Aider and Wild Edge Steps - Getting down??

[WhiteOakAcorn]

I'm still new to the saddle hunting but get better each time I'm out. It's my first year with the Aero Kestrel. I mixed it with the Tethrd ropes because I like the way they are spliced. I use the Wild Edge Steps for climbing. I don't get as high as I would like because I still have trouble getting a good cam over every time. I have had steps slip on me a number of times. Not enough to cause my foot to come off the step but enough to make me nervous. I wanted to get higher with fewer steps so I picked up the Aider from Wild Edge. I used it for the first time last weekend and I did get higher this time around. It seemed like it took me forever to get up the tree though.. lol. I watched all the videos and thought "how hard can it be?". It was much harder to get that rope length adjustment by sliding the rope. I would slide the rope as I raised my foot for each step up by sliding the slack over the upper step and pulling down as I lift my foot. I was happy I got up over 20 feet with 7 steps.

I had no idea coming down would be so crazy. You can't see the aider rope to get your foot in the loop. I thought I had the length adjusted right for a step down. I lifted the aider rope up with my hand to make it easier to get my foot in the loop. I kept tension on the rope so my boot stayed in there as I started to lower down until I was just on the aider. I took my next step down searching for the step while bear hugging the tree. I went A LOT farther down than expected and found myself almost eye level with the boot in the aider. The aider was hung up on the tread of my boot so I could NOT get out of the loop. I couldn't go back up the tree because I was stretched so far out. I was on the step but I was stuck. It's funny looking back at it now but I didn't know what I was going to do for a bit. I struggled to get that aider off my boot. It took a lot of struggling but eventually got out of it. I kept thinking it should not be this hard to do. The rest of the tree went a little better making the proper length adjustment on the aider before stepping down. I have a lot to learn with this.

Does anyone have any thoughts or tips? Any input would be great!!

Thank you. Good luck and be safe everyone!

 

[bigjoe]

Glad you got down safe. I think that the WE Stepps are very viable as I own 12. For me I was able to cam them over pretty easy from the beginning. If I were you I would intermingle the stepps and sticks to you got a little more comfortable. Use them at base of tree and then use sticks to get up further and maybe for a platform. As a big guy myself, and not as nimble as I once was or these young guys I am not a big fan of using Aiders. I think they are great if you do not have a size 14 foot. Lol. The stepps take practice.

Good luck

 

[celestialproduct]

I share your struggles. I damn near flipped over on the bottom step trying to use an aider. Was happy I was able to touch the ground and unhook my self. I about threw my aider across the forest after that.

Anyway, I ended up hanging like 10' off the ground with 4 steps and my top step started coming loose like I didn't cam it over correctly. Or my ropes stretched a little.

I don't have much to offer besides aiders take a lot of practice and it's super sketchy. I have a size 10 boot and it's uninsulated pronghorns and I can't find a foot position that seems stable on these steps. Fustrating to say the least.

My only suggestion would be to learn how to rappel down safely instead of fumbling in the dark to find the aider steps.

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[GCTerpfan]

I'm still new to the saddle hunting but get better each time I'm out. It's my first year with the Aero Kestrel. I mixed it with the Tethrd ropes because I like the way they are spliced. I use the Wild Edge Steps for climbing. I don't get as high as I would like because I still have trouble getting a good cam over every time. I have had steps slip on me a number of times. Not enough to cause my foot to come off the step but enough to make me nervous. I wanted to get higher with fewer steps so I picked up the Aider from Wild Edge. I used it for the first time last weekend and I did get higher this time around. It seemed like it took me forever to get up the tree though.. lol. I watched all the videos and thought "how hard can it be?". It was much harder to get that rope length adjustment by sliding the rope. I would slide the rope as I raised my foot for each step up by sliding the slack over the upper step and pulling down as I lift my foot. I was happy I got up over 20 feet with 7 steps.

