Rappelling 101

[mtsrunner]

What I do is use a safeguard on my RCH to climb and descend. I don’t use a friction hitch with it. I prefer it over using one system to go up and a different system to go down because there’s no change over. From the time I leave the ground until I get back I’m connected to the rope with the safeguard.

At hunting height I use a fleece saddle with a prusik and transfer my weight to it and tie a stopper knot below my safeguard.

That’s what I do and I’m comfortable with it. YMMV.



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I have been doing the same except with a saddle instead of fleece/rch. I feel good about it, but the case of @boyne bowhunter is in the back of my mind. He had a safeguard break while in the tree. I always have a figure 8 and a 24” climbing sling with me, but if the Safegaurd broke while actually climbing or rapelling, I could possibly get in a dicey situation.

 

[boyne bowhunter]

I have been doing the same except with a saddle instead of fleece/rch. I feel good about it, but the case of @boyne bowhunter is in the back of my mind. He had a safeguard break while in the tree. I always have a figure 8 and a 24” climbing sling with me, but if the Safegaurd broke while actually climbing or rapelling, I could possibly get in a dicey situation.

Again, and I can't emphasis this enough, even though the handle came off the Safeguard I was never in any danger. I was simply hanging on the Safeguard with no way to release it.

Had I not had my stick handy I would have used my short tether (or used a linesman's belt as a tether) to attach to the tree. Then I would transfer my weight onto that substitute tether allowing me to remove the broken safeguard and replace it with my backup descent method (ATC, munter hitch, etc). Then transfer back to the rappel rope, take my temporary tether off the tree and continue down on my rappel rope.

 

[bj139]

I always carry an extra tether just in case I need it as well and an ATC in my back pack. Always a good idea to be prepared for an unexpected problem.

 

[arm breaker]

Has anyone ever tried one of these?

Wildcountry Revo Wall Anchor Grey | Trekkinn

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[Pilk64]

Rappelling down looks pretty cool and safe...but...looms pretty entailed for a guy like me who has never set any rigging to rappell...and it seems like a lot more equipment to carry...

 

[arm breaker]

Rappelling down looks pretty cool and safe...but...looms pretty entailed for a guy like me who has never set any rigging to rappell...and it seems like a lot more equipment to carry...

In my case it includes a longer rope and a few ounces of equipment. It’s much faster and safer than climbing down in the dark, at least in my experience so far.

 

[Pilk64]

Is the longer rope an Extra rope?...if you climb up and down all you have is a lineman rope and a tether correct?...so would you need a separate rope for the rappell down?...sorrt if my questions seem stupid...I have never saddle hunted or climbed with spurs...this will be my first season and seeing how its pretty costly to get into saddle hunting with different ways of ascending and descending, I would like to get as much right as possible from the start...chewing your cabbage twice can be expensive...any and all info is greatly appreciated

 

[arm breaker]

Is the longer rope an Extra rope?...if you climb up and down all you have is a lineman rope and a tether correct?...so would you need a separate rope for the rappell down?...sorrt if my questions seem stupid...I have never saddle hunted or climbed with spurs...this will be my first season and seeing how its pretty costly to get into saddle hunting with different ways of ascending and descending, I would like to get as much right as possible from the start...chewing your cabbage twice can be expensive...any and all info is greatly appreciated

Yes, it’s one longer rope. It could double as your tether but I like to keep things separate. With the the fancy ropes these days it doesn’t add nearly as much weight and bulk as you might think. Otherwise, to really get going all you need is a couple more things.

For rope, you can use this:

Sterling OpLux

NOTICE: Due to supply issues with Oplux, we are recommending a rope from Teufelberger called Resc Tech. This rope is almost indistinguishable from Oplux and when you first see it, you won’t n…

doublesteps.com

Which I use on my tether and lineman’s but I use this for my rappelling setup at 40’ long or so

Sterling HTP Static Rope

Sterling HTP 9mm/10mm Rope – used by saddle hunters for tethers, lineman ropes, and SRT/rappel rope. Sold by the foot, enter quantity as the number of feet that you want and it will come in o…

doublesteps.com

Now you just need an ATC and an autoblock to help control your descent:

Grivel Master Mono Belay

Grivel Master Mono Belay device – perfect for rappelling on rope from 7.3mm – 11mm. This works with Sterling Oplux and Sterling HTP (9mm/10mm). Recommended carabiners for belay devices:…

doublesteps.com

Sterling HollowBlock2 (Autoblock)

Sterling HollowBlock2 commonly used as an autoblock for descent while using a belay device. Available in Black or Natural. (Carabiner shown not included)

doublesteps.com

Keep in mind I’m a relative newbie at this for saddle hunting and there’s lots of good information in this thread and elsewhere.

 

[Pilk64]

Yes, it’s one longer rope. It could double as your tether but I like to keep things separate. With the the fancy ropes these days it doesn’t add nearly as much weight and bulk as you might think. Otherwise, to really get going all you need is a couple more things.

