Climbing - first ascent

[adirondack46r]

I have seen posts regarding prusik knots and such and have a pretty good handle on the usage.

I’m good with using a mainline to get into my stand. I can use a blake’s hitch or prusik. I use a full body harness from one of the tree stand manufacturers – not the best quality but I think it will suffice. My question is ascending a tree safely for the first time. Keep in mind that I use Lone Wolf climbing sticks and hang on stands. The way I see it there are these options.

1. Use a throw line to get a mainline tied in before I start ascending. This works great when there is a limb to cast the throw line over.

2. Climb the first time without being tied in. Put a safety line around the tree when I get to my desired height and tie in to it. Then tie in a main line that can be used for ascending and descending from that point forward.

3. Use some sort of safety line while ascending and placing climbing sticks. This doesn’t work very well because the climbing sticks attach to the tree in a way that always seems to make placement of a safety line difficult.

Am I missing something? Is there another option for the first ascent to hang the stand safely?

46r

[bluegill]

Bob,

Typically I use option 2, unless the tree is perfect with no branches until I get to stand height then I use my linemans rope but it doesn't happen that way too often.

Sean

[adirondack46r]

Originally posted by bluegill:
Bob,

Typically I use option 2, unless the tree is perfect with no branches until I get to stand height then I use my linemans rope but it doesn't happen that way too often.

Sean

That's been my default approach too. Is your lineman's rope simply a short safety rope with a prusik that you hook a caribiner to?

[bluegill]

Yeah thats it, it works fine but can become a pain when climing trees with many small branches.

[bluegill]

Yeah thats it, it works fine but can become a pain when climing trees with many small branches.

[BobW]

Initial climbs are always the most harrowing.  Simply put, maintaining 3 points of contact at all times is the minimum you should do.  I will actually will work with two lineman's lines where branches are an issue.  Never removing the lower one until the upper one is in place.  Takes time, but what the heck is the rush?

[Talondale]

I sometimes do a variation of BobW, which is to synch a loop around the trunk and push that up as I go.  The first two sections of sticks can be done from the ground so it doesn't take long to do the rest.