USUAL DISCLAIMER: CLIMBING IS INHERENTLY DANGEROUS AND PRACTICE IS EVERYTHING. ETC ETC. As Nutterbuster said "Is this safe? No. No it isn't. You're climbing a tree with a loaded weapon in a place where it's hard to get an ambulance. You should be mistrustful of the whole enchilada."
This is it guys, I think I found the system for me. One stick works great, but I think I found my thing. Still need to streamline it, but the concept is there.
With the old inventory sellout at Bullman, I decided to get 6 pioneer steps for a ring of step.
Spencer from Saddle Hunting did a video about climbing with steps and an aider. While it seem efficient, there was just too many moving parts for the uncoordinated like myself. So brainstorm and a light came on my head, and it was an actual good idea....l think!
My desire to KISS because I feel limiting the overall number of steps I need to do reduce the possibility of me messing up. 3 movements got me 20ft, I'll take that any day. It took me A LOT more movements with 2TC.
I only got up the tree 4 times, and I think I'm going to use it in my mobile setup. I would still SRT if I am able to presets, but I think I found my method for getting up any tree any time! I found that also attaching a ROS a few inches above this, I can rest my feet at an angle which is really comfortable, similar to how people use the top of their stick with their ROS.
Pro:
Almost impossible to kick out. Very serious. I also like that my feet are spread out instead of in a straight line. If used on a smaller tree, you might not even need a separate ROS.
11 oz on my scale. Each step was 3oz, OCB 2oz, 5oz of strap/aider/paracord. Oh, not counted was a carabiner I used to attack it to my saddle. If you REALLY want to. I think you can get it down 7-8oz with the steps, amsteel/buckle daisy chain, and amsteel aider.
Packability. I'm using amsteel with paracord wrap as steps, but you can use any type of aiders you want. It fit in my pocket.
Once silencing material is applied to steps and OCB, it would possibility be one of the most quiet method. There is no standoff biting into tree or any other possible metal to metal contacts.
You can use this design for regular climbing. I see no problem replacing regular sticks with this. But this is only if you are comfortable with aiders. Some people just rather always be standing on something solid, which I understand.
Again, almost impossible to kick out. I tried. I really tried. Literally pushed my entire weight to one side of tree and pull away from the tree as far as I can. Saw some movement of the steps at hardest attempt, but no kick out.
Con:
A stick with cam clear is still easier.
Can't beat 2TC in possible weight. I think if you really want to. 2TC with amsteel is 1-3 ounces? If you really care that much about weight.
Does take longer setting it against a tree than a solid stick where you can pinch it against the tree and your tether. But we are talking 5-10 seconds at most.
Notes and future plans:
Tried using just an amsteel daisy chain and a hook tag end. Does not work as well because of too much slack. The tourniquet technique might work but I have no experience on it.
Not shown but later I drilled a tiny hold in the OCB and ran paracord. In picture I attached paracord at the end of strap, but I realized the OCB is the correct location to pull to release OCB. While pulling the strap DOES release the OCB, you are pulling on the tag end of the straps so the more you pull the tighter it get. Pulling on the OCB toward you actually lengthen the strap, 1/4 of the time the half hook just fall off as you pull so its easier to disengage it from the tree. Basically its the same principle as pulling on the quicklink with paracord when you are trying to retrieve your rappel line from tree.
I am going to pretty it up. This was just a prototype, final setup will have all metal piece stealth wrapped, amsteel buried, etc etc. I will also make the step fixed, because unlike ROS where you adjust spacing to how the tree is, the step spacing is defined by the aider and it keep it from sliding up and down straps. Maybe sandwich the steps between stitches or buckles.
If using this to replace your regular climbing sticks, the lineman's belt variable is unknown. There could be an argument that its safer. If you slip and fall, a stick is going to be center between you and the tree. So its a good chance that you are going to smack your face into the stick. With the steps positions at an angle away from you, I would think your face would hit the tree and the steps has a better chance of catching the lineman's belt than the stick being center to your body. On that note, I'm confused on why everyone climbs STRAIGHT up with sticks from what I see. I always stagger my sticks when I used sticks, this way if I do fall, the next stick down would definitely catch my lineman's belt if the first stick did not.
