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Rappel Rope Length

K

K.D.P

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2020
Messages
646
Good Afternoon,
I currently have two rappel rope setups. I hav done that is 40ft and the other is 35ft I believe. I’m interested in know how much rope some of you carry? When I hunt I’m normally around 15ft to 17ft. I’ve been thinking about cutting the 40ft rope down to around 25 to 30ft. Has anyone done this?
 
I haven’t, but I have been thinking the same thing. I’ve got 38’ and there’s always plenty of rope left over when rappelling. I hunt anywhere between 17-22’ and never higher… I just never feel like one sticking higher than that after climbing and figure it’ll only make any shots harder. 30-32’ would probably be enough and a lot easier to lug around on the side of my saddle.
 
Marmuzz said:
I haven’t, but I have been thinking the same thing. I’ve got 38’ and there’s always plenty of rope left over when rappelling. I hunt anywhere between 17-22’ and never higher… I just never feel like one sticking higher than that after climbing and figure it’ll only make any shots harder. 30-32’ would probably be enough and a lot easier to lug around on the side of my saddle.
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Yeah I believe around 28 to 32 would be more than enough, maybe even less.
 
Red Beard said:
When I was rappelling, I eventually cut my rope down to 26'. That equates to a regular 6' tether to go around the trunk and 20' to get down.

Cutting 14' off my original rappel rope shaved a lot of unnecessary weight.
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That’s awesome!! The weight savings isn’t a huge deal. Mine is the packability, and the room it takes up. Also how long it takes to store it away at the bottom of the tree.
 
b73 said:
Just finished cutting an extra tether from my 40’ repel rope this evening. I’ll save weight by replacing my larger tether and will pack easier.
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What length did you cut your rappel rope to?
 
2nd year Saddle Hunter here. I was thinking of doing the same. I have 40'. BUT, i am not sold on one climbing method. I climbed 2TC last year and this summer actually became pretty proficient in DSRT and SRT ala JRB. I went the other way, bought 80' from EWO, but haven't used that yet during hunting. I did have a hunt and DSRT'd up from a preset. Much more smooth for me. I was about 4 feet short from the ground with my rope ends on the descent. No problem though. So I guess it just depends on where I hunt now and which set I bring. 40' oplux isn't really too bulky and I am now comfortable on a thin rope. I used the 40' and rappelled with an 8 and double rope. Very simple. It is also a breeze retrieving the double line.
 
K.D.P said:
What length did you cut your rappel rope to?
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I cut about 10’ off to make the tether so it’s about 30’ now. I used to climb stupid high in my climber at times but last few years I rarely go above 20’.
 
mines 30 and i think that is still alot. i just go thirty for the emergency. i dont know where people came up with 40ft but id never carry that much. especially in anything over 8mm
 
I carry 40’ havent got close to the end yet. Thought about cutting it down, but it isn’t that much weight and I have a couple trees picked out where I need to get 30’ up. There’s other things I could throw out of my pack to save weight.

If you have no plans of ever getting over/near 30’ you will probably be fine cutting it.
 
All my rope is 9mm and I don’t feel the need for the 8mm because most of my walks aren’t that far back right now. Plus with my 2 stick & moveable aider method only gets me around 15 18 depends on if I try to use my platform as another sticks.
 
I'm at 25ft. At first I was scared that I might go to high but then I realized my process does not allow this. This is because I unravel my rappel rope and tie the end to my bow as my pull up. So when I onestick up, I can look down and see how much rope I have left. Plus realistically you can go as high as you want one sticking with any length of rope. Let say you only had 15 ft, if you rappel to the end of your rope. Just setup a 2nd tender to the tree, then you can retrive your room from high, setup again, then rappel again! Basically using 2tc going down with LONG maneuvers.
 
HuumanCreed said:
Let say you only had 15 ft, if you rappel to the end of your rope. Just setup a 2nd tender to the tree, then you can retrive your room from high, setup again, then rappel again! Basically using 2tc going down with LONG maneuvers.
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Have u actually tried this? Spoiler alert...it's very very difficult borderline impossible depending on if ur rope wants to let go or not

Edit: maybe with 1 of these fancy exploding hitches it's doable but with a traditional quik link or biner I stand by above statement
 
Weldabeast said:
Have u actually tried this? Spoiler alert...it's very very difficult borderline impossible depending on if ur rope wants to let go or not

Edit: maybe with 1 of these fancy exploding hitches it's doable but with a traditional quik link or biner I stand by above statement
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I have done this once and it was not that difficult, especially if you have a foot loop or an aider. Its was hard at first because the angle of pulling almost straight down sucked. But if you push yourself as far away from the tree as possible (I basically had my legs fully extended against the tree) , you can get enough of an angle if you are pulling the rope as far away from the tree as possible.

Would I WANT to always do this all the time? No, it would be easier to carry 10ft of extra rope.

Easiest would be to setup your one stick again at the location you are at. Just my opinion, but one sticking and 2TC share the same methodology, except one is doing smaller movements while the other is leap frogging the tenders.
 
I’ve messed with a few different lengths and 30 was Goldilocks for me. I had @DanO splice in a loop at the end of my rappel line to which I secure my weapon and/or other various sundries to haul up once I’m set. Less than was not enough line and 40 feet for me just became tedious to fake down and tend. In this manner I could eliminate a haul up line thus eliminating an extra piece of gear in my kit.
 
HuumanCreed said:
I have done this once and it was not that difficult, especially if you have a foot loop or an aider. Its was hard at first because the angle of pulling almost straight down sucked. But if you push yourself as far away from the tree as possible (I basically had my legs fully extended against the tree) , you can get enough of an angle if you are pulling the rope as far away from the tree as possible.

Would I WANT to always do this all the time? No, it would be easier to carry 10ft of extra rope.

Easiest would be to setup your one stick again at the location you are at. Just my opinion, but one sticking and 2TC share the same methodology, except one is doing smaller movements while the other is leap frogging the tenders.
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I guess I gotta take u word for it. U are either much taller, much stronger, or much more athletic than me or a combination of thee 3. Dedicated a whole day to seeing if that move was tangible and on grippy bark trees I have up. Pine tree and my maple was doable but an oak and palm refused to cooperate no matter how hard I tried.... If it ain't working in the yard it dang sure not being implemented in the woods
 
Weldabeast said:
I guess I gotta take u word for it. U are either much taller, much stronger, or much more athletic than me or a combination of thee 3. Dedicated a whole day to seeing if that move was tangible and on grippy bark trees I have up. Pine tree and my maple was doable but an oak and palm refused to cooperate no matter how hard I tried.... If it ain't working in the yard it dang sure not being implemented in the woods
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not to high jack the thread but youve hunted out of a palm tree? thats kind cool to hear lol
 
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