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What do you carry for backup if stick or lwhc or etc. fails?

I've never thought of what I would do if one or more stick fell off once I was at height. I could probably use my CAYG aider and my arms to lower myself past just one stick. I also carry this and so can call for help anywhere I can see the sky. They were on major sale at Sportsmans Warehouse in the spring, and I hunt in the national radio quiet zone quite a bit (no cellphones).

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I carry a woven daisy chain strap that I can use to girth hitch around the tree and make a foot hold. That said:

Option 1: Use daisy chain strap to create foot hold to take weight off of main line/prusik. Set up rappel system. Rappel down.

Option 2. If rappel system is unavailable, use tether and daisy chain strap to descend. (Stand on foot hold - Lower tether - Sit in saddle - Lower foot hold - Repeat)

Option 3. If rappel system and daisy chain are both unavailable or compromised, use lineman rope to create a girth hitched foot hold on tree. Use tether and lineman belt foot hold to descend. (Similar to Option 2)
 
If you carry a long rope for SRT/rappel purposes, and use it as your tether as well, you have even more options than what I listed previously, including:

Option 4: Tie a foot hold loop in the rappel rope below your main line/prusik connection. Stand in loop to take weight off of prusik/bridge. Set up rappel system. Sit in saddle. Untie foot hold loop. Rappel down.

Option 5: Use free end of rappel rope to tie a girth hitched foot hold loop. Stand in foot hold. Lower tether end. Sit in saddle. Lower foot hold end. Repeat.
 
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I use WE steps and no aiders or the like. My steps are therefore about 18" apart. I have on a couple occasions had one of the bottom steps uncam but have been able to still step on them just long enough to descend past. I figure if I start sliding from only 3 feet of the ground I will land safely. But it has gotten me to think about what I would do if a higher step came undone. I haven't practiced this and no doubt should but I believe if I needed to, I could create a loop around a solid step above the problem step with my backup linesman rope. Then step into the loop to scamper to safety on the next solid step down. Has anyone ever done this? Does it work? Any reason why it wouldn't work that I am overlooking? Like I said, I need to try it before I end up in the situation.
 
I always ascend and descend with my safeguard, so I just rappel down.

In addition to the safeguard I carry with me 2 sections of prusik cord, which I could use to ascend or descend and when my ropeman arrives I'll have that on my lineman belt.

With the lineman belt as a foot loop and the prusik cord and ropeman I could easily climb SRT back up the rope after retrieving my fallen stick.
 
Accessory line for friction knots are fractions of ounces, I think everyone should carry 2 extras just in case
 
Long whoopie sling....it would take forever but between tether linesman that sling i can get to the ground if I lost climbing method and rappel rope for some reason
 
DB4x4 said:
I carry a woven daisy chain strap that I can use to girth hitch around the tree and make a foot hold. That said:

Option 2. If rappel system is unavailable, use tether and daisy chain strap to descend. (Stand on foot hold - Lower tether - Sit in saddle - Lower foot hold - Repeat)
Click to expand...
Wonder if anyone uses Option #2 to ascend (like one sticking except instead of a dedicated stick you have a dedicated rope)? Guess would be slow going on way up, and better be in decent shape, relying on one leg pushing up.
 
I have three of the old Ameristeps I found some time back in the garage, like new and non recall. Guess I could carry two of those for an emergency.
I have been debating if I should sell them, maybe not.
 
This is one of the reasons that all three of my ropes are removeable from my saddle. I have a tether, and both my LMBelt and Bridge are removeable on one side and adjust with a distel. In any event of failure with sticks I have two ropes to self rescue. Might not be pretty, but I could make it down to the next stick without fear of falling.

Ohh and forgot to mention that my current favorite platform setup is a set of WE Steps for a ROS....so extra steps in my backpack on my back.
 
I have
35’ of mainline
MR safeguard
48” climbing slings x 2
8’ Amsteel daisy chain and extra carabiner
I can get down.
 
tmattson said:
I have three of the old Ameristeps I found some time back in the garage, like new and non recall. Guess I could carry two of those for an emergency.
I have been debating if I should sell them, maybe not.
Click to expand...
Trouble is, if the missing step is below you, how do you install the step down there where you need it? They say it's safe to be inverted in a saddle. I guess that would be a great way to give it a try! Lol
 
Haven’t had to do this before but this has been my plan B that I hope I don’t have to use.

Use your tether and linesman rope to create a climber type descent. Girth hitch your lineman belt around the tree and use the caribiner to wrap it around your feet. Tether attached to bridge. Sit lower your feet. Stand lower your tether until you get down.


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Should also probably mention I one stick. So if that stick fails, I’m done being in a tree that day. I’m coming down and probably gonna do some still hunting


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Second tether with a foot loop. It will be slow, but I should be able to inchworm down the tree climbing treestand style.

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sweats said:
Second tether with a foot loop. It will be slow, but I should be able to inchworm down the tree climbing treestand style.

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Click to expand...

It’s doable. I had never done it before, but demonstrated it for some guys at a hang time event this year. It’s tedious, but it works. I certainly wouldn’t want to do it on a regular basis.
 
I run two tethers anyway but they’re only 7 or 8 feet finished, so it’d be tough to have enough length to make a foot loop out of one. However, for emergency use only I carry one screw in step.

Emrah


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