• The SH Membership has gone live. Only SH Members have access to post in the classifieds. All members can view the classifieds. Starting in 2020 only SH Members will be admitted to the annual hunting contest. Current members will need to follow these steps to upgrade: 1. Click on your username 2. Click on Account upgrades 3. Choose SH Member and purchase.
  • We've been working hard the past few weeks to come up with some big changes to our vendor policies to meet the changing needs of our community. Please see the new vendor rules here: Vendor Access Area Rules

How I use the Wild Edge Stepps

flinginairos said:
Maybe it was mentioned earlier in the thread, but what about using a small rock climbing sling hitched around the horizontal bar of the WE step instead of hooking the biner directly to the bar. @redsquirrel does this on the strap of his Silent Approach steps to connect his adjustable aider while climbing. I think it would eliminate the risk of the biner sliding to one side and also eliminate noise. Just a thought I had after seeing how Red used them on his straps at Saddlepalooza. The only issue I see is it may position your body back a little farther.
Click to expand...

I have been practicing almost every day for two weeks with the steps and an aider. I am using a whoopie sling with a carabiner. I can say with confidence that it makes no difference where I hook the carabiner on the bar. Right, left, center.... does not matter. That step will not move. Once that step is cammed over, it's solid. I am 20 feet or so up and I could care less where I clip. I usually go for the center but it does slide over to the side often when I fiddle with my foot and the loop. No issues. The steps are truly amazing.
 
Cain said:
I
When I first started climbing with the steps, I would uncam one at waist level about 6 ft off the ground and hang from it just to see what it would do. I was never afraid that it would come off the tree. However I am curious as to how it will react from a 3 ft fall. I don't think the rope will fail, but I am wondering about the step itself. This season I am planning on testing the step with a 175lb dummy to see just what will happen with a 3' fall. That's all the slack I will ever have in my rope. I will post a video and results here for those that are interested.
Click to expand...
This was the only concern I had with your system when I first saw your post and video of your method. When I played with your method I tied off to the point of the step instead of the rung. I think the rung is the weakest tie off position on the entire step in the event of a fall. I am very curious what results your experiment yields.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk
 
denots said:
This was the only concern I had with your system when I first saw your post and video of your method. When I played with your method I tied off to the point of the step instead of the rung. I think the rung is the weakest tie off position on the entire step in the event of a fall. I am very curious what results your experiment yields.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
I think your right. The picky end is probably the strongest point. I've seen the original Jim step video where they hook the step around the ball of a truck and it don't break. But there is a big difference in a slow steady pull and a sudden fall. Maybe I can do the test before too long.
 
boyne bowhunter said:
I'm sure the stepps are solid and will take way more than my weight but I modified my "Cain's" version of climbing just slightly to remove reliance on the single bar in case of a fall while advancing. Instead of tethering directly to the bar for the advance step I am girth hitching the tether around the tree and then moving that hitch above and draping it over the just tied step before advancing. This secures me directly to the tree and not just the single bar on the step while I am actively moving up the tree. I am still using a belt carabiner to attach me to the waist height step in lieu of the lineman's belt while installing the next step. I feel safe with that because there is no slack available to develop any fall distance.
Click to expand...
Hey boyne I have also tried a carabiner on each linesman loop on my harness and clipping directly into the rope on each side of the step. On the outside where there is a gap in between the tree and rope. It's actually more comfortable to me, but it ads another step to the process.
 
boyne bowhunter said:
I'm sure the stepps are solid and will take way more than my weight but I modified my "Cain's" version of climbing just slightly to remove reliance on the single bar in case of a fall while advancing. Instead of tethering directly to the bar for the advance step I am girth hitching the tether around the tree and then moving that hitch above and draping it over the just tied step before advancing. This secures me directly to the tree and not just the single bar on the step while I am actively moving up the tree. I am still using a belt carabiner to attach me to the waist height step in lieu of the lineman's belt while installing the next step. I feel safe with that because there is no slack available to develop any fall distance.
Click to expand...
I would like to see that demonstrated if you could put up a video. Thnx
 
boyne bowhunter said:
I'm sure the stepps are solid and will take way more than my weight but I modified my "Cain's" version of climbing just slightly to remove reliance on the single bar in case of a fall while advancing. Instead of tethering directly to the bar for the advance step I am girth hitching the tether around the tree and then moving that hitch above and draping it over the just tied step before advancing. This secures me directly to the tree and not just the single bar on the step while I am actively moving up the tree. I am still using a belt carabiner to attach me to the waist height step in lieu of the lineman's belt while installing the next step. I feel safe with that because there is no slack available to develop any fall distance.
Click to expand...
That sounds like the @redsquirrel method. I've been doing the same. Only difference between red's method and mine is I don't use a dedicated climbing aider. I climb with my tether.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
 
