VIDEO for those asking how to rappel down after a hunt

[celestialproduct]

Can you explain or add a short video of how your rope is removed once down on ground?

Preface: I'm not a arborist or rock climber, only have rappelled once as a young lad in middle school. I'm not sure if this method is safe or recommended.

I tried to wrap my head around this concept as well and saw a good video once on YouTube but have since lost it. Here is similar idea

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[Adamcincy]

The red mini carabiner in the picture below is from my pull up rope (the black paracord). Once the bow is up I attach the mini carabiner just outside the girth carabiner. When I get down I pull the paracord and it pulls the rope tag end back down through the carabiner. It either loosens and drops or comes thru and drops. Either way the rope is free. I used to attach it directly to the carabiner but I sometimes had trouble pulling it loose since in order to get slack you've got to pull the tag end around the tree and overcome all that friction of the girth hitch. Sometimes the loop is set to tight for that to slide around easily. This way the only friction I need to overcome is the tag end sliding through the carabiner.

You'll notice that I back up the Safegaurd with a slip knot set back into the bridge carabiner and then route it back up to mini-biner just so the tether/rappel rope hangs straight down the tree. Obviously this is all undone before rappelling.


View attachment 7131

That's a great idea. I'm going to try it. I've had a time or two where it took a while to get my rope down.
I think I will order the safeguard too. I bought the lifeguard a while ago but it fed rope way too easily for how I wanted to use it and I thought It might not catch me if I lost my balance without 'setting it'. The grigri isn't as bad but still freely feeds rope sometimes if it isn't tied off. I've been using a Petzl Rig which I like a lot but it is a little bulkier than I'd like. Maybe the safeguard is the ticket.

 

[pesqimon]

The red mini carabiner in the picture below is from my pull up rope (the black paracord). Once the bow is up I attach the mini carabiner just outside the girth carabiner. When I get down I pull the paracord and it pulls the rope tag end back down through the carabiner. It either loosens and drops or comes thru and drops. Either way the rope is free. I used to attach it directly to the carabiner but I sometimes had trouble pulling it loose since in order to get slack you've got to pull the tag end around the tree and overcome all that friction of the girth hitch. Sometimes the loop is set to tight for that to slide around easily. This way the only friction I need to overcome is the tag end sliding through the carabiner.

You'll notice that I back up the Safegaurd with a slip knot set back into the bridge carabiner and then route it back up to mini-biner just so the tether/rappel rope hangs straight down the tree. Obviously this is all undone before rappelling.


View attachment 7131

During practice yesterday I may have discovered a flaw with this technique. I was girth hitched around a crotch. When I pulled the retrieval rope i had the tag end free but the loop end was still at height.

In this case i was able to just pull it down but I am thinking the hardware could have easily jammed in the crotch.

Pulling down the loop/carabiner/link side can be a pain but at least you have the bulky end down.

Thoughts?


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[skyjacker]

Buy a rap ring. Lightest is the SMC Rigging Ring. Thread a figure eight or a bowline onto the rap ring and pass the tail through the rap ring. Then connect the pull cord to the loop not the rap ring. This reduces the friction in the girth hitch and the knot end comes down like butter. It also save's your rope because you do not have rope on rope and you can replace the rap ring over time.

https://smcgear.com/rigging-ring.html

 

[pesqimon]

Buy a rap ring. Lightest is the SMC Rigging Ring. Thread a figure eight or a bowline onto the rap ring and pass the tail through the rap ring. Then connect the pull cord to the loop not the rap ring. This reduces the friction in the girth hitch and the knot end comes down like butter. It also save's your rope because you do not have rope on rope and you can replace the rap ring over time.

https://smcgear.com/rigging-ring.html

Yeah I’ve been doing that. Though I use a delta screw link. Same idea. It’s fine just that every once in a while it isn’t as smooth a retrieval as you’d like.


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[boyne bowhunter]

During practice yesterday I may have discovered a flaw with this technique. I was girth hitched around a crotch. When I pulled the retrieval rope i had the tag end free but the loop end was still at height.

In this case i was able to just pull it down but I am thinking the hardware could have easily jammed in the crotch.

Pulling down the loop/carabiner/link side can be a pain but at least you have the bulky end down.

Thoughts?


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If I'm girth hitched above a tight crotch I do connect my pull down directly to the link just to avoid the issue you've described. Those instances are pretty rare for me but I do pay attention to where the rope may fall as it loosens. If the link will just fall over a branch it generally won't cause a problem but if it will fall into or is running through a narrow crotch I pull the link down so I can get the tag end to pass through easily. I guess this is a long winded way to say I use both depending on the situation however I most commonly hook to the line adjacent to the link.

 

[pesqimon]

If I'm girth hitched above a tight crotch I do connect my pull down directly to the link just to avoid the issue you've described. Those instances are pretty rare for me but I do pay attention to where the rope may fall as it loosens. If the link will just fall over a branch it generally won't cause a problem but if it will fall into or is running through a narrow crotch I pull the link down so I can get the tag end to pass through easily. I guess this is a long winded way to say I use both depending on the situation however I most commonly hook to the line adjacent to the link.

Thanks! Good to know!


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[CZMark]

Is there any reason not to use a lineman's belt for a short bridge when rappelling?

 

[pesqimon]

Is there any reason not to use a lineman's belt for a short bridge when rappelling?

You mean the loops? The loops would just cinch around the waist. Not going to be comfortable or supportive for rappelling maneuvers


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[mattsteg]

You mean the loops? The loops would just cinch around the waist. Not going to be comfortable or supportive for rappelling maneuvers


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I think he may mean using a lineman's belt shortened to be very short.

 

[redsquirrel]

Is there any reason not to use a lineman's belt for a short bridge when rappelling?

I have my lineman's belt hooked up when I'm taking my tether off so for me it wouldn't be available until after I start to rappel.

 

[CZMark]

I have my lineman's belt hooked up when I'm taking my tether off so for me it wouldn't be available until after I start to rappel.

Good point.