Setting up at height, SRT Method etc

[John RB]

I just had a shoulder replacement so I can’t really practice yet. I’ve been watching a bunch of videos, and I’m ready to climb and seamlessly rappel down……I think
I cannot find any videos showing how to setup at height. I’m pretty sure I won’t hunt from my SRT, but rather tie in a separate short tether…..or will I? What about a platform? I’m thinking of a monster white oak right now that tells me I won’t need a platform at all. Once I get 15’ up, I’ve got plenty of places to set my feet. I’ve seen @John RB get in a crotch no platform, and nothing else I remember. Even climbing videos show the climb, but few details….again, cept Johns. I’ll only climb presets and look forward to that as well. I’m sure every setup would be different, but is anything typical?

Fyi, a friend alerted me about this thread. I have trouble getting my notifications on this forum ... sometimes I get them and sometimes I don't.

1. By some coincidence, the same day you made this post, i released this video. I have no objection to using a platform. It's just a lot to carry. I do prefer a tree with a branch in the right location.
2. We have since tried adding a couple of steps from an ROS system on either side of the platform and it worked great.
3. With a bad shoulder, you probably won't want to do anything that requires putting your arm over your head. But you can climb MRS quite reasonably with just one leg. The easiest way I can think of is with a short Garda hitch footloop to pull down on the moving side. I would recommend setting that up as an auto tending system. Let me know if you need help.

There are some comments about complexity in the thread. I agree nobody should do anything that's too complex for them. However, it's not a fair comparison to say JRB Doubled Rope is more complex than MRS/DRT unless we make the MRS system as safe as JRB. Remember, JRB has redundancy for your friction hitches, nor do we tie tie our fricion hitches in the woods. If a hitch wasn't tied properly or breaks or slides or whatever, you do not fall. In rappel, we also have redundancy. In MRS there is a single point of failure in the friction hitch. And rappel requires more skill. For example, many a DRT climber has experienced the phenomena whereby their rappel is getting a little quick and instead of relaxing the amount of pull on the friction hitch, the instinctively pull harder and they go for a ride. Some call it a suislide. I climbed MRS/DRT for 12 years. If I thought it was better, i would still be doing it and JRB never would have evolved. Lastly, we can take a JRB system and without tying any new knots, we can use it for SRT or DRT. But why would we? The only time i have used my JRB system as an MRS system is the time I left my Garda hitch footloop in the truck and showed up at my tree for a hunt without it. Of course, that is not a problem. We just pull on one side and we are on an MRS system. Minus the redundancy. I have designed MRS systems with a comparable level of redundancy, meaning that if your friction hitch failed, you don't fall, but of course, it's going to be more complex.

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[MNFarmHunter]

With SRT, presets are a beautiful thing.

Dark or daylight, presets allow for quick, easy and silent climbs. The great thing about SRT (or 2TC) is once at height, your lap becomes a working platform to setup your platform with ease.

If you had shoulder surgery, it’s not the end of things. SRT takes advantage of both arms and legs which makes it easier.


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[bfriendly]

With SRT, presets are a beautiful thing.

Dark or daylight, presets allow for quick, easy and silent climbs. The great thing about SRT (or 2TC) is once at height, your lap becomes a working platform to setup your platform with ease.

If you had shoulder surgery, it’s not the end of things. SRT takes advantage of both arms and legs which makes it easier.


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Before surgery I couldn’t raise my right hand above shoulder level, even less with my elbow! Try raising your tether like that! I’ve had to basically walk my right hand up the tree with my fingers. Shooting the bow has also been a challenge, but Ive made it work. Range of motion is way better, just no strength yet. No real pain, just tension……and I’m stretching! Not being able to push up with my right hand has been my biggest hindrance climbing. But as good as I feel after only 3.5 week’s postop, I am very optimistic…..and excited!

Fyi, a friend alerted me about this thread. I have trouble getting my notifications on this forum ... sometimes I get them and sometimes I don't.

1. By some coincidence, the same day you made this post, i released this video. I have no objection to using a platform. It's just a lot to carry. I do prefer a tree with a branch in the right location.
2. We have since tried adding a couple of steps from an ROS system on either side of the platform and it worked great.
3. With a bad shoulder, you probably won't want to do anything that requires putting your arm over your head. But you can climb MRS quite reasonably with just one leg. The easiest way I can think of is with a short Garda hitch footloop to pull down on the moving side. I would recommend setting that up as an auto tending system. Let me know if you need help.

There are some comments about complexity in the thread. I agree nobody should do anything that's too complex for them. However, it's not a fair comparison to say JRB Doubled Rope is more complex than MRS/DRT unless we make the MRS system as safe as JRB. Remember, JRB has redundancy for your friction hitches, nor do we tie tie our fricion hitches in the woods. If a hitch wasn't tied properly or breaks or slides or whatever, you do not fall. In rappel, we also have redundancy. In MRS there is a single point of failure in the friction hitch. And rappel requires more skill. For example, many a DRT climber has experienced the phenomena whereby their rappel is getting a little quick and instead of relaxing the amount of pull on the friction hitch, the instinctively pull harder and they go for a ride. Some call it a suislide. I climbed MRS/DRT for 12 years. If I thought it was better, i would still be doing it and JRB never would have evolved. Lastly, we can take a JRB system and without tying any new knots, we can use it for SRT or DRT. But why would we? The only time i have used my JRB system as an MRS system is the time I left my Garda hitch footloop in the truck and showed up at my tree for a hunt without it. Of course, that is not a problem. We just pull on one side and we are on an MRS system. Minus the redundancy. I have designed MRS systems with a comparable level of redundancy, meaning that if your friction hitch failed, you don't fall, but of course, it's going to be more complex.

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Love that attachment method @John RB! First thing I noticed was how you had sort of a mechanical advantage by pulling to tighten it, instead of pushing. I like my OCB, but it is a push to close.

 

[John RB]

With SRT, presets are a beautiful thing.

Dark or daylight, presets allow for quick, easy and silent climbs. The great thing about SRT (or 2TC) is once at height, your lap becomes a working platform to setup your platform with ease.

If you had shoulder surgery, it’s not the end of things. SRT takes advantage of both arms and legs which makes it easier.


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Excellent suggestion, I should have said that too. I agree on SRT as an excellent option for a bad shoulder situation, specifically RADS SRT. RADS SRT uses a 3:1 mechanical advantage in ascent. Its slower but the least amount of effort and although most climbers will use one hand above their head, its completely viable to execute a RADS SRT with just one leg, and perhaps even pushing down on your working knee to get the move started. Be aware that in non saddle climbing circles, if ya use the term SRT, it is assumed to be 1:1, not 3:1 or RADS. I always say RADS SRT if that's what I am referring to. Some used to call it YoYo or rope and a half, and some don't consider it SRT at all. Here's an article I have bookmarked from my research years ago. Cheers.

RADS: Rope (and a half) Technique

treetools.co.nz

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