What is going to save you? (Preparing for the worst)

[Jmiller]

Attach a prusik to my linemen belt, gerth it to the tree, then stand in that prusik while I lower my tether, then sit again, lower linemen belt, etc.

 

[Newhunter1]

Last year I somehow got stuck about 30' up the tree. I had one sticked up the tree and once at height I put my rope in a very tight crotch of the tree, and set up a DRT for the hunt. It served me well at hunting height, but when I started to come down the stiffness of the HTP and the tightness of the crotch tightend up my rope like a vise. There was no coming down and the crotch of the tree was 8' above me. I had already at this point lowered my pack, my platform down to the ground...but my stick was still at my feet. It was growing dark and I had to get down...so I grabbed my short tether and one sticked up to the crotch...grabbed my rope and got it unstuck. Took it off the crotch of the tree re-positioned it below the crotch. Started the rappell, but the thing was I was using Tufelberger as my friction rope. As I started to apply pressure to the hitch rope (Tufelberger 6mm) my weight locked it up so tight that I could not loosen it to come down. Now for the accident...as I was resetting my stick, it slipped from my hands and I was stuck up the tree about 22' up. As hard as I could try, I could not get the tufelberger to release the bight enough so I could slide down the rope. I had my long htp, my short tether, and my lineman's belt. So I took my short tether and an extra prussic I had in my pouch. Put a prussic on the bottom of my short tether and about 1/3 up the tether...attached both tenders with a carabiner into a loop. Put my boot in the loop and tightened the loop on my boot. Stood up and took pressure off of my rappel line, using my linemans belt, I kept myself close to the tree. Lowered my rappel line and slowly inched my way down the dang tree. It took me over an hour to get down the dang tree...and by the time I got down it was close to 9 pm.

Once on the ground I was able to get my things together and get to the truck. It was then that I decided to switch out my rappel line to the oplux, and get a safeguard. I also have several friction hitches from TRC rope that serves as backup if I should need it.

One of the things that I would suggest is figure out how one would get down if you accidently drop your stick or something like that. Also, the most important thing to know is to keep your head...keep your mind clear and panic free. When I dropped my one stick, I mind started freaking out and I had to literally tell myself to chill and think. Once I did that it took me 10 seconds to figure my way down the tree...and a whole lot longer to actually put into practice. Now, I don't go up the tree unless I have my rappel line, my short tether, Lineman's belt and my 8' rescue webbing with a sewn loop and austripin loop and carabiner. I do not to be ever up a tree without backups to my backup.

 

[raisins]

Last year I somehow got stuck about 30' up the tree. I had one sticked up the tree and once at height I put my rope in a very tight crotch of the tree, and set up a DRT for the hunt. It served me well at hunting height, but when I started to come down the stiffness of the HTP and the tightness of the crotch tightend up my rope like a vise. There was no coming down and the crotch of the tree was 8' above me. I had already at this point lowered my pack, my platform down to the ground...but my stick was still at my feet. It was growing dark and I had to get down...so I grabbed my short tether and one sticked up to the crotch...grabbed my rope and got it unstuck. Took it off the crotch of the tree re-positioned it below the crotch. Started the rappell, but the thing was I was using Tufelberger as my friction rope. As I started to apply pressure to the hitch rope (Tufelberger 6mm) my weight locked it up so tight that I could not loosen it to come down. Now for the accident...as I was resetting my stick, it slipped from my hands and I was stuck up the tree about 22' up. As hard as I could try, I could not get the tufelberger to release the bight enough so I could slide down the rope. I had my long htp, my short tether, and my lineman's belt. So I took my short tether and an extra prussic I had in my pouch. Put a prussic on the bottom of my short tether and about 1/3 up the tether...attached both tenders with a carabiner into a loop. Put my boot in the loop and tightened the loop on my boot. Stood up and took pressure off of my rappel line, using my linemans belt, I kept myself close to the tree. Lowered my rappel line and slowly inched my way down the dang tree. It took me over an hour to get down the dang tree...and by the time I got down it was close to 9 pm.

Once on the ground I was able to get my things together and get to the truck. It was then that I decided to switch out my rappel line to the oplux, and get a safeguard. I also have several friction hitches from TRC rope that serves as backup if I should need it.

One of the things that I would suggest is figure out how one would get down if you accidently drop your stick or something like that. Also, the most important thing to know is to keep your head...keep your mind clear and panic free. When I dropped my one stick, I mind started freaking out and I had to literally tell myself to chill and think. Once I did that it took me 10 seconds to figure my way down the tree...and a whole lot longer to actually put into practice. Now, I don't go up the tree unless I have my rappel line, my short tether, Lineman's belt and my 8' rescue webbing with a sewn loop and austripin loop and carabiner. I do not to be ever up a tree without backups to my backup.

