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Where to start with one-sticking & rappelling

bloodsoakedberber said:
If less fiddling with gear after your hunt is over is what you're after, there was nothing more annoying to me than dealing with sticks and thorns in 40 feet of rope in the dark. Not talking you out of trying it, just sharing my perspective after doing it for a season and deciding to try something else.
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That's a valid point. I like the ease and speed of rappelling down, but getting your rope down and then dealing with that and your pull-down rope can be a hassle.
 
I recommend watching Staggs in the wild videos on YouTube. He explains one sticking very well. You can try one sticking with a regular stick but a good designed one stick removed all my initial issues. The biggest difference being the bigger standoffs to allow me to use the aider better. I’m not a fan of the skinny ropes many use and found the canyon clv to be perfect for me with a Madrock.
 
Mossy-Back said:
That's a valid point. I like the ease and speed of rappelling down, but getting your rope down and then dealing with that and your pull-down rope can be a hassle.
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Admittedly, it could be just me. My tolerance for fiddling with rope is well below average but it was enough to turn me off of climbing with one stick and rappelling. It was pretty fun though.
 
casts_by_fly said:
I just did the same this season. I don’t have that many climbs but I’m about a season ahead of where you are right now. If you look at my threads I’ve made a very similar post too. Here’s where I’ve gotten.

I converted one of my hawk long sticks to a one stick with a two step aider. That’s three metal steps and two amsteel. I don’t use all of them every movement but sometimes I do. I put a cleat and rope on my stick. If you have those you’re already partway there. I found using the hawk cloth daisy chain was too painful, both in the standard way and in a buckles tie.

I got 40’ of sterling civ for my rappel rope and climbing tether. I use it for one stick and 2tc now. It’s good rope and the stiffness makes it great for 2tc. I went with a figure 8 and a hitch above it for both hanging on and as a rappel stopping device to grab platforms or sticks on the way down. I just picked up some resc tech for a tether and we’ll see how it goes as a top tether in 2tc. It’s smaller (good) and less stiff (maybe bad) than CIV so I might consider it as a top tether if I switch someday.

You’re going to need about $60 worth of rope, $15 for a figure 8, $5 for a quick link, and $20 for some 6-7mm rope for hitches. If you reuse the beaners you have now you wont need more. I bought spares because I got tired of swapping them. Then you’ll need 30’ of either paracord or dyneema for a pull-down rope with some kind of clip. if you said you’d be all in for $125 that would be about right for the things you don’t have.
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This was an awesome breakdown! Thank you.
 
bloodsoakedberber said:
Admittedly, it could be just me. My tolerance for fiddling with rope is well below average but it was enough to turn me off of climbing with one stick and rappelling. It was pretty fun though.
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I appreciate the feedback! What system do you run now? It really could just all come down to just me being quicker with my system.
 
A.Becotte said:
I appreciate the feedback! What system do you run now? It really could just all come down to just me being quicker with my system.
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Two or three sticks with aiders, although I may shorten or ditch the aiders next season. I never hunt very high unless I'm in a climber in an area with big straight trees. That was another reason I ditched one stick climbing. I never moved the stick 3 times after the initial set from the ground. I decided that I'd rather carry two more sticks than mess with all the bits I was using to rappel down. Only way I figured that out though was to try it for a season (2021).
 
I am trying one sticking in an effort to lighten my pack. It probably takes me 4 - 5 minutes longer to climb compared to my LWHC, but it is much more stable at hunting height, and who doesn’t like to rappel down. The JX 3 stick with Top step attachment is awesome. Rock solid, and I can maneuver 360 degrees around the tree easily for a shot with my recurve.
 
Sounds like you have all the gear you need to try one sticking. Stick, saddle, tether, & cam strap is all that is necessary & honestly the simplest & most efficient form. I’ve experimented with other gear - dedicated platform sticks, cam cleats, multi step aiders, rappelling ropes & devices - none have proven to simplify the process. This is probably not a popular opinion but it comes from years of experience & trail and error.

Now as far as simplifying the coming down process rappelling definitely gets you down faster, but once on the ground all becomes equal. If you hunt in clean woods with little to no understory - pull & rolling rope is fairly easy & quick. Notice the videos on this process - all in clean woods. I do not often hunt clean woods & tried to make rappelling work, but couldn’t gain any efficiency. When I hunt with 3 sticks and a movable aider - climbing down & pack up is about 6-8mins. My one stick setup is about 3-5 mins to climb down and pack up.
 
All of this is really good information and I thank you for all your help. I think the main thing is just understanding my system better and becoming as efficient as possible. I might not actually go for one sticking now that I think about it. I might just try to streamline my current system, look into some research on how to better it, and practice.

The only thing I think I like the best right now is the Sladder, but I need some more information on it.
 
A.Becotte said:
All of this is really good information and I thank you for all your help. I think the main thing is just understanding my system better and becoming as efficient as possible. I might not actually go for one sticking now that I think about it. I might just try to streamline my current system, look into some research on how to better it, and practice.

The only thing I think I like the best right now is the Sladder, but I need some more information on it.
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If you like the idea of rappelling, keep in mind you can still do it with multi sticks. I do when i still use multi sticks and think is the safest option, especially for coming down.

got caught in a rainstorm last week and was glad i had a rappel line to make coming down safer as me and everything around me was soaking wet. had climbed that day with 3 sticks
 
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Totally agree with you. I think having that system would be incredibly beneficial. I think it is good just to be as adaptable as possible to be ready for any situation.
 
Don’t forget the giant gear tie on top of your stick! Most manufacturers are adding a grab handle or cable which lengthens the stick upwards essentially. That’s so you don’t have to use your foot or bend as far over to grab it. I’ve seen guys use their foot to release a stick…….I like holding it by the handle and pulling straight up!
 
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