2TC and 1 stick: best upper tether setup for smooth advance?

[NMSbowhunter]

This is what I’ve basically told myself, just get up the tree, then i can hook up the rappel rope and use it as a gear hanger. I actually do this on most SRT’s, hook into a dedicated tether, always quieter and easy to adjust. i have a ropeman lying around that is in spec for 10 mm above, so i might find someone that will sell me 10 ft of the 11.5 bluewater assault, unless anyone has other favorite stiff ropes, tie a tether, and see if i can get myself up some bigger trees. Can i get that rope in small qty’s? @Brocky do you have any you want to sell me?

I'd get 15 feet of Bluewater at minimum if you plan to 2TC some larger trees. The knots alone consume quite a bit of rope. I think mine are 14 to 15 feet ropes before they were tied. You can always trim a little off.

 

[BuckYeah]

I agree on bulk, what did you switch too? Also probably switching to the figure 8. Sorry to be off topic

I started with a figure 8 and have just recently bought a safeguard. I like that I can hang in the safeguard while hunting and not have to change connections like I did with the figure 8. Figure 8s def rappel smoother than safeguard, like a lot smoother. Now I'm using it on the end of my tether so guess it was a good thing I bought the safeguard...

 

[Horn]

I started with a figure 8 and have just recently bought a safeguard. I like that I can hang in the safeguard while hunting and not have to change connections like I did with the figure 8. Figure 8s def rappel smoother than safeguard, like a lot smoother. Now I'm using it on the end of my tether so guess it was a good thing I bought the safeguard...

I'm sure this is all me but I'm not quite sure how you're doing things, so my apologies. Are you using a separate tether than your rap line or hanging on the rap? It's that last sentence that gets me a bit. I have a Safeguard and canyon elite, I would recommend it to be honest. I'm probably going to the 8 just for fun. I do utilize a friction hitch above my 8 as a fail-safe and easy to stop option.

 

[BuckYeah]

I'm sure this is all me but I'm not quite sure how you're doing things, so my apologies. Are you using a separate tether than your rap line or hanging on the rap? It's that last sentence that gets me a bit. I have a Safeguard and canyon elite, I would recommend it to be honest. I'm probably going to the 8 just for fun. I do utilize a friction hitch above my 8 as a fail-safe and easy to stop option.

this was posted earlier in the thread. I used one of my ropes and tied a large loop onto it for my foot loop and used a second tether with my figure 8 on it like this picture for my top tether. I don't have the foot loop from CGM yet but wanted to see how easy/difficult it is climbing 2tc vs one sticking. Someone earlier in the post was saying this looks unsafe but is actually extremely strong when you weight it, and makes advancing the top tether pretty simple. Granted I only climbed up 10 feet and climbed back down but raising my top tether was fairly easy and quick using the figure 8. I know some people wouldn't want to not have their top tether attached at times and understand there is a chance to fall when raising the tether like this with the figure 8. It is no different than when I would attach the figure 8 for rappel I would be momentarily disconnected from the tree when I put my figure 8 in, granted it was an unnecessary risk I could keep my ropeman on the rope while tying figure 8 in but I didn't like having to tie the figure 8 in below ropeman than take ropeman off and weight the figure 8. I think every method of climbing has its pros and cons/risks.

 

[BuckYeah]

what's everyone's opinions on climbing a leaning tree. preferred method still 2tc or one stick?

 

[NMSbowhunter]

what's everyone's opinions on climbing a leaning tree. preferred method still 2tc or one stick?

Leaning trees are doable with 2tc. I've never 1 sticked so can't chime in on that one. I prefer to go up the topside of the lean, like climbing a ladder. I seem to remember some 2TCers going up the bottom side of the tree. We are talking moderate lean here, not sever leans.

 

[Horn]

View attachment 87830
this was posted earlier in the thread. I used one of my ropes and tied a large loop onto it for my foot loop and used a second tether with my figure 8 on it like this picture for my top tether. I don't have the foot loop from CGM yet but wanted to see how easy/difficult it is climbing 2tc vs one sticking. Someone earlier in the post was saying this looks unsafe but is actually extremely strong when you weight it, and makes advancing the top tether pretty simple. Granted I only climbed up 10 feet and climbed back down but raising my top tether was fairly easy and quick using the figure 8. I know some people wouldn't want to not have their top tether attached at times and understand there is a chance to fall when raising the tether like this with the figure 8. It is no different than when I would attach the figure 8 for rappel I would be momentarily disconnected from the tree when I put my figure 8 in, granted it was an unnecessary risk I could keep my ropeman on the rope while tying figure 8 in but I didn't like having to tie the figure 8 in below ropeman than take ropeman off and weight the figure 8. I think every method of climbing has its pros and cons/risks.

I do remember that picture, and I admit I lost track of which thread/conversation I had in my head. Thanks for clarification.

I've one sticked leaders and it's more trouble but doable. Probably not a great got weather idea, it's more work to balance and all. I would also choose to take the higher route if at all possible FWIW

 

[BTaylor]

One sticked several mild leaners and always stay on the high side. No issues hanging to the side of the lean to move the stick and get back on it for me.

 

[Iron_llama]

I watched the NY Saddle Hunter video on their F4 kit... I need to spend money on Oplux and a new descender like I need another hole in my head, but the video looked really, really slick.

for reference.