I had no idea coming down would be so crazy. You can't see the aider rope to get your foot in the loop. I thought I had the length adjusted right for a step down. I lifted the aider rope up with my hand to make it easier to get my foot in the loop. I kept tension on the rope so my boot stayed in there as I started to lower down until I was just on the aider. I took my next step down searching for the step while bear hugging the tree. I went A LOT farther down than expected and found myself almost eye level with the boot in the aider. The aider was hung up on the tread of my boot so I could NOT get out of the loop. I couldn't go back up the tree because I was stretched so far out. I was on the step but I was stuck. It's funny looking back at it now but I didn't know what I was going to do for a bit. I struggled to get that aider off my boot. It took a lot of struggling but eventually got out of it. I kept thinking it should not be this hard to do. The rest of the tree went a little better making the proper length adjustment on the aider before stepping down. I have a lot to learn with this.

Does anyone have any thoughts or tips? Any input would be great!!

Thank you. Good luck and be safe everyone!

I don't use the aider coming back down it can be pretty sketchy in the dark like you found out. I simply grab ahold of the step at waist level and lower myself down to the next step. Try it, it's easier then it sounds.

 

[JOHNNYMCMAHAN]

I'm still new to the saddle hunting but get better each time I'm out. It's my first year with the Aero Kestrel. I mixed it with the Tethrd ropes because I like the way they are spliced. I use the Wild Edge Steps for climbing. I don't get as high as I would like because I still have trouble getting a good cam over every time. I have had steps slip on me a number of times. Not enough to cause my foot to come off the step but enough to make me nervous. I wanted to get higher with fewer steps so I picked up the Aider from Wild Edge. I used it for the first time last weekend and I did get higher this time around. It seemed like it took me forever to get up the tree though.. lol. I watched all the videos and thought "how hard can it be?". It was much harder to get that rope length adjustment by sliding the rope. I would slide the rope as I raised my foot for each step up by sliding the slack over the upper step and pulling down as I lift my foot. I was happy I got up over 20 feet with 7 steps.

I had no idea coming down would be so crazy. You can't see the aider rope to get your foot in the loop. I thought I had the length adjusted right for a step down. I lifted the aider rope up with my hand to make it easier to get my foot in the loop. I kept tension on the rope so my boot stayed in there as I started to lower down until I was just on the aider. I took my next step down searching for the step while bear hugging the tree. I went A LOT farther down than expected and found myself almost eye level with the boot in the aider. The aider was hung up on the tread of my boot so I could NOT get out of the loop. I couldn't go back up the tree because I was stretched so far out. I was on the step but I was stuck. It's funny looking back at it now but I didn't know what I was going to do for a bit. I struggled to get that aider off my boot. It took a lot of struggling but eventually got out of it. I kept thinking it should not be this hard to do. The rest of the tree went a little better making the proper length adjustment on the aider before stepping down. I have a lot to learn with this.

Does anyone have any thoughts or tips? Any input would be great!!

Thank you. Good luck and be safe everyone!

I spent a ton of time sewing and designing a well made movable aider for my hawk helium sticks, and I ended up in the exact same precarious position you just described. Solved it with this...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0791VRQDM

It cinches to your boot, so no shifting around and it is fully adjustable for step length. Better than my crappy design by far!

 

[blatallic]

I have an aider that I've not yet use. Think I'm going to hold off on using it until I master it.

 

[blatallic]

I spent a ton of time sewing and designing a well made movable shower for my hawk helium sticks, and I ended up in the exact same precarious position you just described. Solved it with this...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0791VRQDM

It cinches to your boot, so no shifting around and it is fully adjustable for step length. Better than my crappy design by far!

This seems safer.

 

[Dewey]

Your experience with the WE aider sounds just like mine. I really do not like that thing. Really sucked using it in the dark. Ended up losing it on my way out of the marsh that night after using it only one time and I’m not even upset about it. My homemade moveable aider with a carabiner is much better but it’s not adjustable. Just have to pay attention closer to my Stepp spacing to keep it more consistent.


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[pesqimon]

This is where the knaider is good I think. It’s a fixed length (once set) and moves with you. Should work just as well regardless of shoe size. Takes practice but not much.

My intention while I am getting used to the WE stepps is to just use the knaider. That is using 1/2 the number of steps.

If I was going to try for 1/3 the number of steps, the multistep aider that’s been shown recently seems like a nice way to go.


