretchy so you'll be happier with Zingit or Dynaglide; EWO has kits. 30' should be sufficient. I use the EWO kit spooled onto a Harbor Freight dog leash reel.
- A way to keep your tether from sliding down the tree when you un-weight it. You can use an Ohm clip, or a clothespin, or a Turk's-head knot, or a cotter pin, or a GearTie, or any number of other solutions. I use a bungee loop Prussiced to my line but might ditch that in favor of a slipknot tied with my haul line.
- It's nice to have some handles of some sort on your rappel line so you can slide it up the tree without getting your fingers caught between your line and the trunk. S-hooks, keychain carabiners, paracord loops, etc., lots of answers to this question. I skipped this step this past season and won't make that mistake again; I've got some old ratchet straps that are going to donate their steel hooks to the cause.
- You'll want an aider on your stick. 3 steps is most common but is by no means a must. Technically, your aider isn't life support the same way your climbing tether/rappel line is, and doesn't need to be climbing-rated tubular webbing or Amsteel. Really, though, you want it to be at least as strong as climbing-rated stuff.
- Most important - practice, practice practice!
Good advice here
bfriendly
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jul 15, 2021
- Messages
- 906
I think Figure out how you want to rappel . I use an ATC but I do have to switch over from a ropeman or other device I use to ascend. Not a big deal and it is very simple to use. I use a prussik or schwabish type hitch below the ATC for a brake. Using that allows me to work hands free to remove platform and stick , before going WOOHOO the rest of the way down
THE 2 things Id recommend is a Cam cleat and a super long gear tie attached to the top of your stick to use as a handle. The hardest thing to do is remove your stick from below you and bring it up. Having a handle and an ez attachment method is a must in my book. I’ve seen guys use their foot to bring it up and all kinds of craziness…..screw that!
THE 2 things Id recommend is a Cam cleat and a super long gear tie attached to the top of your stick to use as a handle. The hardest thing to do is remove your stick from below you and bring it up. Having a handle and an ez attachment method is a must in my book. I’ve seen guys use their foot to bring it up and all kinds of craziness…..screw that!
The gear lists everybody has posted are good. I would say go into it with an open mind. Like most things in life, the better the equipment you use the more enjoyable the experiences. Rappelling on oplux is completely different than rappelling on canyon. The difference between a mad rock, figure 8, grigri are night and day. Using a mechanical device or a friction hitch are 2 completely different conversations. Good luck, start out practicing a few feet off the ground and figure out your gear.
All good info above for sure. Also recommend you check out Staggs in the Wild on Youtube where Gregg discusses everything one sticking, including equipment lists. It’s a great resource for all of the latest and greatest if you are just starting out or a veteran one sticker. Good luck and stay safe!
Iron_llama
Well-Known Member
My first rappel was off a climbing tower at Scout camp in middle school. My first as an adult was off my truck's trailer hitch, down the driveway. Once I got comfortable with the friction I started descending the tree from 0 moves, then 1 move, then 2 moves, etc. You get more reps in going 1 move up and descending than you do climbing as high as you can.
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2018
- Messages
- 3,383
I would say there’s a buttload of cheeseheads on here so try and meet up with some of them and try out their equipment.
Me personally, I like the simple approach. A stick with a single aider tied from 1” tubular webbing. A LW seat bolted to my stick for a platform. A separate tether (Oplux) with prusik. Same for lineman’s rope (which I don’t often use).
For the rappel I use an ATC and a hollow block stopper. I tie off to the end with an oval link.
For practice, regardless of the path you choose equipment wise, I recommend putting the stick on the tree and climbing up, tightening the tether then switching from the tether to the rappel line. Now rappel down from that short distance several times, many even. Disconnect the rappel line and hook back up to the tether each time. Do this over and over until you have a repeatable system that you can do in your sleep. This is NOT where you want to be making mistakes.
Once you’ve got that down and one stick move to your routine and repeat over and over.
Me personally, I like the simple approach. A stick with a single aider tied from 1” tubular webbing. A LW seat bolted to my stick for a platform. A separate tether (Oplux) with prusik. Same for lineman’s rope (which I don’t often use).
For the rappel I use an ATC and a hollow block stopper. I tie off to the end with an oval link.
For practice, regardless of the path you choose equipment wise, I recommend putting the stick on the tree and climbing up, tightening the tether then switching from the tether to the rappel line. Now rappel down from that short distance several times, many even. Disconnect the rappel line and hook back up to the tether each time. Do this over and over until you have a repeatable system that you can do in your sleep. This is NOT where you want to be making mistakes.
Once you’ve got that down and one stick move to your routine and repeat over and over.
How’s the Canyon Elite compared to the Oplux? I’ve always used Oplux but have been looking into the Canyon.
Iron_llama
Well-Known Member
I've never used the Oplux. C-IV (the only line I've used) is pretty stiff. It's compatible with any polyester- or nylon-sheathed hitch cord so I've got plenty of options there.