Believe me, I have thought a lot about what I could have done differently. And a block and tackle set up might have made all the difference.
I actually have the product that Chuck refers to. Mine is an older version apparently, but I sure wish I had it along on the Utah trip. I am leaving for CO on Friday for another adventure, and it is already packed in my bag.
The nice part of this set up is that as a ratchting pulley system you don't need three hands to pull the weight and then tie it off. Pull as far as you can and it locks tight on the rope so you can get another grip on it and pull some more. I really think this would have been a huge help in my case!
Here is my unit:
I weighed mine and it came in at 1# 8 oz. I don't know if I will carry it as standard equipment in my day pack, especially if I am hunting with a partner. But it will always at least be back in camp if needed in the future!