I like it unattached but I also have questionable hips and knees. Being attached, I'm fighting my leg when advancing the foot loop. This is different from SRT which is attached to my foot since the ascender helps pull my leg up.
While I completely agree in concept to the minimalist approach (I mean hey, it's me here!), the one addition I would suggest in the gear you mention is a foot loop attached to the "lineman's belt" with some sort of prusik (go with a schwabisch). The adjustability one gets from being able to quickly slide the foot loop higher or lower on your foot tether can mean the difference in having a really frustrating climb or an enjoyable one. Accidentally shimmy your foot tether too high on the tree? No problem... slide your foot loop up the foot tether with your prusik!
I will try this and report back, thanks.
Unattached for me. Attached only leaves me trying to hoist my leg up with the strength of my arms. Always seemed pretty counterintuitive.
Any trouble getting your foot securely back into the loop each time?
Not really. My personal for loop is a Sterling hollowblock. Doesn't feel very good on the bridge of the foot of standing for a long time, but I have found that it does stay open due to the rigidity of the material and the block braid.
Just to clarify, for accent did you clip the bridge into figure8 ?
Agreed. Since both tethers are setup identical, I use a kong duck in place of your prusik but same concept. The point I was trying to make was that while you can add these conveniences, they're not necessary.
I was clipped into the carabiner that passed though the figure 8 and the Distel hitch above the figure 8 on the top tether. The Distel was my backup for the figure 8 and also was just like having a prussic, etc on a regular tether. The Figure 8 was my control device and the Distel above it was the backup. If at any time my hand slipped off the figure 8 the Distel would stop me.
Been practicing this week and I like to remove it. Easier to get up tree for me. I don’t mind finding the loop each time
I like having it attached with a small elastic so I know I can always put that foot down and trust it. When I didn't have a elastic I put my weight on the foot 2 separate times and just fell out of the foot loop and "uncomfortably "fell back" into my saddle.
Attached for me, my foot loop is just 1" ratchet strap I made into a foot loop and it has no stay open to it. When it does try to come off my foot I struggle to get back into it and I certainly wouldn't want to fight it every move.
Ok, just got through trying it bare bones and it is doable. I did add the foot loop Red Beard suggested after standing on just the tether. The tether put a lot of pressure on my foot. I do like the idea of the rappel down since it seems to take about half the work out of it and I really like the idea of rappelling out if it were the end of the day, I was tired, and it was pitch dark.
Try with a wide footloop with a elastic to keep it on your boot. You might like it better when you dont have to find the foothold each step.
I have a foot loop from CGM with a strap.
As long as the lean is gentle, I stick to the low side, cant fight gravity. You can know If you're in the wrong tree that is the tree is leaning too much when your foot does not contact the tree. If you can't support your body weight on your foot on the low side of a leaning tree choose a different tree.
Well if it's a big branch, then yes it takes alot more effort and energy, as well as noise, to go around a branch sticking out directly on the low side. It's still possible though if that tree is important to be in. Just make sure you only 2TC it once, then leave a preset cord to SRT/JRB next time!
That's funny. I would have given the opposite advice.
I climb the high side of a tree when it leans. Leaning back hard into your system, much like one would lean back into a lineman's belt, will give stability during your climb.
