Lots of ice fishermen keep meaning to add some rope to the collection of stuff in their ice sleds. You never know. Right?
**If there were more potential uses for a length of rope it is more likely that more iceaholics would carry it on every trip. I have been playing with some different designs for sled towing harnesses and came up with one that just uses a piece of rope…rope that can also be used for several other things…routine and emergency. **
My more or less final design uses about 20 feet of strong nylon rope. You can use more or less, according to the uses you envision and whatever rope you have available. Start by securing a clip to each end…carabiner or other simple one handed clip. This allows quick attachment either back onto the main rope or to any loop or clip elsewhere. Then, make a small loop in the rope, right in the middle. This provides something to which you can quick-attach the clip to form a loop.
Here are some of the more common potential applications of the utility rope.
1. Something to toss to a person who has fallen through the ice. They can use the clip to form a quick and simple loop around and under their shoulders to make it easier to haul them back upon to the ice. Anybody who has been in cold water even for a short time is likely to be in shock and/or suffering from hypothermia. They may not have the strength or grip to hold the rope while being pulled out.
2. S****omething to pull your ice sled behind a snowmobile or wheeler or behind another sled. Again, the clips and loop arrangement make it fast and easy to hook up and disconnect. Better than tying or untying knots with cold fingers or gloved hands.
3. A combination harness and tow rope for pulling your sled across the ice on foot. Make a large front loop by hooking the clip into the center loop. Put the loop down over your head and under your arms. Now bring the front center of the loop up over your head and rest it at the back of your neck. (See pics) The rope should extend under each armpit and back to the sled. Or, you can simply run the rope twice around your waist. Attach the rear clip to the sled pull rope or run it through and fasten it back up to the center loop in the utility rope if you want a shorter lead. This distributes the weight well and you are better able to pull your full ice sled much easier than if you have to keep one arm behind you to hold the short pull rope on your sled. Easier on the arms and the back. Note: You should hold the sled closer when going downhill, to prevent runaway or banging you in the back of the legs. The other option is to let it slide down backwards, in front of you, on long steep hills.
4. A helpful tool for pulling planks or for raising and lowering them onto iffy ice gaps.
5. A great aid in pulling sleds back up hills after fishing. Put one clip on the sled pull rope and then block the back edge or turn the sled sideways on the slope to keep it from sliding down. Trudge uphill…without the sled…until you reach the “end of your rope”. Now dig in your heels and arm-haul the sled up to your new position. Once you have it there, block it again and repeat the process until you are at the top. This process is less strenuous. You can cover more uphill distance faster and with less fatigue. Your arms and shoulders handle the weight of the sled better than your back and legs if you try to trudge it all the way to the top. Note: Some experienced ice sledders carry longer lengths of rope just for this process.
SUGGESTION: Keep your utility rope carefully coiled and stored inside a bag or shallow plastic container when not in use. If you need it quickly, in an emergency, you don’t want to have to untangle it from all your other gear.
