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Rappelling

I went out this morning to practice rappelling. I used the auto block this time instead of a regular prusik it worked out great! I think this is going to make a big difference with my Lone Wolf Hand Climber. I also prepped a tree with 550 para cord for climbing with the rappelling line to check out my Kong Duck when it gets here.
 
I really want to try this.
It looks fun and safer for descending it the dark... but is it worth getting and carry even more gear and rope?
So I guess I am asking is for safety or really the fun factor?


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From my experience It is so worth carrying the extra gear to rappel. I one stick climb and at the end of the hunt in the dark when I'm tired and now in the cold temps the last thing I want is a physical workout one sticking my way down the tree while praying to God I don't fumble moving my stick and drop it to the ground leaving me to improvise my LB into a foot loop and use it with my tether to ever so slowly get down. Now, I no longer think of sunset as the end of the day but rather the time I get to experience thrill of flying, even if it's for only a few seconds.
I believe it is safer, provided you check everything twice before removing your tether and without a doubt it will put a smile on your face every time you do it.
 
From my experience It is so worth carrying the extra gear to rappel. I one stick climb and at the end of the hunt in the dark when I'm tired and now in the cold temps the last thing I want is a physical workout one sticking my way down the tree while praying to God I don't fumble moving my stick and drop it to the ground leaving me to improvise my LB into a foot loop and use it with my tether to ever so slowly get down. Now, I no longer think of sunset as the end of the day but rather the time I get to experience thrill of flying, even if it's for only a few seconds.
I believe it is safer, provided you check everything twice before removing your tether and without a doubt it will put a smile on your face every time you do it.

Agree 100%.

I’ll also add to this you can simply walk down the tree at a very slow descent so you never get the feeling of doubt, but it won’t take long before you have enough confidence to simply ride all the way down in one smooth trip.
 
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I do some similar stuff but use a one 30' rope as my tether and rappel line. I also carry a second piece of rope that can act as either a lineman belt or tether as needed but it's a back up.

The reason I prefer to climb (single stick) using my 30' rappel rope is for simplicity. At the top I just make a slipknot loop in the rope and connect that to my harness.

I haven't tried it yet but I picked up a petzl reverso (an ATC guide will do the same) and it can be used in autoblock mode from what I've seen.

I use a RCH and then transfer my weight to a home made saddle. What I'm trying to get to work is a system where I don't have to do anything significan to transition from climbing mode to hunting to rappel and which will let me SRT up and down the rope. Of course the simplest is a prusik and I've rappelled down with a prusik a few times but on occasion it was just to hard to get it to move.

I've also considered a GriGri but I'm hoping that the Reverso does what I want.



I picked up a petzl reverso which, like a guide ATC will autoblock in the correct mode. I haven't tried it yet but from what I've seen online I
I climb SRT / RADS and do NOTHING to change my configuration after climbing. I leave everything connected and just descend opposite to the way I ascended. I leave my golden ascender as a hand hold while up and just move down the rope one ascender reach at a time when descending. That way I am fastened to the tree with the ascender and the descender at all times. It would suck to fall out of a tree so I do everything I can think of to make sure that does not happen. :)
 
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I really want to try this.
It looks fun and safer for descending it the dark... but is it worth getting and carry even more gear and rope?
So I guess I am asking is for safety or really the fun factor?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

In my case it's how I get up the tree (SRT). But, If you're one sticking or climbing with spikes it would be a great option for descending.
 
The only disadvantage to rappelling I have found is the (occasional) frustration of getting my rope stuck in the tree. Oy!
 
I use 52' of oplux and bought from Eastern woods outdoors about 4' of TRC. I then tied a stopper knot on each end and then tied a figure 8 knot. It is the perfect length to tie this into a scwabisch hitch and then I rappel down. I tried it this evening at 20 feet with the DdRT method and it works extremely well. Love it...
 
The only disadvantage to rappelling I have found is the (occasional) frustration of getting my rope stuck in the tree. Oy!

I’ve never had one stuck (knock on wood) pulling it down knot first.

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For those of you that use your rappel rope as your tether...

What do you do with the long tag end that hangs down?
I feel like it would move constantly at ground level if I was moving for a shot on a deer.
I feel like pulling it up and sticking it in a dump pouch would be a big wad hanging up in the tree.
 
For those of you that use your rappel rope as your tether...