Wow, I'm sorry that happened, and I'm impressed that you were able to overcome all those obstacles.

These stories have pretty much convinced me to stick with my 4.6 lbs slow climbing method (12 steps). Also, it underlines to me how important it is not to put all your stuff in your pack and then lower it and toss that rope! I now climb down with my pack on. I even have a platform if I need to chill and wait for the cavalry.

 

[mattsteg]

Wow, I'm sorry that happened, and I'm impressed that you were able to overcome all those obstacles.

These stories have pretty much convinced me to stick with my 4.6 lbs slow climbing method (12 steps). Also, it underlines to me how important it is not to put all your stuff in your pack and then lower it and toss that rope! I now climb down with my pack on. I even have a platform if I need to chill and wait for the cavalry.

Any lowering lines just clip to you (or your line if rappelling). Wearing your pack is a good option too of course, but if you have a reason to lower it just keep it tethered.

 

[Weldabeast]

Reading these makes me think I need to rearrange some stuff. I have all the necessary stuff but I don't think I have it situated/organized correctly....in the unlikely event my hunt vest was to end up on the ground a majority of the items i carry too help alleviate bad situations wouldn't be available to use....tether and linesman would still be there and u can get down with just that but it take forever and I would have to leave the weapon up there and climb up again to retrieve....

Maybe we need to brainstorm and come up with barbones list of items that need to be in your pocket or on ur saddle.

Some form of communication....cell phone and emergency whistle (currently stays on my vest)

Some form of ground retrieval.... grabble hook and 30-35 foot of whatever flavor rope/cord u prefer. (Currently stays on my vest)

Whatever method of climbing u prefer that has been mentioned in this thread.... In my case the whoopie sling, tether, linesman combo.

My tether and linesman stay in pouch on my saddle so they always with me but I keep that whoopie in my vest so it would be no good to me if vest fell....same goes for my rappel rope as it lives on the vest also

 

[wdarby]

Appreciate this type of thread - makes me analyze scenarios before they happen. With my linesman rope, rappel gear & spare carabiner I keep on my saddle I think I've got key failure cases - losing one stick or RoS - covered.

I wish I was a headlight on a north-bound train

 

[Gator]

This thread is awesome.

I recently SRT climbed for the first time while hunting and I had taken my backpack off to get my platform out to hang when I dropped my backpack. Not wanting to be without my “stuff” I wanted to repel down to get it. This is when I realized that my pack had my hollow block line for the backup to my grigri. In this case I was able to just repel without a backup but it sorta drove home the point of this thread that I need to plan better for things that can/could/will happen


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[bj139]

This thread is awesome.

I recently SRT climbed for the first time while hunting and I had taken my backpack off to get my platform out to hang when I dropped my backpack. Not wanting to be without my “stuff” I wanted to repel down to get it. This is when I realized that my pack had my hollow block line for the backup to my grigri. In this case I was able to just repel without a backup but it sorta drove home the point of this thread that I need to plan better for things that can/could/will happen


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The nice thing about SRT is it is easy up/down.

 

[Jay_Disarray]

I climb up on my safeguard while 1 sticking, the tag end of my rope stays on the ground while climbing. I've dropped my stick before and just rappelled down to grab it and SRT back up.

I always message the wife and let her know my location I'm climbing a tree at, and carry 2 extra prusiks and binders (1 of ea from lineman) just in case.

 

[Newhunter1]

I climb up on my safeguard while 1 sticking, the tag end of my rope stays on the ground while climbing. I've dropped my stick before and just rappelled down to grab it and SRT back up.

I always message the wife and let her know my location I'm climbing a tree at, and carry 2 extra prusiks and binders (1 of ea from lineman) just in case.

One of my hunts this year I was already at height and realized that I had not attached my backpack to my rappel line. In the pack was my platform and daisy chains to hang my bow, gear, etc. I removed my one stick, rappelled down, and did a modified SRT/One stick climb back up.

