BowhunterXC
Well-Known Member
I retired last year and had the entire spring and summer months to experiment with new climbing methods and gear choices.
I've posted in the past about 2TC, also tried some 1 Stick climbing...with rappelling and I changed how I transport all this stuff into the woods too.
After it was all said and done, I went back to KISS, Keep It Stupid Simple and eliminated a lot of issues.
* The 2TC method was more of a struggle, like having shackles on your ankles. It's way worse on a tree with any lean to it. No speed gain to the climbing method, but no slower either.
* The 1 Stick method was nice and rappelling was fun. However, I spent more time at the base of my tree wrapping up ropes, strings and putting stuff back together before I could walk out of the woods. Meanwhile, I'm getting sucked dry by skeeters and had to swing by the Red Cross for an extra pint of blood. J/K about the extra pint.
* I gave the SRT and the DRT methods a look on YouTube, but that puts me back to finding a tree with a crotch/limb to throw a rope over. Which in this part of the country is worse than finding a tree with no limbs for using a climber. Pass!!!
What I ended up doing:
3 Muddy Pro (original 32" sections) climbing sticks with a single aider loop on the bottom step. 18 to 20 feet is where these sticks with a single aider will get me and I'm happy with that height. These have 2 cinch straps fastened to my Trophy Ridge Mission platform and 2 rifle slings for pack straps. This unit alone only weighs 13.2#. Any accessories are carried in a small gear bag that has a carry sling, which makes for light and easy packing. My Cruzr XC saddle has 2 dump pouches. Both dump pouches were purchased off of Amazon at $23 for the pair....same quality as you get from any saddle company.
I've posted in the past about 2TC, also tried some 1 Stick climbing...with rappelling and I changed how I transport all this stuff into the woods too.
After it was all said and done, I went back to KISS, Keep It Stupid Simple and eliminated a lot of issues.
* The 2TC method was more of a struggle, like having shackles on your ankles. It's way worse on a tree with any lean to it. No speed gain to the climbing method, but no slower either.
* The 1 Stick method was nice and rappelling was fun. However, I spent more time at the base of my tree wrapping up ropes, strings and putting stuff back together before I could walk out of the woods. Meanwhile, I'm getting sucked dry by skeeters and had to swing by the Red Cross for an extra pint of blood. J/K about the extra pint.
* I gave the SRT and the DRT methods a look on YouTube, but that puts me back to finding a tree with a crotch/limb to throw a rope over. Which in this part of the country is worse than finding a tree with no limbs for using a climber. Pass!!!
What I ended up doing:
3 Muddy Pro (original 32" sections) climbing sticks with a single aider loop on the bottom step. 18 to 20 feet is where these sticks with a single aider will get me and I'm happy with that height. These have 2 cinch straps fastened to my Trophy Ridge Mission platform and 2 rifle slings for pack straps. This unit alone only weighs 13.2#. Any accessories are carried in a small gear bag that has a carry sling, which makes for light and easy packing. My Cruzr XC saddle has 2 dump pouches. Both dump pouches were purchased off of Amazon at $23 for the pair....same quality as you get from any saddle company.