So I traveled around the tree a few minutes ago to change comfort positions and I noticed that the ropeman lever was up against the tree. Im not sure if it could have released with just a little more pressure or if the bark structure was slightly different, but when I laid eyes on it, I definitely had a pucker moment.
Might need to make some sort of keeper that prevents an accidental, full release.
Be careful!
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First, glad that you are uninjured.
Second, thanks for sharing with the community. We only grow stronger with collectively learning from each other’s experiences.
Third, I hope this is a good point for everyone’s further evaluation of their setups, regardless of what they choose.
For me, have switched from ropemans to distel and tender. I see a potential weakness in my choice if I start to fall and grab above the distel. It may tend out. What I do to address that is, I have a RCH backup and tie an alpine butterfly to a biner to my belay loop. Depending on the ratings of my tether rope, friction hitch rope and biner, it may be more robust to directly figure 8 to my belay loop. But I accept my choice. One day I may take the extra time to figure 8 to belay loop.
IMO, With the ropeman, it is more resilient against a human hand grabbing at the rope during an oh crap moment than using a friction hitch. But the end of a rm1 catching on thee tree or the metal loop catching on something and giving a quick ride down would not occur with friction hitch.
For me, I see that redundancies are good, regardless of which method one chooses, we should all strive to have redundancies in our systems.
Again, thanks for sharing and glad that you are safe.