 

[bj139]

Last year I somehow got stuck about 30' up the tree. I had one sticked up the tree and once at height I put my rope in a very tight crotch of the tree, and set up a DRT for the hunt. It served me well at hunting height, but when I started to come down the stiffness of the HTP and the tightness of the crotch tightend up my rope like a vise. There was no coming down and the crotch of the tree was 8' above me. I had already at this point lowered my pack, my platform down to the ground...but my stick was still at my feet. It was growing dark and I had to get down...so I grabbed my short tether and one sticked up to the crotch...grabbed my rope and got it unstuck. Took it off the crotch of the tree re-positioned it below the crotch. Started the rappell, but the thing was I was using Tufelberger as my friction rope. As I started to apply pressure to the hitch rope (Tufelberger 6mm) my weight locked it up so tight that I could not loosen it to come down. Now for the accident...as I was resetting my stick, it slipped from my hands and I was stuck up the tree about 22' up. As hard as I could try, I could not get the tufelberger to release the bight enough so I could slide down the rope. I had my long htp, my short tether, and my lineman's belt. So I took my short tether and an extra prussic I had in my pouch. Put a prussic on the bottom of my short tether and about 1/3 up the tether...attached both tenders with a carabiner into a loop. Put my boot in the loop and tightened the loop on my boot. Stood up and took pressure off of my rappel line, using my linemans belt, I kept myself close to the tree. Lowered my rappel line and slowly inched my way down the dang tree. It took me over an hour to get down the dang tree...and by the time I got down it was close to 9 pm.

Once on the ground I was able to get my things together and get to the truck. It was then that I decided to switch out my rappel line to the oplux, and get a safeguard. I also have several friction hitches from TRC rope that serves as backup if I should need it.

One of the things that I would suggest is figure out how one would get down if you accidently drop your stick or something like that. Also, the most important thing to know is to keep your head...keep your mind clear and panic free. When I dropped my one stick, I mind started freaking out and I had to literally tell myself to chill and think. Once I did that it took me 10 seconds to figure my way down the tree...and a whole lot longer to actually put into practice. Now, I don't go up the tree unless I have my rappel line, my short tether, Lineman's belt and my 8' rescue webbing with a sewn loop and austripin loop and carabiner. I do not to be ever up a tree without backups to my backup.

I don't think all the different climbing methods are supposed to be used on one hunt. If you had DRT'ed up the first problem would have shown up immediately. I am glad you managed to get down OK.

 

[Newhunter1]

I don't think all the different climbing methods are supposed to be used on one hunt. If you had DRT'ed up the first problem would have shown up immediately. I am glad you managed to get down OK.

Let me explain. I was on a IRAP hunt. IRAP stands for Illinios Recreational Access Properties. Illinois land owners/farmers lease out their land for the month of October for deer hunts. You get either the first two weeks of access or the last two weeks. One property might be one and done and another might be you have to kill a doe first then a buck. You cannot scout any property until your time. You have to basically go in and hunt/scout at the same time. I found a section of the property I was on that had dropping acorns just below a pond. I was using the one stick method and rappeling down. This was during the time I would use my short tether to climb up and then switch over to my rappel line to go down. As I was climbing up the tree, I saw a fork in the tree...I got to about 8' below the fork...set my platform and was hunting. About 30 minutes to an hour in the hunt, I got to thinking..."why don't I just set my rappel line up in the crotch of the tree and do the DRT method down. It was now in the afternoon and nothing moving so I quickly pulled my rope out and threw it over the crotch and got lucky. Grabbed the tag end as it fell through the crotch and set up my rope for DRT. Tied the Blakes hitch and switched over. The rope slide through with zero issues and I guess as long as I was on the platform the rope moved though. Hunted the rest of the afternoon/evening and got a shot at a doe. It went onto the neigboring property but part of the agreement through IRAP was you could not contact any landowner and you could never tresspass on the property or you could loose your IRAP opportunity for the year and possibly forever. Anyway, as I was coming down the rope must have went further into the crotch (actually a crack in the crotch) and was wedged in there where even when I put all my weight on the rope it would not slide.

This is when I pulled my short tether back out and used my stick to one stick up to the crotch. I don't normally plan on using all the methods to climb up the tree...but in this instance it worked out.

Now I just one stick up the tree, but I've switched out to oplux and am more careful about where I place the rope...especially into a crotch of a tree...I will literally climb up to where I can see the crotch and make sure it's not a concealed crack.

I always have my LB line, of course my bridge, my short tether, and my rappel line. I also have as a backup my rescue webbing line that I have in case I need it for whatever I need to use it for. Everything I have fits on my saddle inside my pouches...but I won't be stuck in a tree hopefully anytime soon.

When I do hunt a preset then its now SRT as I only have about 42' of predator line left from my incident at the beginning of October.