If you can use the F4 as a progress capture and descender, that opens up a whole lot of options for climbing. When my C-IV wears out I'll probably go this route.

 

[TommyDee]

I watched the NY Saddle Hunter video on their F4 kit... I need to spend money on Oplux and a new descender like I need another hole in my head, but the video looked really, really slick.

for reference.

If you can use the F4 as a progress capture and descender, that opens up a whole lot of options for climbing. When my C-IV wears out I'll probably go this route.

Looks like SRT without a footloop, my gri gri does this already . It‘s a bit odd that they sell it as new, gamechanging method. It seems more genuine to simply state it’s an improved SRT method with some lighter equipment. Especially since they played a big part in popularizing SRT. I hunt with mostly crotchless trees, so I’m out.

 

[2Sloe]

what's everyone's opinions on climbing a leaning tree. preferred method still 2tc or one stick?

I hunt a swamp where everything is a leaner. Slight lean I go up the high side. Moderate to Severe lean I climb and hunt from the low side because if you go up/hunt the high side you’ll wear yourself out fighting gravity the whole time or find yourself taking the gravity ride at the moment of truth when that buck comes in somewhere he wasn’t supposed to.

 

[BuckYeah]

I hunt a swamp where everything is a leaner. Slight lean I go up the high side. Moderate to Severe lean I climb and hunt from the low side because if you go up/hunt the high side you’ll wear yourself out fighting gravity the whole time or find yourself taking the gravity ride at the moment of truth when that buck comes in somewhere he wasn’t supposed to.

yeah, I have been practicing every day with my 2tc since I got the foot loop. and I have got extremely proficient in climbing a sever/moderate leaner with it, but I am on the underside of the lean. With my one stick I was on the opposite side. The tree is in my front yard, so it makes for good practice every day. 2tc may be slightly slower than one sticking but barely, if at all. There are a few branches I have to go around which makes the climb longer than one stick since I have to completely take the foot loop off and around the branches.

 

[skyjacker]

Looks like SRT without a footloop, my gri gri does this already . It‘s a bit odd that they sell it as new, gamechanging method. It seems more genuine to simply state it’s an improved SRT method with some lighter equipment. Especially since they played a big part in popularizing SRT. I hunt with mostly crotchless trees, so I’m out.

Gri Gri and Safeguard are not rated for 8mm rope. People use them with 8mm rope and that's their choice. But it's outside the specs. The F4 is rated for 8mm rope. I never heard them say it was game changing. Just that it was a smaller and lighter package.

 

[TommyDee]

Gri Gri and Safeguard are not rated for 8mm rope. People use them with 8mm rope and that's their choice. But it's outside the specs. The F4 is rated for 8mm rope. I never heard them say it was game changing. Just that it was a smaller and lighter package.

Fair point. These guys have done a nice job with SRT/DRT, and their videos are great. I use the gri gri with 9 mm CIV rope, so I’m good. I didn’t mean to sound negative, this actually looks like a nice overall kit. If i was just getting into rope climbing, It seems like a great kit to start with, and that device seems a lot more quiet than the gri gri. I never thought about trying SRT without the footloop, i guess i will next time I‘m out.

 

[Iron_llama]

Fair point. These guys have done a nice job with SRT/DRT, and their videos are great. I use the gri gri with 9 mm CIV rope, so I’m good. I didn’t mean to sound negative, this actually looks like a nice overall kit. If i was just getting into rope climbing, It seems like a great kit to start with, and that device seems a lot more quiet than the gri gri. I never thought about trying SRT without the footloop, i guess i will next time I‘m out.

Apparently it's called RADS SRT - Rapid Ascent and Descent SRT or some such. NYSH didn't invent it, they've just assembled an 8mm system around it with a couple hundo worth of hardware. Pretty slick, but you can do the same thing with any old line, suitable hitch cord, a pully or two, and a couple of 'biners.

 

[Brocky]

It is a sit-stand type of SRT system, the easier rope walking methods make ascending much easier. The legs do most of the work, while your hands only keep you upright.

 

[Brocky]

This system worked very well on the initial testing, an aider hitched to a tether and a linesmen’s with a tree squeeze. I used odds and ends from arborists ropes for the testing. A 1/4” grab hook made moving the aider tether very easy, the aider Prusik helps to hold it in place also. It was easier to climb up the underside of a leaner, foot insertion into steps was better.

 

[Sziggy2.0]

This system worked very well on the initial testing, an aider hitched to a tether and a linesmen’s with a tree squeeze. I used odds and ends from arborists ropes for the testing. A 1/4” grab hook made moving the aider tether very easy, the aider Prusik helps to hold it in place also. It was easier to climb up the underside of a leaner, foot insertion into steps was better.
View attachment 89166

Brocky, how is the tree squeeze working? First carabiner to the linesman loop on saddle, 2nd carabiner (green) hooked to linesman Rope across the tree in front of you and then 3rd carabiner to linesman loop opposite the first, correct? Making sure I see it in mind correctly

 

[Brocky]

That’s it, I’ve also added a separate foot loop to hang from the tree squeeze to make it easier when advancing the aider. I’ve also switched the hook out for a non locking steel oval, all the slack is taken out and the friction hitch, now a Schwabish for compactness, keeps it from slipping.

 

[JC3]

I have been happy with this method not too tight and pulls down satisfactorly.