One sticking. Why not use a descender?

[tcmetrohunter]

Hornets notwithstanding, I reason if you get into a situation where you’re dangling from a tether you can’t release tension on (i.e. prusik is holding you), you can put on your lineman’s belt and cinch yourself tight enough to the tree trunk to at least give your self a little slack in the tether to manage to rappel out. It’s not comfortable or necessary easy, but I have done it in practice climbs to drill what I might have to do if the stick drops.

I like this. Yet another tool for the ol tool box. Thanks for sharing.

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[tcmetrohunter]

I climb on my rappel rope with the Madrock for one reason especially. If I get off the ground one-sticking and loose or slip off the stick for whatever reason, I could potentially be hanging (and possibly banged up from the fall) with no way to take tension off the tether.
If I'm climbing on my 40' rappel line and have the Madrock in place......I simply come back down the tree.
If I'm climbing on a short tether, I'd need to make the transition to a rappel line and somehow take the tension off the short tether before attempting to come down.
That and hornets. I've like to get out of the tree as fast as possible if I run into a nest of bald face hornets on the way up.

You have a good point there. I'm tempted to try the madrock just for this reason.

I was playing with my solo scout and a couple hawk steps last night and while using my rappel rope as my tether I found that I kinda miss having the lever. I'd like to see a side by side of the beal birdie vs the safeguard to see the size difference.

Another option for the OP is to climb with your ATC and auto block. I haven't tried it but in theory it would work. When you get to hunting height you could clip the prussic to your bridge and unclip your ATC.

I could be way off though.

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[athompson18]

This is awesome information, I will admit I am new to the climbing world and hunted with a 1 stick set up last year with a safeguard with 40ft of rope, but with more reading and learning, I would like another safety aspect and level of protection. And I was just thinking after reading the forum, could you use a autoblock in junction of the madrock to control the tag end and have another "safety" aspect?

Sounds like its doable? Opinions?

 

[tcmetrohunter]

This is awesome information, I will admit I am new to the climbing world and hunted with a 1 stick set up last year with a safeguard with 40ft of rope, but with more reading and learning, I would like another safety aspect and level of protection. And I was just thinking after reading the forum, could you use a autoblock in junction of the madrock to control the tag end and have another "safety" aspect?

Sounds like its doable? Opinions?

You can for surely do that as long as the autoblock isn't feeding into the Madrock. There are a few people on here that recommend doing it that way. It would increase your safety level if the Madrock failed for some reason.

 

[Islandshooter]

I’d like to see a video of how y’all one-stick climb keeping the slack out of the tether. Please!

 

[gcr0003]

I’d like to see a video of how y’all one-stick climb keeping the slack out of the tether. Please!

I use lineman’s belt, good luck keeping slack out of your tether while one sticking.

 

[XArmy]

Another Question for you one stickers. Do you avoid branchy trees? I know you could pass branches using your lineman's rope to move the tether past, but I'm just curious because I like branchy trees for cover. I've never liked sitting on telephone poles. I'd also kinda think branchy trees might aid when you get to levels where there is a branch to step on while ascending.

 

[trailblazer75]

Another Question for you one stickers. Do you avoid branchy trees? I know you could pass branches using your lineman's rope to move the tether past, but I'm just curious because I like branchy trees for cover. I've never liked sitting on telephone poles. I'd also kinda think branchy trees might aid when you get to levels where there is a branch to step on while ascending.

I actually prefer a tree with some branches for cover. I'll just pop my LB over the branch and then undo my quick link to put it as high as I can to move up, remove LB and drive on. Its too easy and I feel better with my LB over a branch because if I somehow REALLY screwed up, the branch would most likely hold me. And you're right, its easy to get some extra height off a branch than you'd get just moving your stick. This is where rappelling makes its money in my opinion. Hopefully you're like me and gcr0003 and RUNNING a rappel setup.

 

[gcr0003]

I actually prefer a tree with some branches for cover. I'll just pop my LB over the branch and then undo my quick link to put it as high as I can to move up, remove LB and drive on. Its too easy and I feel better with my LB over a branch because if I somehow REALLY screwed up, the branch would most likely hold me. And you're right, its easy to get some extra height off a branch than you'd get just moving your stick. This is where rappelling makes its money in my opinion. Hopefully you're like me and gcr0003 and RUNNING a rappel setup.