BassBoysLLP said:
That sounds like the @redsquirrel method. I've been doing the same. Only difference between red's method and mine is I don't use a dedicated climbing aider. I climb with my tether.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
nevermind. just re-read your post. sounds like you have a hybrid.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
 
BassBoysLLP said:
That sounds like the @redsquirrel method. I've been doing the same. Only difference between red's method and mine is I don't use a dedicated climbing aider. I climb with my tether.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
I may move over to using my tether this year too. I just wanted to have a dedicated piece of gear for this while I was working out any kinks.
 
Jim Stepp and now wild edge really have provided a seriously stable, quiet and compact way to get up in the trees. Much thanks, the possibilities are exciting and appreciate everyone's innovations.
 
Can’t wait to get my steps. Gonna order 10 and use some kind of aider system. I have all summer to come up with what is gonna work for me I’m 5’6 and like to get to a height of roughly 20-25 feet during the early season and as the foliage leaves the canopy i’ll Go to 30 if cover is sparse. Love all the innovation with the wild edge system.
 
I had a few minutes before sundown to try the Cain method tonight. I was pumped about this method, but in my quick attempt to try it tonight I was struggling to find the right spacing. I would be too high and kept lifting up and un-camming the stepp when I hooked up with the waist level carabiner. I will try it again when I get more daylight time, but Cain made it looked easier than what it was for me on the firat attempt.
 
bluetbird42 said:
I had a few minutes before sundown to try the Cain method tonight. I was pumped about this method, but in my quick attempt to try it tonight I was struggling to find the right spacing. I would be too high and kept lifting up and un-camming the stepp when I hooked up with the waist level carabiner. I will try it again when I get more daylight time, but Cain made it looked easier than what it was for me on the firat attempt.
Click to expand...

That happens to me all the time.
I see an awesome video, i say “thats for me -so easy” then i try it and I’m a mess...lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
bluetbird42 said:
I had a few minutes before sundown to try the Cain method tonight. I was pumped about this method, but in my quick attempt to try it tonight I was struggling to find the right spacing. I would be too high and kept lifting up and un-camming the stepp when I hooked up with the waist level carabiner. I will try it again when I get more daylight time, but Cain made it looked easier than what it was for me on the firat attempt.
Click to expand...
Just attach the linemans belt rather than use the riggers belt. It gives you far more flexibility in the spacing. Plus you can often push your hips closer to the tree and get your step positioned a bit higher.

Also, there should be limited arm muscle in the move. Keep your arms fully extended before making the move. This is a resting position when rock climbing. Cinch up the tether rope tight to your butt and push off the tree. If you can't place your foot comfortable on the stepp to move up, step up the trunk and cinch the tether again. Once your feet are comfortably on the stepp, pull yourself up the balance and set your linemans (or riggers) belt.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
 
bluetbird42 said:
I had a few minutes before sundown to try the Cain method tonight. I was pumped about this method, but in my quick attempt to try it tonight I was struggling to find the right spacing. I would be too high and kept lifting up and un-camming the stepp when I hooked up with the waist level carabiner. I will try it again when I get more daylight time, but Cain made it looked easier than what it was for me on the firat attempt.
Click to expand...
Yea it takes some practice to get your spacing right. If you place your first step too high, when you step up on it then your next step will be too low, therefore causing that step to want to uncam. For me it is waist level or a little lower. But not too low because if you put it too low then your third step will be too low and will want to uncam. Try this. Set the first step about 1-2 inches below your waist, keep in mind that after you tie the knot your actually raising the step a few inches to make it cam over correctly and that puts the step about right. Then the next step almost as high as you can reach. Hope this helps.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top