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Amp'd climbing?

Ukenout

Ukenout

Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2018
Messages
66
So I had to really give this some thought as to what section I wanted to ask this question because though I've had a season of using my Mantis and Predator platform thus far it took me and my medical team a lot of work and programming to get my Bigness leg system to work on the climbing sticks I have.
Unfortunately my lower left leg is losing the battle of infections and after a year of really thinking about the Quality of life and all I've missed out on I had to come to peace with it and after 9 years since the IED blast which resulted in these injuries I've decided its time I create a new chapter. I gave Army Medicine 9 years of doing what they could as a limb salvage but now I have consults set up with medical groups and Walter Reed at the end of the month to undergo an elective Below Knee amputation of my left leg. Hey folks , yea it sucks but I'm ready to move past the pain and constant setbacks. I asked a question to @g2outdoors about if there are any amputees in the saddle hunting community? Reason I ask is because with this surgery I will have to relearn a lot of the basics all over again. From simple walking/hiking to being able to climb trees next fall. I've already met with one of the countries top prosthetic leg builders and he loves the idea. I went to Nashville to meet him and his group. First thing he told me was he didn't build these things for people to sit on the couch! I love it, he loved that I competed in shooting events, have already done backcountry hunts but now I am asking him to design something so I can climb trees to do saddle hunting.
So if anyone out there knows of an amputee who is saddle hunting I Would like to connect with them so I can ask questions on what is expected and I can work with my doctors on making this transition. If all goes perfect I would be able to rehab at both Walter reed and then do work in Atlanta with some folks at Emory Univ.
I know I will have to tweak my current system and will be looking at this community for some ideas. Having been successful this year on two bucks with my bow i'm super hooked, and want to be able to get up in a tree next fall again in my saddle. However I have to convince doctors this can be done.
 
I believe the inventor of the WE Stepps was a Vietnam vet and amputee. My guess is once you get it all sorted out with your prosthetic, you will probably be more mobile and agile than you currently are. Best of luck and thanks fr your service!
 
bowhuntr09 said:
I believe the inventor of the WE Stepps was a Vietnam vet and amputee. My guess is once you get it all sorted out with your prosthetic, you will probably be more mobile and agile than you currently are. Best of luck and thanks fr your service!
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Wow that's really good to know as perhaps he might understand the climbing methods.
 
First your attitude is awesome. With it being a below the knee amputation you will lose some feel and articulation but you can definitely still climb and hunt. I could see you climbing with wild edge stepps and maybe even put a knaider on the one leg. Jim Stepp did have an injury to one leg. All he could do basically was stand on it. That was the reason he invented the stepps. I’m not familiar with your limitations but if you can use your glutes and quads you should be able to do much more. He sold his design to Andrew a younger veteran and wild edge stepps inc was started. As far as the saddle goes try a few out. A below the knee amputation will not effect you as far as the saddle itself. The climbing method and platform will take some consideration. A pivot style platform like the predator is a no brainer but don’t be scared to try a ring of steps with practice. Get healed up and I’m sure someone her will let you try their gear. Thanks for your service and sacrifices.
 
First off, thankyou for kicking ass. I don't know if you have straight trees in your area like I do in Baltimore Maryland but a lone wolf hand climber used as a platform/ climbing device should work for you. It won't get you up every tree but works well in my area since we have a lot of poplar trees, even in thick cover. It's so light weight i could do it with one leg. You should be good since you can bend at the knee. If you haven't seen the videos, check them out. Let me know if i can help with anything.
 
EricS said:
First your attitude is awesome. With it being a below the knee amputation you will lose some feel and articulation but you can definitely still climb and hunt. I could see you climbing with wild edge stepps and maybe even put a knaider on the one leg. Jim Stepp did have an injury to one leg. All he could do basically was stand on it. That was the reason he invented the stepps. I’m not familiar with your limitations but if you can use your glutes and quads you should be able to do much more. He sold his design to Andrew a younger veteran and wild edge stepps inc was started. As far as the saddle goes try a few out. A below the knee amputation will not effect you as far as the saddle itself. The climbing method and platform will take some consideration. A pivot style platform like the predator is a no brainer but don’t be scared to try a ring of steps with practice. Get healed up and I’m sure someone her will let you try their gear. Thanks for your service and sacrifices.
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EricS, Thank you, this past season I climbed with an electronic leg harness which powers the limbs, with the upcoming BK I will lose the "power assist of the lower electronic unit but have been doing strengthening exercises for my quads and such. I have a predator platform and really love the setup with my Mantis. I think the actual climbing method is going to be the BIG NEW change. Getting a lightweight and easy set up is something I'm really trying to explore. However I think all saddle hunters are looking for the same.
 
