There aren’t too many states I am aware of that still allow holes to be put in trees. Some states are even requiring 2” straps when hanging hammocks. Before you know it we will all have to have new tethers that are like 2” webbing instead of rope lol
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Spurs up Rappel down
- Thread starter Gorvai
- Start date
Oh I can do it. It’s not really bad. I just know the minute I stick a deer I will miss an important step and get down much faster than I want tooHey, it's not for everyone. While I'm not a fan of heights, I've had to come down ye olde rappelling tower a time or two. Different strokes for different folks
Klein Steel with Opsal aluminum pads that I'm going to stealth strip. I also have the pole gaffs not tree gaffs believe it or not as the tree gaffs are another inch longer and are only needed in the thickest of barked trees. The longer tree gaffs keep your feet out farther from the tree and add to some instability. In my research, for better balance and stability, go with pole gaffs instead of tree gaffs. I climbed a locust (which has a pretty rough and deep bark pattern) with the pole gaffs on the Klein's and they were very stable and bit in fine. The other trees I would climb would be beech, tulip, soft maple, basswood, Hop Hornbeam or Ironwood, all have a very thin bark and so pole gaffs will do fine for most on the east coast.
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I've heard great things about the Notch Gecko Steel climbing spikes too and they are a really great price with the pads already included. Watching a lot of arborist videos on the subject from Treestuff and Sherriltree. Al ot of guys like the Climb Right Aluminums as well. I went with the Klein steel and the bigger, bulkier but much more comfortable Opsal aluminum pads because I plan on doing a little bit of my own tree work as well. So I'm not just going to use them for hunting so I wanted a more comfortable overall setup.
I have used pole gafs on everything in Fl except pine trees. The thicker softer bark peels back and I’d rather not chance a cut out and slide on a sappy pine. Pines are the only tree locally I’d swap out to tree gafs for. Of course it’s all a mute point on public land.
You can’t go wrong with a pair of Klein steel climbing hooks. They last forever. And the aluminum pads will save you a lot of calf and shin blisters.
In PA:
1) damage any tree on public or private property by constructing a tree stand or using a portable tree stand or device to climb a tree; Tree damage is defined as any penetration to the cambium layer of the bark.
Cambium is the living layer of bark. Pole gaffs might be legal since they don't penetrate far. Even cam over steps or cam over platforms may not be legal.
www.fs.usda.gov
1) damage any tree on public or private property by constructing a tree stand or using a portable tree stand or device to climb a tree; Tree damage is defined as any penetration to the cambium layer of the bark.
Cambium is the living layer of bark. Pole gaffs might be legal since they don't penetrate far. Even cam over steps or cam over platforms may not be legal.
Anatomy of a tree | US Forest Service
This information is courtesy the Arbor Day Foundation
That is exactly my thought as well. I certainly don't want to damage a tree for wanting to be lighter, etc. But, if you climb a white oak it can tear up the bark with a climber as well. Like you said even the cam over steps really dig into the tree. My thought is this: 1. I don't want to damage a tree for my own selfish reasons of course but I am sure the PA Game Commission has bigger issues than me climbing 2 trees a week no matter what my climbing method is
You’d be surprised how far pole gafs penetrate. It’s beyond the outer layer or they wouldn’t penetrate deep enough to stand onIn PA:
1) damage any tree on public or private property by constructing a tree stand or using a portable tree stand or device to climb a tree; Tree damage is defined as any penetration to the cambium layer of the bark.
Cambium is the living layer of bark. Pole gaffs might be legal since they don't penetrate far. Even cam over steps or cam over platforms may not be legal.
Anatomy of a tree | US Forest Service
This information is courtesy the Arbor Day Foundation
100% understand that lol. Better to just stay in the stand till your heart quits skipping though lol
I would recommend a tree squeeze or even your tether. A lineman’s belt is not fall restraint. In worst case scenario, it will just keep your broken crumpled body from rolling away from the base of the tree.
The linesman’s belt is only not for life support if you don’t know how to use it correctly. You need to train yourself to push out against the tree if you slip, not lean in to grab the tree.
If you gaff out while climbing with spikes and a linesman about the worst that can happen is you scrape-up your chin or smoosh your nutz.
Yea. I get wound up. I stay wound up. I’m on medication to help me not be so wound up. I have a hyper- type A personality. The hooks and rope weigh about the same as a lighter pair of sticks
A buck squeeze is great, a linesman rope most likely won’t allow you to go all the way down the tree as bark and friction would swing you into the tree (assuming you keep your rope waist level or higher, none of that down by your knees junk that people do) another option is to wrap your linesman rope instead of eye to left prusik to right, straight around the tree, you eye to right then go around the left side of the tree and pass it around, hook your prusik cross body to the left side. This would cause the rope to squeeze if a slip occurred. Static Tethers and hunting saddles aren’t fall arrest harnesses anyway, they are fall restraint (work positioning).
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A buck squeeze is a borderline castration tool. I can hang upside down in mine. Just wrap my legs around the pole but if you cut out with it below waist level. You are going to the ground. If you cut out using it properly. The tree has an instant magnet effect and draws your junk straight too it. With a pendulum effect
I cut out many a times in climbing school using a buck squeeze and never once went to the ground. Usually it’s an 8” drop followed by a sudden thud of chest and torso into the pole. I haven’t had a true cut out in years but I still have never seen some one go to the ground with a buck squeeze. I have heard of free hand climbers crashing down the poles and ending up with splinters the size of branches sticking out of their arms and chest when they tried to “wrap the pole”. But the whole purpose of the buck squeeze is prevent a fall all the way from slack in your climbing strap.
OSHA say we can no longer fall further than a inch. Yea right. I prefer to free climb but rules are rules