For rope, you can use this:

Sterling OpLux

NOTICE: Due to supply issues with Oplux, we are recommending a rope from Teufelberger called Resc Tech. This rope is almost indistinguishable from Oplux and when you first see it, you won’t n…

doublesteps.com

Which I use on my tether and lineman’s but I use this for my rappelling setup at 40’ long or so

Sterling HTP Static Rope

Sterling HTP 9mm/10mm Rope – used by saddle hunters for tethers, lineman ropes, and SRT/rappel rope. Sold by the foot, enter quantity as the number of feet that you want and it will come in o…

doublesteps.com

Now you just need an ATC and an autoblock to help control your descent:

Grivel Master Mono Belay

Grivel Master Mono Belay device – perfect for rappelling on rope from 7.3mm – 11mm. This works with Sterling Oplux and Sterling HTP (9mm/10mm). Recommended carabiners for belay devices:…

doublesteps.com

Sterling HollowBlock2 (Autoblock)

Sterling HollowBlock2 commonly used as an autoblock for descent while using a belay device. Available in Black or Natural. (Carabiner shown not included)

doublesteps.com

Keep in mind I’m a relative newbie at this for saddle hunting and there’s lots of good information in this thread and elsewhere.

Thanks for the info...best of luck to you!

 

[Pilk64]

One other thing...(at least for now...lol) ...in the videos i have watched they didnt show how to retrieve your rope once you get down...or did i miss so.ethi g?

 

[pesqimon]

One other thing...(at least for now...lol) ...in the videos i have watched they didnt show how to retrieve your rope once you get down...or did i miss so.ethi g?

Not sure which video you watched, but some of them talk about it. Typically you take paracord and attach it to your loop and when you land you pull the parachord. There are greater and lesser ways of attaching your retrieval line. Lemme see where that post went...

 

[pesqimon]

See post #4

 

[Pilk64]

See post #4

Sorry I am so new here that I dont even know where post #4 is...thanks for your patience

 

[robstewart]

Rappelling down looks pretty cool and safe...but...looms pretty entailed for a guy like me who has never set any rigging to rappell...and it seems like a lot more equipment to carry...

I first started using a 30’ “tether” when I had my stop stick kick out and drop leaving me hanging in a tree. Of course I realized that it would make more sense to rappel down every time if I have the gear.

I then realized that I was 90% of the way to being able to SRT up too.

Now if I’m going in blind I carry a 30’ rope (tether, rappel, SRT) and an 8’ rope (lineman or second tether as needed). I also carry a single hawk helium stick.

For climbing gear I have a MR Safeguard and a petzle ascender. I have a home made foot loop that is also my aider when using the stick.

If you are always going to stick climb and just rappel down and never SRT then all you need to add is a 30’ rope as a tether and a pre made or DIY prusik loop. You can rappel down on a caribiner with a prusik as a 3rd hand backup.


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[GTel]

Sorry I am so new here that I dont even know where post #4 is...thanks for your patience

Every post in every thread is numbered. Scroll to the top of this thread for post #1 (Tapatalk has a double arrow up button to go to post 1) then scroll down to #4.

Sent from up in a tree

 

[arm breaker]

Sorry I am so new here that I dont even know where post #4 is...thanks for your patience

As you’ll see, the basic idea is to just use a light carabiner, not load bearing, with paracord and snap it to your rope before coming down. You can even use it to let gear down, too. Anyway, once down, you just give that one a yank and pull your rope right on out.

 

[mtsrunner]

As you’ll see, the basic idea is to just use a light carabiner, not load bearing, with paracord and snap if you your rope before coming down. You can even use it to let beer down, too. Anyway, once down, you just give that one a yank and pull your rope right on out.

Why would you ‘let beer down’? Shouldn’t you finish it all before you rappel down? Hehe.

 

[Newhunter1]

Sorry I am so new here that I dont even know where post #4 is...thanks for your patience

Post #4 is the fourth post in this thread.

Here is what you need to be minimal to just rappel down after the hunt.

1. 30'-50' rope. Oplux is what I prefer. If only 30' then you can literally fit this in a dump pouch.
2. One 3 1/2' sections of TRC for a distel or scwabisch hitch.

I one stick climb with the long tether (mine is 52') and then rapple down by using the distel hitch and just apply downward pressure on the top of the distel. I slowly come down and when I take the pressure off I stop.

For the saddle:
3. One 6-7' section of HTP 9mm rope for linemans belt.
4. One 40" section of hollow core webbing for adjustable bridge.

I believe eastern woods outdoors has the predator rope already made that you can use for a linemans belt, tether or even the bridge.

Predator Tether/Lineman Bare Rope 8′

8′ of Samson Predator 11.4mm rope with 5″ sewn eye on one end. Includes stopper knot. This rope can be used as your tether or your lineman rope. You just need to pair it up with a prusi…

doublesteps.com

 

[Pilk64]

I love the Jamie Cline video but it didn’t dumb it down enough for me. I was really hoping he could do another one with more detail. Like an idiots guide.

Agreed

 

[Pilk64]

My question is how do you retrieve your rope after you rappell from hunting height...the trees I have dont have limbs low enough to get a rope over a limb or crotch...thanks jimmi