Sticks going up, rappelling down?

[Marmuzz]

It’s not what I do (one-sticker here) but even if I climbed with sticks I probably still would rappel down. I do not like coming down on sticks.

 

[Andrew]

I one-stick up and rappel down, or, I'll one-stick up and 2TC down, or, I'll 2TC up and 2TC down...

One stick is the most I'm willing to carry in with me!

Do you find 2TCing down easier than one sticking down?

 

[arrowchukker]

@arrowchukker , do you have specific concerns or questions? Maybe that'll help answer your questions

Specific questions? Not exactly. I’m trying to get away from the Madrock and use a Cornell hitch when at height. I guess I’m stuck between having a dedicated tether, and then switching to a rappel line, Orr just hanging on the rappel line at height.

 

[BTaylor]

Specific questions? Not exactly. I’m trying to get away from the Madrock and use a Cornell hitch when at height. I guess I’m stuck between having a dedicated tether, and then switching to a rappel line, Orr just hanging on the rappel line at height.

I climb and hang on my rappel rope but always have a short tether with me. I mostly use it for hanging my bow and pack but have it handy if needed. I use friction hitches for hanging and a munter to descend.

 

[woodsdog2]

I typically one stick up and rappel down but that changed somewhat at the end of last season. The Gen3 Tethrd One Sticks are so light I’ve gone with running them with a super light Pursuit platform. I still have and use the Gen 1 Platform with no flex issues but want to pick up a Gen2 sometime.

 

[phatkaw]

Do you find 2TCing down easier than one sticking down?

ABSOLUTELY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Samcirrus]

I did it for awhile and still do occasionally but I must be slow because I have so many issues surrounding the rappel that nobody else seems to have. I either forget something, like undoing the clip, or something gets hung up. I end up climbing back up or yanking the thing from 50 different angles before it gives. I like the added safety, I like pulling the sticks off while hanging, I don't mind carrying the rope, but my experiences retrieving the rope have been 90% headache.

Have you tried the JRB exploding hitch or the new maverick hitch? Makes pulling down your rope a breeze.
Otherwise I can only recommend you start doing a basal anchor. Simple rappel rope retrieval.

 

[arrowchukker]

I typically one stick up and rappel down but that changed somewhat at the end of last season. The Gen3 Tethrd One Sticks are so light I’ve gone with running them with a super light Pursuit platform. I still have and use the Gen 1 Platform with no flex issues but want to pick up a Gen2 sometime.

I did the same. The Gen 3’s are so light, I ditched the one stick and went that way.

 

[heretic]

Have you tried the JRB exploding hitch or the new maverick hitch? Makes pulling down your rope a breeze.
Otherwise I can only recommend you start doing a basal anchor. Simple rappel rope retrieval.

This. So much this.

I actually prefer the exploding hitches over using a screw link now. Nothing to get caught in the crotch of trees and you don't have to worry about it sagging if you introduce some sort of slack while standing on your platform. I've been eyeballing the maverick pretty hard but haven't had a chance to test it out yet, I will admit the running JRB hitch can be difficult at times to release.

 

[Plebe]

I did the same. The Gen 3’s are so light, I ditched the one stick and went that way.

So you're using 5 ONE Sticks for lightness. That's approx 5 lbs plus whatever your aider weighs.

You add about 3/4 pound over a regular tether in an Oplux rappel rope for your current hunting height. Plus any devices you may choose.

So, basically, you can choose between rappelling or adding another stick with basically no weight penalty between them.

6 ONE sticks will give you standard step spacing to 204" (17ft). Same as 4 LWCG 17" compact sticks w/ cable aiders (and several other options).

 

[bfriendly]

Xactly!! 66 years of age. Either one stick or 3 ONE’s with aiders. Started fooling with aiders back in the RCH/Assault days before saddles. For me to not foot-search for an aider in the dark, rappelling was the best option. These old bones won’t heal like they used to, so safety is a primary factor now. But whatever system works for someone else, just be safe and have fun!

I’m just a kid at 56, but me too except I use an ATC! I one stick and rappel down, but even when I used 3 sticks, it was easier to stop and remove the sticks during rappel. Your autoblock acts like your brake hand and lets you work “hands free”. I’ll use a lineman’s belt in certain situations, but prefer being tethered.

