i havent used a climber since the baker widowmakers in the mid eightys
anyhow i purchased a climber with x-mas money
and am looking to see how you guys and gals are rigging for safety
are you attaching to the tree with your harness and sliding up as you go or using a line with a prussic or similar knot and going that route
im mostly looking for the pros and cons of each system
i already done a search and got some great info
thanks
kevin
I only attach my safety belt once I climb up the tree. i know its not the safest method, but I look at it as its better than doing/wearing nothing... If I change my ways, I'd attach and slide the belt up with me as I climb.
Safety vest only for me, I climb up and then attach immediatley before anything else happens. Its quick and easy, and as far as Im concerned safe and responsible. I still know plenty that dont even use harnesses yet, thats just silly.
I have a Hunters safety System that I attach when I reach my desired height. I have been using a Summit climber for 12+ years and never had one once that felt like it was going to slide down the tree. It takes too long to use a sliding style harness while climbing with a climber.
I've got a harness with a longer lanyard and a carabiner at the end...just wrap it around the tree and hook it back to itself. This way it is real easy to slide up the tree as I go, and if you fall it will tighten right up. As far as I know, this is the only way to go!
Hook up at the bottom before you start to climb. It only takes a few second to fall and it only takes few seconds to move it while you climb. Be safe
I use the supplied rope that goes around the tree with a safety hook that attaches to my harness. Not sure what it`s called, but you adjust it and slide it up. Climb a stroke, and adjust it again. At no time am I NOT tethered to the tree. With practice, it can be done very quietly.
Climbing into position is something that should be done slowly and quietly anyway. As you climb, you can survey the area and find the best height for shot clearance.
I`m kind of shocked to hear of anyone waiting until they are done climbing to get hooked to the tree. It really doesn`t take anything extra to advance the rope as you go up. PLUS, it keeps you going slow and quiet.
I have always stalked my way into position, and climbed as quietly as possible. I have gotten to my desired height and had deer within sight immediately, many times through the years.
I have a few fixed position stands that I still use. When using those, there is a rope tied above the stand that comes down to ground level that uses the same slip knot and hook system to prevent a fall to the ground if something were to happen when getting into them.
I have heard that most accidents happen while getting in or out of stands. Just a bit more effort can prevent tragedy.
Ditto hook up at the bottom-- why take any chance whatsoever--the stand can slip while you're climbing if the circumstances are right (or wrong!). I use the prussic knotted rope that came with the stand--easy to slide it up as you go. And know that there's a learning curve with climbing stands. The first couple of climbs will feel unnatural and shaky, but after a few you will scoot right up and it's ultra-solid when it's all in place.
I wear my harness and attach at the ground sliding the belt up as I climb up and down. Too risky not to.
Seems the older I get the more safety concious I become.I used to wait until I reached my desired height before hooking up my safety harness,but this year I began to hookup at the bottom of the tree and slide the harness as I climb.Takes very little time and eliminates all the "what if" scenarios.
body Harness and the prussic knot,you can look forever and not come up with a better, safer, lighter, easy to carry, cost effective rig.
QuoteOriginally posted by StJoePTP:
I have a Hunters safety System that I attach when I reach my desired height. I have been using a Summit climber for 12+ years and never had one once that felt like it was going to slide down the tree. It takes too long to use a sliding style harness while climbing with a climber.
x2..
I have a shoulder harness and attach once in place. As I am getting no more nimble (and the last time I climbed out of my stand this year my bare hands were clubs) I have been considering the better "understrap" harness and a ascending/descending line and clip.
But I don't use a climber stand. Mine are fixed.
Safety harness with the prussic knot,sliding it up the tree as I go..I stay hooked to the tree till both my feet are touching the ground...
I've seen more people get hurt stepping the last couple of feet off the platform backwards when they are climb down.This is were you let your guard down & think your home free...stay attached to the tree till you get solid ground under your feet..
Bonebuster has it right. Everyone that is hooking up after climbing should reread his post. Safety cannot be over done. Two people in my area were killed this season falling from treestands. Hook up BEFORE climbing please!
I want to add that I fell while climbing in 2009. A bolt broke on my seat climber. I fell backward and my harness caught me. Probably saved me from broken bones or worse.