What do you do with the long tag end that hangs down?
I feel like it would move constantly at ground level if I was moving for a shot on a deer.
I feel like pulling it up and sticking it in a dump pouch would be a big wad hanging up in the tree.

Although I’m just beginning with rappelling I have a pouch on my pack where I store it. I can store the tag end in that until I’m ready to come down.


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For those of you that use your rappel rope as your tether...

What do you do with the long tag end that hangs down?
I feel like it would move constantly at ground level if I was moving for a shot on a deer.
I feel like pulling it up and sticking it in a dump pouch would be a big wad hanging up in the tree.

One of several things...

Last night I was hunting in a sugar maple tree...branches EVERYWHERE. I cut myself some shooting lanes and once my rappel rope was in place and I switched over from my tether I gathered the end in a bunch of loops and placed it on one of the branches that I cut but was still attached to the tree. Worked great.

If I don't have any branches I simply place the tag end in my pack rolled up. Works great that way...at the end of the hunt I simply take the rope out, run one end through my pack loop and lower my pack while I hold one end of the rope in my left hand and feed the rope down with the pack with my right hand. Then pull my rope out of my pack and get ready to rappel.
 
For those of you that use your rappel rope as your tether...

What do you do with the long tag end that hangs down?
I feel like it would move constantly at ground level if I was moving for a shot on a deer.
I feel like pulling it up and sticking it in a dump pouch would be a big wad hanging up in the tree.
I pull mine up and put it in my pack.
 
I would like to try this, but I have a few questions:

1. Does the autoblock need to be a hollow autoblock (i.e. - Sterling Autoblock) or can you use any prusik/friction hitch?

2. Can you use any ATC as a belay device? Would this one work well or should I get one with "teeth"?


Thanks...
 
I would like to try this, but I have a few questions:

1. Does the autoblock need to be a hollow autoblock (i.e. - Sterling Autoblock) or can you use any prusik/friction hitch?

2. Can you use any ATC as a belay device? Would this one work well or should I get one with "teeth"?


Thanks...

Im no expert but i will give this a shot...

You can use any friction hitch. Some are easier than others to release and rappel with. I am using a prusik that came with a safety line and it releases great.

Any belay device should work for slowing your decent. Some models like the ATC Guide will give you more options for rigging.


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I would like to try this, but I have a few questions:

1. Does the autoblock need to be a hollow autoblock (i.e. - Sterling Autoblock) or can you use any prusik/friction hitch?

2. Can you use any ATC as a belay device? Would this one work well or should I get one with "teeth"?


Thanks...

You can do an autoblock above or below your rappel device and you can use even a simple prusik. You can use an ATC but I recommend the guide ATC as it will actually operate as it's own autoblock. Another good option is the Jul device. It appears to work excellent for this.

One key note on putting your autoblock below your rappel device, you have to make sure the device is far enough above you that your autoblock can't get caught up in it.

My advice is to watch some youtube videos, grab some gear and head out to a tree or, if you can make one, an anchor point in your garage and try a few things out at a safe height.
 
If you want to spend a couple bucks get a grigri. It can be used to autoblock, ascend and descend without removing it from the system to change over.
 
I would like to try this, but I have a few questions:

1. Does the autoblock need to be a hollow autoblock (i.e. - Sterling Autoblock) or can you use any prusik/friction hitch?

2. Can you use any ATC as a belay device? Would this one work well or should I get one with "teeth"?


Thanks...
This video explains a lot. I would suggest an assisted belaying device like a Gri Gri, Madrock Safeguard or Lifeguard like @robstewart says. The Safeguard has no spring to keep it open so is a bit safer and Madrock even says it is a descender not really a belay device. I started with an ATC and autoblock and got a GriGri and then Lifeguard and then Safeguard. I would never go back to an ATC to hang in a tree. The Safeguard is much better and simply does what it is supposed to do with no unexpected failures, IMHO. ATCs require you to know what you are doing and make no mistakes to stay safe.
 
I’ve read multiple times to NOT use hollow block with Oplux.

I use a simple prussic below as an autoblock. I’m also only running one bridge and clipping the ATC XP to it so I have plenty of room between it and my autoblock.
 
I’ve read multiple times to NOT use hollow block with Oplux.

I use a simple prussic below as an autoblock. I’m also only running one bridge and clipping the ATC XP to it so I have plenty of room between it and my autoblock.
Where did you see not to use hollow block with Oplux? So I should be dead then? :openmouth::)
 
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