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SRT Question

Broken Limb

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SH Member
Joined
Nov 24, 2024
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23
Location
Pennsylvania
In order to shave a little weight off my SRT system,I'm debating on leaving my Tree Teather out of the mix,and just cinching my Canyon Elite main line directly to the tree with a long strapped seat belt.I can adjust the belt just as easily as a separate Tree Teather.Anyone else employ this in their set up? and what are your concerns with this idea if any?Thanks!
 
Admittedly I’m confused as to why this would be necessary. Why wouldn’t you just cinch the long line around the tree with something like a quick link or delta link, then use that main line AS your tether?
Don’t want to sound like a Richard’s Sporting Goods, if you get my meaning. Maybe I’m missing something.
 
I drew a little picture to show what I think you're suggesting. Is this correct? The cinch is used to draw the SRT mainline into the tree so that you have a better angle on your tether.

SRT cinch.jpg
 
If I have interpreted this correctly, I have experimented with this a bit. I have hunted with both styles and much prefer a separate tether for a few reasons:

1. It is difficult to get the "cinch" tight enough to hold the mainline in place so it doesn't shift around and make noise when you shift around the tree.
2. I often like to set up on a different side of the tree than where my SRT mainline is. The separate tether allows you to set up on whatever side of the tree you want as it can be easily slid around the trunk and re-tightened.
3. The cinch is just awkward to get set because you have to unweight your tether and then tighten the cinch. Certainly doable, but harder than having a separate tether.

Anyway just my thoughts on it. I really wanted to like the cinch because it reduces the amount of ropes hanging around but it just didn't work well for me. If you come up with a great way to employ the cinch that fixes the problems I've listed above I'd love to hear it.
 
If you want to save weight off your system, go to a halfline system. Shorter rope, around 30 feet, using paracord to extend the length of your rope.

Keep your tree tether so you can climb up the leaner side of the tree and you can use your tether to position yourself when you get to hunting height.
 
An redundant tether is a useful thing. My tether doubles as a footloop for SRT. At height I can use it as a redirect, to 2TC around the tree if I need to adjust my position as the wind shifts, to balance between multiple trunks in a clump of trees, as a backband, to improvise a technique, or things I haven't thought of yet.
 
I like not having to transition from one rope to another. Thats a good idea. But the mentioned problems seem like its a no-go. You could ratchet strap it on..but your weight goes up again, and noise.
 
You are correct Shmeags! That is what I'm thinking about.
Looking at that picture he posted, instead of trying to cinch your climbing line to the tree with a strap you can set up what’s called a “redirect”. There’s lots of different ways to set up a redirect with an SRT system. I’m out the door on the way to work but when I have a minute I’ll try to find a link for one that’s easy to set up. You can search “SRT redirects” and a bunch of stuff will come up, you’ll see how they work
 
Looking at that picture he posted, instead of trying to cinch your climbing line to the tree with a strap you can set up what’s called a “redirect”. There’s lots of different ways to set up a redirect with an SRT system. I’m out the door on the way to work but when I have a minute I’ll try to find a link for one that’s easy to set up. You can search “SRT redirects” and a bunch of stuff will come up, you’ll see how they work

NYSH has a video on using a redirect in a leaning tree.

To answer @Broken Limb I don't see the advantage to that you're proposing. Redirecting with a tether is useful. Properly set up, a tether won't slide down oflver the course of your hunt. A lashing strap will only be a lashing strap; a tether is life support equipment that can be used as a footloop, backband, linesman belt, etc., when not in tether mode. Not to dissuade you from what you propose - nothing seems unsafe, and you could use your gear hanger to do this right now. I just don't see the advantage.
 
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So.. maybe this a topic for another post..or perfectly related

Ive been climbing SRT, and using that as my tether if the" height of the attachment" is o.k. The extra rappel/climb line goes in my pack ,

. OR-- I Get to height, put up my tether, and lower from the climb line into the tether to load it before removing, still girthed to the tree. I hate that transfer, though its backed up.

Now Im thinking why ever remove the climb line???. Instead always stay attached and always add a tether for redundancy and perfect height? Basically running that NYSH redirect all the time.

what do you all do? Looking at NYSH video it dawned on me that that climb line can stay put as long as the biners dont make a bunch of noise? Though it could be the same biner on the bridge?
 
So.. maybe this a topic for another post..or perfectly related

Ive been climbing SRT, and using that as my tether if the" height of the attachment" is o.k. The extra rappel/climb line goes in my pack ,

. OR-- I Get to height, put up my tether, and lower from the climb line into the tether to load it before removing, still girthed to the tree. I hate that transfer, though its backed up.

Now Im thinking why ever remove the climb line???. Instead always stay attached and always add a tether for redundancy and perfect height? Basically running that NYSH redirect all the time.

what do you all do? Looking at NYSH video it dawned on me that that climb line can stay put as long as the biners dont make a bunch of noise? Though it could be the same biner on the bridge?
When I was doing Ddrt/MRS (moving rope system), I did that quite a bit. I used a standard tether for the redirect or as a lower anchor point to hunt but left the climb line on but slack. I didn't get to use Ddrt a lot. It wasn't very applicable. but when it was it was nice.
 
So.. maybe this a topic for another post..or perfectly related

Ive been climbing SRT, and using that as my tether if the" height of the attachment" is o.k. The extra rappel/climb line goes in my pack ,

. OR-- I Get to height, put up my tether, and lower from the climb line into the tether to load it before removing, still girthed to the tree. I hate that transfer, though its backed up.

Now Im thinking why ever remove the climb line???. Instead always stay attached and always add a tether for redundancy and perfect height? Basically running that NYSH redirect all the time.

what do you all do? Looking at NYSH video it dawned on me that that climb line can stay put as long as the biners dont make a bunch of noise? Though it could be the same biner on the bridge?
I leave my climbing line attached to the tree the whole time I'm at height. In general, I put my friction hitch on my short bridge to climb. At height I attach my tether to my long bridge, leaving my climbing line attached to the tree. I tend in enough slack to attach my descender- figure-8 or ATC, if it's not already attached, then coil my line and stash it in my pack or on my gear hanger. This way if I have to bail, all I have to do is drop my gear hanger and pack, sling my bow or rifle, unhook my tether from the tree, and rappel down. I got caught in a sudden windstorm in the '23 season and was on the ground, with all my gear, in under a minute. Was able to SRT back up after the storm passed.
 
Great posts! I'm starting to see that there is no wrong way of obtaining the same results,as long as it is done safely with a proven method.I myself like the idea of leaving the climbing line attached to your bridge and also utilizing your tree tether for redundancy.Once the weather warms up,I will be testing these ideas and modifying it to my liking while still remaining safe.
 
NYSH has a video on using a redirect in a leaning tree

That’s a way to do it. He’s climbing DdRT so that changes how he needs to do it, SRT is more flexible with how they can be done.

Here’s one that doesn’t require any extra pieces. He shows it with 5 half hitches but for this 2 is fine because it’s right in front of you and you aren’t going anywhere.

 
That’s a way to do it. He’s climbing DdRT so that changes how he needs to do it, SRT is more flexible with how they can be done.

Here’s one that doesn’t require any extra pieces. He shows it with 5 half hitches but for this 2 is fine because it’s right in front of you and you aren’t going anywhere.

that is next level!
 
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