The original poster asked specifically how to hook up on the ground and climb with a climber. The prussic knot and a long rope would not work in that situation. I use that rig in a ladder stand or any tree stand I leave out and up in a tree for a period of time.
The only thing I've found that works with a climber is to hook to a sliding belt or a rope looped around tree with a carabiner and keep sliding it up as you go.
I have only used climbers. I attach at the ground and go through the slow sliding up as I go. I use a Hunters Safety System vest but have used the harnesses that come with most climbers as well. It's not too loud. It is slow.
I know quite a few guys who only attach at the top but I have read several times that most falls occur on the way up or down.
I will take going up and down slow vs. going down much too fast.
Takes a lot less time to climb while attached then it does to heal, hire someone to wipe your butt for you, or have a spouse plan a funeral.
Another that hooks up at the base of the tree with my harness and slide it up as I go. I have fallen once many years ago and am lucky enough that I walked away with just a couple of bruises and one deep scar on my upper thigh. There is absolutely no reason to not be connected to the tree. You gain nothing by not hooking up at the base of the tree and risk losing everything if you don't.
I climb with the safety harness on & around tree, then I strap the stand to the tree for more safety.
Bluegrassbowhunter has it right! HSS vest with prusik rope. Hook vest into the rope, slide the knot as you climb. Once you reach your desired height you are already secured to the tree. Nearly impossible to fall!
But Flatshooter, how do you use that with a climber? How do you get your rope up in the tree to slide the knot up on as you go if you are in a climber on the ground? Please tell us your method.
Someone please explain to me how you use a safety line and prusic know when using a climber.
You can't use it with out first climbing the tree, unless I'm missing something here. Which unless you can fly it's not happening.
Jack
oops Didn't read reddogge's post , he asked the same question I did.
The seat O yer pants full body harness is what I use. attach before I start climbing and as I move up I move my attachment up. I spent this whole yr on the ground so no worries.
Sure it has been said but I urge all yall to be attached from the time you start to climb to the time you step back onto the ground. Your families will be thankfull. Coming from a career fire rescue dude the one thing I ALWAYS heara victim say "I thought stuff like this happened to other people" or something to that nature. If they say anything at all.
You could tie a safety line to the climber!!!!!!!!!!! YEAH if the climber goes you go too! LOL - kiddin yall!
I have to do all that crazy rope riggin in training. I do use a line if I have a hang on but that is OT.
J
Friend was injured in a tree stand accident yrs ago and his whole set gave way - straight to the bottom of the tree. liken to have killed him. I would almos think that at some points the climber will stay in the tree and youll go.?
QuoteOriginally posted by reddogge:
But Flatshooter, how do you use that with a climber? How do you get your rope up in the tree to slide the knot up on as you go if you are in a climber on the ground? Please tell us your method.
I'll take some picts tomorrow....kinda hard to explain in words..just have to show ya...it's not the same system you use with a ladder stand or lock on..
See if this works for ya....this is exactly how I do it with a prussic knot & rope around the tree....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUvPB_6pEJI
all above is great advice ,with a climber ,be sure you have the stand at the bottom of the tree at an angle,not straight,also be sure you have them both connected with a rope or some thick string ,my oldest brother had a new ol man some years ago and we were in the backyard and he was going up and down to get a feel for things,he put the stand at the bottom of the tree straight,he got up about 15-20 feet and set down and the bottom part slid down the tree ,he also forgot to connect the top and bottom together!i had to run and find a ladder long enough to get him down!! ..be careful..
loop it around the tree and slid it up as You climb. Once You get to where You want to be, You just leave it there and slid the knot up and down the rope as You climb..
I got ya blue grass, that is what I use as well -- works great. Totally different from what I use on my lock on.
J
Kevin, let me know when you get ready to practice with your stand. I need to check out these safety tips too.
Thank YOU bluegrassbowhunter. That explains a lot and it is much simpler that my system of loostening a belt and moving it up and down the tree and retightening. I will proceed to make me one immediately.
I had seen this sysem once but forgot about it.
One more question, how do those who use hang ons and climbing sticks attach on the ground? Do you use the linemans' belt or the same prussic knot?
I use the SOP system which enables me to use the short line and prussic knot as a lineman's belt to put in screw in steps and hang a stand. Once the stand is in place I drop a 30' line with a prussic knot to the ground. From this point forth I'm hooked up going up and coming down.