This is it guys, I think I found the system for me. One stick works great, but I think I found my thing. Still need to streamline it, but the concept is there.
With the old inventory sellout at Bullman, I decided to get 6 pioneer steps for a ring of step.
Spencer from Saddle Hunting did a video about climbing with steps and an aider. While it seem efficient, there was just too many moving parts for the uncoordinated like myself. So brainstorm and a light came on my head, and it was an actual good idea....l think!
My desire to KISS because I feel limiting the overall number of steps I need to do reduce the possibility of me messing up. 3 movements got me 20ft, I'll take that any day. It took me A LOT more movements with 2TC.
I only got up the tree 4 times, and I think I'm going to use it in my mobile setup. I would still SRT if I am able to presets, but I think I found my method for getting up any tree any time! I found that also attaching a ROS a few inches above this, I can rest my feet at an angle which is really comfortable, similar to how people use the top of their stick with their ROS.
Pro:
Almost impossible to kick out. Very serious. I also like that my feet are spread out instead of in a straight line. If used on a smaller tree, you might not even need a separate ROS.
11 oz on my scale. Each step was 3oz, OCB 2oz, 5oz of strap/aider/paracord. Oh, not counted was a carabiner I used to attack it to my saddle. If you REALLY want to. I think you can get it down 7-8oz with the steps, amsteel/buckle daisy chain, and amsteel aider.
Packability. I'm using amsteel with paracord wrap as steps, but you can use any type of aiders you want. It fit in my pocket.
Once silencing material is applied to steps and OCB, it would possibility be one of the most quiet method. There is no standoff biting into tree or any other possible metal to metal contacts.
You can use this design for regular climbing. I see no problem replacing regular sticks with this. But this is only if you are comfortable with aiders. Some people just rather always be standing on something solid, which I understand.
Again, almost impossible to kick out. I tried. I really tried. Literally pushed my entire weight to one side of tree and pull away from the tree as far as I can. Saw some movement of the steps at hardest attempt, but no kick out.
Con:
A stick with cam clear is still easier.
Can't beat 2TC in possible weight. I think if you really want to. 2TC with amsteel is 1-3 ounces? If you really care that much about weight.
Does take longer setting it against a tree than a solid stick where you can pinch it against the tree and your tether. But we are talking 5-10 seconds at most.
Notes and future plans:
Tried using just an amsteel daisy chain and a hook tag end. Does not work as well because of too much slack. The tourniquet technique might work but I have no experience on it.
Not shown but later I drilled a tiny hold in the OCB and ran paracord. In picture I attached paracord at the end of strap, but I realized the OCB is the correct location to pull to release OCB. While pulling the strap DOES release the OCB, you are pulling on the tag end of the straps so the more you pull the tighter it get. Pulling on the OCB toward you actually lengthen the strap, 1/4 of the time the half hook just fall off as you pull so its easier to disengage it from the tree. Basically its the same principle as pulling on the quicklink with paracord when you are trying to retrieve your rappel line from tree.
I am going to pretty it up. This was just a prototype, final setup will have all metal piece stealth wrapped, amsteel buried, etc etc. I will also make the step fixed, because unlike ROS where you adjust spacing to how the tree is, the step spacing is defined by the aider and it keep it from sliding up and down straps. Maybe sandwich the steps between stitches or buckles.
If using this to replace your regular climbing sticks, the lineman's belt variable is unknown. There could be an argument that its safer. If you slip and fall, a stick is going to be center between you and the tree. So its a good chance that you are going to smack your face into the stick. With the steps positions at an angle away from you, I would think your face would hit the tree and the steps has a better chance of catching the lineman's belt than the stick being center to your body. On that note, I'm confused on why everyone climbs STRAIGHT up with sticks from what I see. I always stagger my sticks when I used sticks, this way if I do fall, the next stick down would definitely catch my lineman's belt if the first stick did not.
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