9/10 would recommend running this set up

 

[gcr0003]

Another Question for you one stickers. Do you avoid branchy trees? I know you could pass branches using your lineman's rope to move the tether past, but I'm just curious because I like branchy trees for cover. I've never liked sitting on telephone poles. I'd also kinda think branchy trees might aid when you get to levels where there is a branch to step on while ascending.

It only takes me 4/5 moves to get to hunting height. Even if you had to undo your tether each time you're only doing it 4/5 times. It is not complicated and it doesn't take much time at all.

 

[XArmy]

8mm Resc Tech or 9mm Sterling Canyon rappel rope? I have the Resc Tech for my current tether and man is that rope nice.

 

[TooheyBirdie]

Anyone in here climb with sticks and rappel when done with the hunt? Curious to see what people are using if youre doing this

I climb WE Steps with knaider and swaider and rappel… I used an atc Device with a Prussic backup below on 35 feet of canyon elite rope….. just started doing this and it’s sooooo much less hassle, faster, and safer… I may flirt with one sticking but whatever way I climb, I’ll be rappeling

 

[cedar paul]

I use my Roperunner as my ascent/descent / tree tether adjustment. Of course I already had it so it was a no brainer ( average saddle hunter is not going to expend that much cash for this device). Climbing up is one thing but having to climb back down is something I choose not to do and rappelling is so natural. I use larger diameter rope but I like a little more hand with my rope ( easier to grip).

 

[tcmetrohunter]

Tested my current setup tonight a few times and landed on what I have pictured. I tried double wrapping my rope around the screw link and found it works really well at stopping the tether loop from loosening and sliding down the tree. Made my prussic/auto block out of 5mm Sterling static accessory cord. Ropeman 2 is very trustworthy with the 8mm also. My ATC is a Black Diamond single rope rated for 8mm as well.

I keep my rope man connected to my bridge until I'm all hooked in with my ATC and auto block and then I'm ready to rappel. Bonus is it all fits in my sys hauler perfect and the rope feeds out really smooth.

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[Fairchild#17]

Don't forget to Un-double wrap that rope before you rappel down or you'll be going back up the tree to get your rope back.

 

[tcmetrohunter]

Don't forget to Un-double wrap that rope before you rappel down or you'll be going back up the tree to get your rope back.

Good call! Would have totally forgot about that!

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[fortej1]

You can for surely do that as long as the autoblock isn't feeding into the Madrock. There are a few people on here that recommend doing it that way. It would increase your safety level if the Madrock failed for some reason.

I'm brand new to saddle hunting but I'd like to see how this is done because this is what makes the most sense to me (especially as someone who is starting for the first time and is buying all this stuff up front for the first time)....i'd like to be one and done with my purchases.

 

[Fairchild#17]

I keep the bridge at arm's length with the Safeguard on it. Not over extended.
I have a Prussik tied on the line below the Safeguard, attached to my right side linesman loop with a carabiner. You just have to make sure that the prussik cord is short enough that when it is fully extended it doesn't reach the Safeguard. Mine is set up so it's about 3-6"" short of being able to touch the safeguard. When set up like this, I can full open the lever on the Safeguard and squeeze the prussik to let rope play out, or you can find a balance between the lever and the pressure on the prussik. It makes for a very smooth and controlled descent.

 

[fortej1]

I keep the bridge at arm's length with the Safeguard on it. Not over extended.
I have a Prussik tied on the line below the Safeguard, attached to my right side linesman loop with a carabiner. You just have to make sure that the prussik cord is short enough that when it is fully extended it doesn't reach the Safeguard. Mine is set up so it's about 3-6"" short of being able to touch the safeguard. When set up like this, I can full open the lever on the Safeguard and squeeze the prussik to let rope play out, or you can find a balance between the lever and the pressure on the prussik. It makes for a very smooth and controlled descent.

If you ever decided to make a video of this, it'd be greatly appreciated! Also, I'm using a Birdie, but I assume the application is the same correct?

Also, do you use that prussik backup when ASCENDING? That may be a stupid question....I'm just trying to conceptualize it in my head.

 

[tcmetrohunter]

If you ever decided to make a video of this, it'd be greatly appreciated! Also, I'm using a Birdie, but I assume the application is the same correct?

If you look at my picture with the ATC just replace the ATC with your Birdie. Give it a try at ground level and see if you like it. I would have to practice with that setup to get the hang of it since your managing two things. I kinda like the ATC because of the simplicity.