Stuck Friction Savers

[newb]

Every now and then I get myself into trouble with retrieving my friction saver by getting it stuck in a tight crotch. My options are to find another crotch, not always an option. Or, climb without the saver. I dont like that either. What are you other guys doing in these situations. How well does a rope saver(?) work. And how well does it retrieve?

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Have you ever tried a double wrap with a long ring on ring FC? You have to set it up carefully. The spiral needs to wrap correctly or it will lock onto the stem.

Whenever I use a FC in a tight union I always pull it out and move it down the tree before I descend too far. That way in the bad-luck situation of getting things jammed up and jelly tight I can retrieve it a lot easier.

Another option is to use a Rope Guide or make one up yourself. There are plenty of illustrations of homemade RGs on TreXbuzX. They choke tight onto a stem and don't have to be rigged in a tight union.