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[redsquirrel]

I am using only the knaider with my wild edge stepps right now. It works great. 7-8 stepps gets me between 20-25 feet. The stepps take a lot of practice to become proficient. Tying them with the @boyne bowhunter method makes a huge difference. Once you learn the tricks with them and get comfortable they are awesome.

 

[Cajunyankee]

I'm still new to the saddle hunting but get better each time I'm out. It's my first year with the Aero Kestrel. I mixed it with the Tethrd ropes because I like the way they are spliced. I use the Wild Edge Steps for climbing. I don't get as high as I would like because I still have trouble getting a good cam over every time. I have had steps slip on me a number of times. Not enough to cause my foot to come off the step but enough to make me nervous. I wanted to get higher with fewer steps so I picked up the Aider from Wild Edge. I used it for the first time last weekend and I did get higher this time around. It seemed like it took me forever to get up the tree though.. lol. I watched all the videos and thought "how hard can it be?". It was much harder to get that rope length adjustment by sliding the rope. I would slide the rope as I raised my foot for each step up by sliding the slack over the upper step and pulling down as I lift my foot. I was happy I got up over 20 feet with 7 steps.

I had no idea coming down would be so crazy. You can't see the aider rope to get your foot in the loop. I thought I had the length adjusted right for a step down. I lifted the aider rope up with my hand to make it easier to get my foot in the loop. I kept tension on the rope so my boot stayed in there as I started to lower down until I was just on the aider. I took my next step down searching for the step while bear hugging the tree. I went A LOT farther down than expected and found myself almost eye level with the boot in the aider. The aider was hung up on the tread of my boot so I could NOT get out of the loop. I couldn't go back up the tree because I was stretched so far out. I was on the step but I was stuck. It's funny looking back at it now but I didn't know what I was going to do for a bit. I struggled to get that aider off my boot. It took a lot of struggling but eventually got out of it. I kept thinking it should not be this hard to do. The rest of the tree went a little better making the proper length adjustment on the aider before stepping down. I have a lot to learn with this.

Does anyone have any thoughts or tips? Any input would be great!!

Thank you. Good luck and be safe everyone!

I had a similar thing happen to me when using the wild edge aider and so I started limiting the 2nd step height so I could hold it and reach the ground ~3.5 ft between WE steps. Now I just use a multistep aider and set my first step at 5ft. Much easier to put the steps on at eye level. It also seem easier getting my feet into the aider especially since my first loop is only 1ft below the wild edge step.

 

[Squirrels]

My experience with the WE aider is similar

 

[boyne bowhunter]

I'm still new to the saddle hunting but get better each time I'm out. It's my first year with the Aero Kestrel. I mixed it with the Tethrd ropes because I like the way they are spliced. I use the Wild Edge Steps for climbing. I don't get as high as I would like because I still have trouble getting a good cam over every time. I have had steps slip on me a number of times. Not enough to cause my foot to come off the step but enough to make me nervous. I wanted to get higher with fewer steps so I picked up the Aider from Wild Edge. I used it for the first time last weekend and I did get higher this time around. It seemed like it took me forever to get up the tree though.. lol. I watched all the videos and thought "how hard can it be?". It was much harder to get that rope length adjustment by sliding the rope. I would slide the rope as I raised my foot for each step up by sliding the slack over the upper step and pulling down as I lift my foot. I was happy I got up over 20 feet with 7 steps.

I had no idea coming down would be so crazy. You can't see the aider rope to get your foot in the loop. I thought I had the length adjusted right for a step down. I lifted the aider rope up with my hand to make it easier to get my foot in the loop. I kept tension on the rope so my boot stayed in there as I started to lower down until I was just on the aider. I took my next step down searching for the step while bear hugging the tree. I went A LOT farther down than expected and found myself almost eye level with the boot in the aider. The aider was hung up on the tread of my boot so I could NOT get out of the loop. I couldn't go back up the tree because I was stretched so far out. I was on the step but I was stuck. It's funny looking back at it now but I didn't know what I was going to do for a bit. I struggled to get that aider off my boot. It took a lot of struggling but eventually got out of it. I kept thinking it should not be this hard to do. The rest of the tree went a little better making the proper length adjustment on the aider before stepping down. I have a lot to learn with this.