 

[Iron_llama]

Specific questions? Not exactly. I’m trying to get away from the Madrock and use a Cornell hitch when at height. I guess I’m stuck between having a dedicated tether, and then switching to a rappel line, Orr just hanging on the rappel line at height.

I 1-stick on a friction hitch on my rappel line. I use an additional tether, which I set and hang from while moving my main line. At height, I'll set my tether to hunt from, then install a figure-8 on my main line above my friction hitch. Haul up my pack (which I had previously tied to the end of my rappel line) and stash my line in it. Haul up my bow, which is on a dog leash with the line replaced with Dynaglide (throw line kit from EWO). Clip the end of the Dynaglide to my rappel line in anticipation of rappelling, because I will absolutely forget to do this later and will have to take the climb of shame yet again. Tend slack into my rappel line, so I hang from my tether.

It sounds like a lot when I write it all out. Candidly, it is more than other people use. I'm OK with it because I have a tether I can move around if I want to rotate around the tree or shift height for comfort, whatever, and I'm still tied in to a fall arrest. In the event of a leaning tree, or multiple-trunk tree, I can balance my weight between my rappel line and my tether, as per the NY Saddle Hunter video on leaning trees. I also have a quick escape in the event of a reckless shooter or medical emergency or sudden storm or whatever, I can ditch my tether and bounce down the tree in literal seconds (if I abandon my gear up the tree).

Since I 1-stick I haven't used multiple-stick systems for mobile hunting, but have them on pre-sets. Since I started rappelling, I haven't wanted to climb down sticks, especially in the dark, especially on icy sticks, especially with numb fingers, etc., etc. 30' of static climbing line and a figure-8 and a carabiner and quick link from REI or EMS or whatever is probably less than date night dinner, or two boxes of ammo. If you give it an honest shot and don't like it you can sell it on here for almost what you have into it. But I think I've only read about one or two hunters on here who tried rappelling and rejected it in favor of climbing down sticks.

You will want leather-palm gloves to manage rope friction. I'm partial to the Wells-Lamont Roper-style (insulated and uninsulated, depending on season) and chopper mitts. You might already have a pair for doing yardwork or whatever.

 

[dalton916]

Specific questions? Not exactly. I’m trying to get away from the Madrock and use a Cornell hitch when at height. I guess I’m stuck between having a dedicated tether, and then switching to a rappel line, Orr just hanging on the rappel line at height.

I one stick and use my tether as I climb. When it’s time to come down I attach my rappel line while my tether is tight. Once the rappel line is snug with the tether I stand to take a slight bit of slack off the tether and take it up with my rappel line. Once the weight is transferred to the rappel line I remove the tether and stow.

I use an ATC and autoblock to rappel.

 

[Dmathews87]

I still rappel when i use multiple sticks. I like the idea of being attached the whole time and if something happens i can just rappel down....I hunt off my rappel line and im attached with a schwabish hitch and black diamond ATC, autoblock on my right loop for added control and safety.

 

[CharlieTN]

I primarily one-stick climb and rappel now but occasionally I will use sticks to climb. When I do, I still prefer to be tethered with the rappel rope for the obvious safety factors of being able to rappel at any given time. I also prefer to rappel down and pull the sticks as I go, especially at night. Coming down is so much more dangerous than climbing.

 

[2Sloe]

I guess I’m stuck between having a dedicated tether, and then switching to a rappel line, Orr just hanging on the rappel line at height.

I climb and hang on a tether then switch to the MR/rap setup at the end. Just remember that if you do that, you need to be prepared to be able to unweight your tether in order to switch to your rappel setup if something were to happen and you end up dangling by your tether. If your using the right hitch that you can break with your weight on it your probably good, mechanical no way, if your tether tail is long enough, could be as simple as tying a loop in the end of your tether and standing up on it, or it could be a prusik footloop. Whatever it is, you don’t want to be trying to figure it out on the side of the tree. You want to be able to quickly deploy your rap setup and transition to it so you can decend. Good Luck!

 

[CharlieTN]

Most certainly, whatever system you decide to try practice it a lot. In the dark, injured, or whatever, is the wrong time to figure it out. That is one of the main reasons I use the rappel rope the whole time, less to have to fiddle with in the system.