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The Dangers of Short Static Falls

Vtbow said:
But then you have to retire the entire saddle if it "lets go", and people would have to stick to strict guidelines for retireing as the thread rated to go at a certain factor would deteriorate over time due to exposure to the elements. I"d rather replace a tether every 3 years(whether it went off or not) and a saddle every 10.
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Trying to get around excess length introduced into the tether. Everything has some drawbacks I guess. Maybe there's room in the bridge that still gives sufficient motion room?
 
mattsteg said:
Trying to get around excess length introduced into the tether. Everything has some drawbacks I guess. Maybe there's room in the bridge that still gives sufficient motion room?
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I dont think this would add excess length if designed by the manufacturer. They could technically build it into the tether as TL did, and then the tether itself would still be the same overall length, but with the folds sewn in. you have have to retire it if it "Let go" as then it would be longer...which would be a good thing.
 
Jbiehn said:
When i was climbing big walls it was common to use yates screamers for sketchy anchors. Maybe tethers should have something like this integrated?

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Dude, you read my mind or I read yours! I hadn't seen this post and was laying in bed last night thinking about whether screamers could be useful in our setups. Good on ya!
 
DB4x4 said:
So last year, I hunted atop 3 Heliums with custom 2 step aiders on each that would get me anywhere from 18' to 25' depending on the tree and stick spacing. It worked well, but I felt clumsy hanging the sticks and climbing with my LB. I always seemed to have it too tight, and had trouble lifting my leg high enough for the next step, or so loose that it didn't provide much fall protection.

I eventually cut one of the Heliums down and reinstalled the 2 step aider. I use this mini stick to One-Stick climb. One-sticking feels a lot more natural to me, especially coming from ~15 years of climbing stand experience. It is essentially the same process, but allows me to go around branches and carry a lot less weight and bulk. It also feels safer to me, because I am always attached to the tree with my tether. At most, I can only fall maybe 2-3' in an absolute worst case scenario. However, it seems even a 1-2' drop can mess you up.

50% of the climb, you are hanging on a slackless tether and are 100% safe (in my opinion), but the other 50%, you are ascending a stick in the same manner you would if you were using 3 or 4 sticks.

My question to those who One-Stick climb:
Are you using only your tether or do you incorporate your LB as well?
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I use my tether the entire time. Being hooked to my tether is one of my draws to the one stick climbing method
 
parkersdad said:
I use my tether the entire time. Being hooked to my tether is one of my draws to the one stick climbing method
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This is the point of this post - to draw your attention to some of the potential risks of climbing the way that you do. You’re introducing 1-3’ of slack in your tether when one stick climbing, depending on how often you’re moving your tether up.
 
I know I’ve seen a video where the climber was using his lineman’s belt each time he would climb while one sticking. So when there was slack, he had his lineman’s belt hooked it. In the case the stick failed, the tether essentially becomes the backup the the lineman’s belt stopping you. I also Rem reading and seeing a video that showed if the lineman’s belt is properly angled, it would stop your fall, not just slide all the way down the tree. I’m def. no pro here.


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Vtbow said:
I dont think this would add excess length if designed by the manufacturer. They could technically build it into the tether as TL did, and then the tether itself would still be the same overall length, but with the folds sewn in. you have have to retire it if it "Let go" as then it would be longer...which would be a good thing.
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To clarify - the distance from bridge connection to tree. Every device that fits into that distance takes up some space. There can be some rearranging and redesigning to mitigate, but it takes up space in some manner.
 
powhound84 said:
Keep in mind he has tension on the belt at the time of the slip and one foot was still firm on the tree. It would look alot different if it happened as he was flipping the belt up the tree and both feet let loose.
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I def agree. Its a really bad scenario for your stick to fail.
 
mattsteg said:
To clarify - the distance from bridge connection to tree. Every device that fits into that distance takes up some space. There can be some rearranging and redesigning to mitigate, but it takes up space in some manner.
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"additional" space, Actually, not really. "Space" dimensionally, yes, but "distance" no. random numbers, but a non activated screamer could be like 6" long, and activated 24"(arbitrary numbers). If they are built into the tether, no biners or other hard connections would be needed.
 
Guys,

While discussing the merits of a lineman’s belt is important, let’s keep this thread on a very specific topic - falls on static anchors.

I get you mean well, and the topics are related. But folks will lose the message if it gets too broad.
 
Y’all sure do know how to make a guy nervous. With the lwhc I tether in while I’m on the ground but it does introduce a lot of slack in the tether during the climb. Up and down.


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To be fair, even sketchy setups won't kill you 99% of the time. Even so, it's important to understand the risk so you can be conscious of it and make efforts to minimize it. Like others have pointed out, the damn tree could fall with us attached to it and there's nothing you can do about it, assuming you chose a tree that was alive and healthy. You can never be 100% safe when climbing anything but we should strive to get as close as possible, within reason. Everyone has their own acceptable level of risk, it's just good to make sure we all have the knowledge to accurately estimate that risk and make educated decisions.
 
kyler1945 said:
You should be nervous. And that feeling should compel you to learn some stuff!
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RM1 had me very nervous also. I have the prussic attached just below it now. Will it make a difference, IDK, but I feel better.


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DaveT1963 said:
My advice - Don't fall.

Seriously, keep your tether'd tight - not sure why people fail to understand this? We are not arborist moving from limb to limb and up and down - get to your position, tether in and keep it tight and above your waist. Another advantage of my chest high tether - less rope for a fall.

Now a linemans on the way up - I have said it 1000 times, this is the most dangerous aspect of saddle hunting. Slow and easy is always your best bet.
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Yeah these threads have just about convinced me that a rock harness and a climber is safer than working sticks... Ive never thought so much about that top bolt on my LW sticks.
 
b73 said:
RM1 had me very nervous also. I have the prussic attached just below it now. Will it make a difference, IDK, but I feel better.


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If your ropeman cuts the sheath, your prusik will probably slide right down the rope with your sheath. Granted, it would probably lower you somewhat gently compared to a free fall :)

This is the main reason I don't like ascenders for our uses. There's just no convenient and really safe way to back them up without hindering their ease of use, thus making them pointless.
 
powhound84 said:
If your ropeman cuts the sheath, your prusik will probaly slide right down the rope with your sheath. Granted, it would probably lower you somewhat gently :)

This is the main reason I don't like ascenders for our uses. There's just no convenient and really safe way to back them up without hindering their ease of use, thus making them pointless.
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I plan to try some different options next year with a tender and smaller lighter ropes. Being my first year I’m not looking to change much. I’ve always used a climber so lwhc is intuitive. The WE steps and hawk sticks make me very nervous. I will hunt from them this year at some point but I’m not at all comfortable with either yet.


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