Does anyone have any thoughts or tips? Any input would be great!!

Thank you. Good luck and be safe everyone!

I use the @Cain method for climbing with the WE Stepps. Going up I'm always tethered and I can just reverse the process coming down. No need to fish around in the dark with a foot for the aider.

If you haven't seen it a link to the Cain method is below. It is pretty simple. I don't kick off the tree like Cain I just push away with my foot and with a tight tether you swing right up to where you can get your free foot on the next stepp. Only downside is having to tie stepps above your head but that gets pretty easy too with practice.

FULL DISCLOSURE: I actually take a long enough rope with me for a tether that I most often rappel down and remove the stepps as I go.

https://saddlehunter.com/community/index.php?threads/how-i-use-the-wild-edge-stepps.5111/

 

[pesqimon]

I use the @Cain method for climbing with the WE Stepps. Going up I'm always tethered and I can just reverse the process coming down. No need to fish around in the dark with a foot for the aider.

If you haven't seen it a link to the Cain method is below. It is pretty simple. I don't kick off the tree like Cain I just push away with my foot and with a tight tether you swing right up to where you can get your free foot on the next stepp. Only downside is having to tie stepps above your head but that gets pretty easy too with practice.

FULL DISCLOSURE: I actually take a long enough rope with me for a tether that I most often rappel down and remove the stepps as I go.

https://saddlehunter.com/community/index.php?threads/how-i-use-the-wild-edge-stepps.5111/

Question for you, are you using Cain method with Kestral or Mantis? What I am wondering is how are you clipping to the step at your waist?

Also, why do you prefer to rappel down? How much better is it than just climbing down the stepps? is it because Cain method isn't as comfy on the way down?

Thanks!

 

[boyne bowhunter]

I've used it with both. Originally on the Kestrel I was just clipping a carabiner around the waist belt of the Kestrel next to the buckle and I used that to clip to the waist high stepp. I have since moded both my Kestrel and Mantis by adding a single slotted D-ring to the belt next to the buckle.

I rappel down because it is easier than climbing in the dark. I don't care what climbing method I'm using, going down is always more difficult than going up, unless I'm rappelling. Also, it adds a new twist to the end of the hunt. I actually enjoy the rappelling and look forward to it. Maybe the novelty will wear off but so far I'm sticking with it.

 

[FrigidArrows]

I have a single aider on all 3 of my LW sticks. They definitely take some getting used to, and I still have not perfected the decent at dark. It can be a pain. Makes you really wonder if its worth it in the end. I have not given up on them yet, but its nice to see some other alternatives and experiences with them from other users.

 

[mudelhofen]

I have a single aider on each of my climbing sticks and I took about an 8'' piece of hollow aluminum bar and slid it inside the 1" tubular webbing. I make sure that the aider is on the outside of the post/step away from the tree each time and it gives me some clearance to get my boot in there. The aluminum weighs almost nothing but ensures a nice flat step each time. Hope that helps. With 3 XOP sticks and the aider, I can get to about 20' or so.

 

[FrigidArrows]

I have a single aider on each of my climbing sticks and I took about an 8'' piece of hollow aluminum bar and slid it inside the 1" tubular webbing. I make sure that the aider is on the outside of the post/step away from the tree each time and it gives me some clearance to get my boot in there. The aluminum weighs almost nothing but ensures a nice flat step each time. Hope that helps. With 3 XOP sticks and the aider, I can get to about 20' or so.

I currently use accessory cord to try and accomplish the same thing, but it does not hold them open as far for sure. I have thought about some sort of aluminum, I may have to look into that. What size tube stock did you use? Wall thickness?

 

[mudelhofen]

I used the pieces of aluminum that came with my "Buck" target I got a few years back that go into the bottom of the legs to hold it up. There are two pieces about 16" each so I just cut them in half and they worked perfectly. They are 1/2" outside diameter and the sidewall looks about 1/8". So far with the short length and inside the tubular webbing, they haven't got any bend to them at all. I'm about 185 lbs.

 

[FrigidArrows]

Awesome, thanks for the info


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