 

[Nutterbuster]

This year, my contingency plan is to save as much of my spilled beer as I can and prop my pacseat back up against the tree.

 

[EricS]

My plan, and idk if it’s the best plan or not, but I did do it one time and it worked okay, is to use both linesman and tether and inchworm down until I get to a stick or the ground.

I’ve tried it and it works. Not sure how well it would work on larger trees.

 

[Weldabeast]

I did some rearranging and added a couple items to my saddle I think should be on your person just in case of an accident or unforseen thing like dropping something

Left to right: linesman's belts girth hitched to saddle, emergency whoopie sling in case climbing method somehow isn't available, gear grappler and signal whistle, pull down rope, tether/rappel line. All the items are very light, excluding the gear grappler, but I haven't noticed any difference in the way the saddle wears

I feel much better now that I have it set up this way for those crazy things that can happen while u out there ..I kept majority of these items in my vest prior and if somehow my vest fell to the ground while I was up a tree I would be separated from the tools u would use to fix that situation..



This is a good thread....

 

[always89y]

mind breaking this down? What is it? Hows is it used? Where could i pickup a plan B kit like this?

Certainly! From the bottom up.
1. Knife. To cut away, and/or protect ones self from sasquatches, or feral children thinkin you are a piñata
2. 7ft 1/8 amsteel daisy chain. Wrap it around the tre like a tether and hook your bridge to it.
3.. 7ft foot loop. Full buried 3/16 amsteel with a woopie sling foot loop on one end and a 4 inch loop on the other. Wrap it around the tree like a tether, put your foot in the loop and stand up.
3. Carabiner of your choosing
4. Bag to carry it in.

Stand up on the foot loop and move your daisy chain tether down. Sit in the saddle. Move the foot loop down and stand up. Rinse and repeat!

Just a reverse of the 2TC method. Hears a video:

 

[always89y]

Lol what type of wallet is that


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Its a Dango. Doubles as a throwing star in case a squirble comes close enough!

 

[raisins]

Certainly! From the bottom up.
1. Knife. To cut away, and/or protect ones self from sasquatches, or feral children thinkin you are a piñata
2. 7ft 1/8 amsteel daisy chain. Wrap it around the tre like a tether and hook your bridge to it.
3.. 7ft foot loop. Full buried 3/16 amsteel with a woopie sling foot loop on one end and a 4 inch loop on the other. Wrap it around the tree like a tether, put your foot in the loop and stand up.
3. Carabiner of your choosing
4. Bag to carry it in.

Stand up on the foot loop and move your daisy chain tether down. Sit in the saddle. Move the foot loop down and stand up. Rinse and repeat!

Just a reverse of the 2TC method. Hears a video:

I already have a lineman's and sling I can use as a foot hold to take weight off tether.

I started carrying a 7/64" daisy chain wrapped in a pocket as a backup though. I'm interested in the whoopie sling and keeping it light. Is there any reason (besides strength) to not use 1/8" or 7/64" for a whoopie sling? I want to carry my backup rescue gear in a cargo pocket and 7/64 packs down and weighs less in there.

 

[Weldabeast]

I already have a lineman's and sling I can use as a foot hold to take weight off tether.

I started carrying a 7/64" daisy chain wrapped in a pocket as a backup though. I'm interested in the whoopie sling and keeping it light. Is there any reason (besides strength) to not use 1/8" or 7/64" for a whoopie sling? I want to carry my backup rescue gear in a cargo pocket and 7/64 packs down and weighs less in there.

I've never messed with anything smaller an 1/4 so can't comment on the construction of a smaller diameter whoopie...but IMO as long as the whoopie works correctly in the smaller diameter I don't see why it would be a problem...u know..everybody different..everyone has different threshold on what safe or not....I personally using 12 strand nylon rope for my emergency whoopie...no idea what is breaking strength...redneck destructive tested and I am confident I will not be killed using it....don't be a dummy like me an use better material....still better than having nothing at all

 

[raisins]

I've never messed with anything smaller an 1/4 so can't comment on the construction of a smaller diameter whoopie...but IMO as long as the whoopie works correctly in the smaller diameter I don't see why it would be a problem...u know..everybody different..everyone has different threshold on what safe or not....I personally using 12 strand nylon rope for my emergency whoopie...no idea what is breaking strength...redneck destructive tested and I am confident I will not be killed using it....don't be a dummy like me an use better material....still better than having nothing at all

I just used a 1/8" amsteel daisy chain to rip a birch tree to shreds, so my confidence in the static strength of this stuff is at an all time high.