Excellent video and technique. Love it when someone comes up with something that makes me step back and say man why didn't I think of that. There is no doubt in my mind that this process can be tweaked to make it noiseless - you did the major muscle moving thanks - great way to approach climbing using Jim Stepps.
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How I use the Wild Edge Stepps
- Thread starter Cain
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That is really cool. I've never used those steps but all these posts about them I may need to buy a few lol
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The only caution I would have is on icy days on smooth trees like some oaks, footing could be a problem when stepping against the tree. hell I am old and fat but I am going to try this with my rock climbing harness and a small runner/carbineer
Cain
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Thanks. Yea, I'm going to wrap my biners and steps to make it quieter. One thing I really like about this system is that I strap my bow to my back pack, walk up to the tree I want to climb and start climbing.
How loud is that carrying bag while you're walking in? As far as the fabric against other fabric/twigs etc....
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IkemanTX
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- Oct 16, 2015
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Holy crap, this is awesome. I will have to check the spacings I can achieve with this and see if it is worth buying another small set of stepps.
I wonder if my bridge is short enough to tie off to, or if it will leave too much slack.
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I wonder if my bridge is short enough to tie off to, or if it will leave too much slack.
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Cain
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It's not anything I've really noticed. It is a harder fabric, but it's really not that loud to me. That being said I have not walked through real thick woods with it.
Cool, just something I thought of. Certainly has to be quieter than squeezing through a laurel thicket with a 20+ lb climber over the shoulder!
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For me, I would only need 4 steps so I personally will come up with a fleece bag to carry them. I also replace my ropes with something far more flexible like Amsteel Blue) and it makes it a lot easier to put steps in and out of a bag.
Cain
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Hey I was thinking if your talking about tying your bridge into the step at waist level, then I think you will have too much slack. I like to be as close to the step as I can at my waist so I can have good reach to tie my next step. If that bridge don't work, you might can make a belt out of webbing that would work?
Great idea. I have tons of amsteel laying around. I'm going to do this.
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An adjustable bridge sucked all the way down would work.
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Keep in mind I only do this for day use. If I was going to leave them up for months (preset) then I would use the original ropes as I have never had a squirrel chew on one. Not sure if they would amsteel as I take them off same day if and when I use them. Some complain about how hard the knot is so move/adjust/undue.... but with the cam/uncam action I just don't have a problem there. Once I uncam a step it is easy to get the amsteel rope off IMO. Currently I do not use them to climb only as a platform occasionally - but this video has convinced me to give them another look as I think I can do this?
Ikeman - just get a prussic loop, loop it around the rock harness strap and then pass it through itself (same idea as girth hitch), this will give you a small loop to use a carbineer with to attach to step.
Cain
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Yea. I'm going to have a total of 12 steps. And 2, 8 step bags, with 6 steps in each bag. This will get me 30 ft at my feet and build a 3 step platform.
Cain
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Hey i probably should do a video on " loosening the knot". I use to struggle with that a little too. But I found if you will grab the rope that goes around the tree and ties to the step and pull it towards the step, then the knot will almost loosen on it's on. Kinda hard to explain.
I think you just increased the selling of wild edge steps young man. I think most people hesitate at using 12-15 steps - but 4-6 is very doable. guess time will tell
IkemanTX
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- Oct 16, 2015
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I will definitely play around with it to find out. I run a pretty dang short bridge on my sit drag. I think I’m around 12 inches. Don’t wear a climbing harness with it, and wouldn’t want to add one just for a climbing method.
Fortunately, I have 3 stepp ladder steps already, so I can play around before spending any money.
@DaveT1963 I have heard guys say amsteel doesn’t loosen as well as wild edge’s stock rope. Have you had any issues like the knot being difficult to undo? I have thought amsteel with a spliced EYW would be the perfect solution to the stepps. Transport with no rope on them, girth hitch the spliced side to the step, and stepp knot the other side.
Edit: Never mind Dave. I was behind and didn’t see your recent posts about my exact question.
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