I'm looking to try SRT for next season. I have been checking out the various threads and just keep getting more confused/intimated. I plan on using presets but still want the option to "pick it and sit it" on a whim.
I know ya'll can help me out....
Thanks in advance ️
First of all, I'm quite new to this. This means 2 things: I'm probably missing something important, but I'm hopefully remembering basics that long timers might forget to mention.
- Well, the first thing you need is some rope. Climbing rated. Static. Sterling HTP 9mm is what I have and is well regarded. You need at least enough to get up to your tie-in point around the tree, with some left over to make a loop on the end.
- Next thing you need is a way to get it up in the tree. For presets you can use e.g. paracord loops, for hunting on the fly and otherwise climbing unprepped trees, you need to get a cord over a limb and/or around the tree above hunting height. For this you need a weighty object attached to some cord. Normally this is a throw bag with throw line. You need this to be at LEAST twice as long as you plan to fix your line, and probably want it longer. Some people have used/tried things like fishing weights and fishing line, along with a slingshot, but get the fundamentals first. Too thin of a line bites into the tree bark and your hand.
Pick a branch, the sturdier the better, at or above hunting height. Your goal is to get your climbing rope anchored here, and you start by by getting your smaller, lighter, easier to place throw line up there. If the limb is strong enough to clearly support you NO QUESTIONS ASKED, then you can use it for support directly. Otherwise you need to use the main body of the tree so the trunk, not the branch takes the weight. Whichever you choose, you want use the throw line to pull the rope into position, and girth-hitch the climbing rope around your chosen anchor point.
Throw your throw bag over the branch, with your throw-line attached. You want to "isolate" your tie-in point, so that you can form a girth hitch with ONLY your chosen branch or the main trunk of the tree "in the loop". If the tree has a lot of branches, you might need to throw the bag over/around more than once. Once your anchor point is isolated, remove the throw bag from the throwing line, and tie on your climbing rope. Pull the rope up and over your limb, and pull the line through a loop/eye/delta link, etc. A delta link is nice (makes the rope easier to pull down when done) but you can just knot it for now.
Once you have the rope safely anchored, you need to climb it. You need 2 ascending devices. You can make this work with knots if needed! A favorite combination for righties is a left-hand petzl ascension and a madrock safeguard, which also acts as a rappel device to descend. The petzl ascender you hang a foot loop/aider from the bottom (easy to make, or buy). This is the device that you pull yourself up with (by simultaneously pulling down and stepping down). It also makes it easier to hang a pully or carabiner from this to route the "brake end" of your climbing rope through, but you can get by without
The safeguard, you want to attach to a "short bridge" with a carabiner - this keeps the safeguard away from the petzl ascender on the rope, and in front of you where you can operate it. You should also attach the petzl ascender to your bridge to provide for redundancy on ascent. Otherwise you're relying 100% on the safeguard.
Basic equipment list:
- Madrock safeguard
- petzl left-hand ascension
- way to make a short bridge. I use an 18.5 in "hollowblock" looped through my bridge loops, with a carabiner to connect to the safeguard.
- Either a foot aider like a petzl footape, or some webbing/accessory cord to make one.
- carry a couple of hollowblocks, prusik loops, carabiners, etc. that aren't used when your SRT rig is in use, and have a contingency plan to use them if you do something like drop an ascender/safeguard
Starting from 0 the whole concept of SRT gear selection and acquisition is SOOO much more intimidating than the reality, as you're dealing with so many completely foreign words. HOWEVER - if you don't have a climbing background, PLEASE take things super slow, safe, and redundant to make sure that you don't inadvertently misuse something, or overlook something with serious safety implications. Start low and slow. carry backups, and get experience. Watch what others are doing and refine your system. You've got months to work on it, and in practice it is SUPER SIMPLE and not nearly as equipment-heavy as people make it out to be. But your life is hanging on a piece or rope and some mechanical doodads - respect that.
