rakbowhunter
Well-Known Member
Hey everyone, just thought I'd share how I've been getting into the tree. For a quick background on how I ended up here...I was tired a carrying around sticks and no longer wanted to fight with them. I bought some WE Steps with knaider swaider to try out. Didn't really care for them. I really liked the concept of bolts, but you can't drill on public in Illinois. I also liked the concept of the knaider/swaider so I thought about Ameristeps. So here's what I came up with.
Back when I was messing with SRT, I bought a 10" Sterling 12mm sewn runner sling for a short bridge. I found out that it works great as a little loop for the knaider! I girth hitched it around the cam strap 3 times and also oriented it so that the loop sits above the hitch and the sewn part is out. This allows the loop to almost pop up and stay open. It's also nice because it cinches down and doesn't move with weight.
The process I use is similar to one sticking in that I move the tether up with every move up.
At the ground, I set the 1st step about eye level and the tether above my head and take out the slack. I then put the swaider loop on the Ameristep. In one series I step up in swaider, hook the knaider into the loop with my other leg, remove the swaider loop, and step onto the 1st step. At this point, I am hooked into the knaider, my foot is stabilized on the 1st step, and my tether is just below my chest. I then raise the tether above my head. After that, I stand up on the Ameristep, which releases the knaider. I am now standing on the one step and the tether is just below my chest. I move the tether above my head. At this point the saddle is perfect to sit in while I get the next Ameristep out of my pouch and tied on at eye level. Because the leg that has the swaider on it is the same leg I'm standing on the Ameristep with, I sit in the saddle to be able to lift that swaider and hook it onto the next step.
I repeat this process until I am at the desired height. 4 Ameristeps will get me 20+ feet. The great part about this is the chance of kickouts is basically zero. Just a cam buckle will get an Ameristep tight enough that it doesn't move much, especially after you've put your full weight on it using it to ascend. I've also used an ocb buckle and that makes it like a rock, doesn't budge at all. The step won't roll on you or anything. The only thing I would recommend is to keep the tether shorter and in front of you so your not swinging all over the place.
I bought 2 fleece pouches from DanO and they are attached to the hip belt on my pack. I get to the tree, slap on my tether, knaider, and swaider from the left pouch and an Ameristep in the right pouch. No setting my pack down or fiddling with untying anything. I just go!
Getting down is a little bit more cumbersome, only because when you go up, you adjust your tether to the right level every time. On the way down, it can be harder to judge. During practicing, remember where you are moving your tether at after each move. It will help greatly on the decent. A systematic approach is key to this!
Or you can just rappel down because it's the tits.
Here's a pic of my first step.
Back when I was messing with SRT, I bought a 10" Sterling 12mm sewn runner sling for a short bridge. I found out that it works great as a little loop for the knaider! I girth hitched it around the cam strap 3 times and also oriented it so that the loop sits above the hitch and the sewn part is out. This allows the loop to almost pop up and stay open. It's also nice because it cinches down and doesn't move with weight.
The process I use is similar to one sticking in that I move the tether up with every move up.
At the ground, I set the 1st step about eye level and the tether above my head and take out the slack. I then put the swaider loop on the Ameristep. In one series I step up in swaider, hook the knaider into the loop with my other leg, remove the swaider loop, and step onto the 1st step. At this point, I am hooked into the knaider, my foot is stabilized on the 1st step, and my tether is just below my chest. I then raise the tether above my head. After that, I stand up on the Ameristep, which releases the knaider. I am now standing on the one step and the tether is just below my chest. I move the tether above my head. At this point the saddle is perfect to sit in while I get the next Ameristep out of my pouch and tied on at eye level. Because the leg that has the swaider on it is the same leg I'm standing on the Ameristep with, I sit in the saddle to be able to lift that swaider and hook it onto the next step.
I repeat this process until I am at the desired height. 4 Ameristeps will get me 20+ feet. The great part about this is the chance of kickouts is basically zero. Just a cam buckle will get an Ameristep tight enough that it doesn't move much, especially after you've put your full weight on it using it to ascend. I've also used an ocb buckle and that makes it like a rock, doesn't budge at all. The step won't roll on you or anything. The only thing I would recommend is to keep the tether shorter and in front of you so your not swinging all over the place.
I bought 2 fleece pouches from DanO and they are attached to the hip belt on my pack. I get to the tree, slap on my tether, knaider, and swaider from the left pouch and an Ameristep in the right pouch. No setting my pack down or fiddling with untying anything. I just go!
Getting down is a little bit more cumbersome, only because when you go up, you adjust your tether to the right level every time. On the way down, it can be harder to judge. During practicing, remember where you are moving your tether at after each move. It will help greatly on the decent. A systematic approach is key to this!
Or you can just rappel down because it's the tits.
Here's a pic of my first step.
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