I don't know any saddle hunters that are amputees. I do know a guy named Gary Edinger in Kennan WI. He lost his leg just below knee in a logging accident. The guy is amazing, he is back to logging (he's 67 or so) , takes his horses out west and works as a packer for an outfitter every fall, climbs whatever mountain gets in his way, you name it.
He won't let a missing leg stop him!

He wrote a book about it as well as his life in general called Wiil To Live. Check it out.

After watching Gary do anything that he wants to I'm confident you'll find a way to climb trees and saddle hunt. Sounds like you have a can do attitude and that's first tool you need.

Good luck and know America appreciates all you have done for us.https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...Vaw0Nm2alMKisjFvyeepsXCoR&cshid=1550432948671
 
You will be ok bro. I am in the SO community here at Fort Bragg and there are guys with below knee amputations that still serve in SF units. If they can still meet all the physical requirements of jumping out of airplanes and rucking up mountains then climbing a tree is light work. Good luck to you and hit me up if you need anything at all.
 
Ukenout said:
EricS, Thank you, this past season I climbed with an electronic leg harness which powers the limbs, with the upcoming BK I will lose the "power assist of the lower electronic unit but have been doing strengthening exercises for my quads and such. I have a predator platform and really love the setup with my Mantis. I think the actual climbing method is going to be the BIG NEW change. Getting a lightweight and easy set up is something I'm really trying to explore. However I think all saddle hunters are looking for the same.
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I’m not sure if Jim Stepp was an amputee or just had a severe leg injury that left him with very little strength in his leg. He would use the stepps and go up one step and thing bring the other leg up to stand on while climbing another step. At the very worst you should be able to do the same. I’m sure if you have been dealing with this injury for a while you have suffered some atrophy that will take some time and work to get back to normal. The great thing about stepps with an aider is you have a step above the one your climbing to and that allows you to use some upper busy strength to assist also. If you’re happy with the predator and mantis I would just order a set of 12 or 16 stepps and you can start climbing as soon as you’re leg heals enough to stand on. Then as you gain strength to use a knaider or aider order a smaller bag since you won’t need as many steps.
 
You’re the man. Thank you for being a badass.

The stepps are a good option. SRT May be as well.
 
Hey man so sorry to hear about your situation, thanks for all you did for this country!
Check out a very good friend of mine Faiz Ali. He lost his leg below his knee years ago. After battling depression, frustration etc, he has found happiness and success as an amputee. He is on the Rolling Knicks basketball team, in the best shape of his life, and runs a non profit getting adaptive athletics into kids hands that were unable to before he came around. He is a great dude and has not let the amputation win. True inspiration. Hit him up on instagram Aliadaptivesports or facebook Ali Adaptive Sports and Fitness .... drop my name Jeff Malara and get to talking with him. He is a wealth of knowledge in this dept!!

His positive attitude and success is contagious!
 
I work in mines a bunch doing dewatering. I was in a mine last summer and the contractor I was working for sent his best guy to help me bolt up some valves and piping. Most of the time the help provided is not all that helpful but an extra set of hands all the same. That said his guy was really getting after it and keeping up with my pace Most people who work with me or for me can’t hang with the pace I put out but this guy kept up. At the end of the job the guy had some sand on his pants he took a wrench and knocked it off when he did this there as a loud TINK that didn’t sound like what I was suspecting I asked the guy what was that and he rolled up his pant leg and showed me the prosthetic leg he had from a below the knee amputation. It rocked my world to see this dude keep up to my pace and with a prosthetic to boot. I inquired how he lost his leg, he told me he lost it when he was 14-15 from bone cancer, he is in his 50’s now and is a grand father with a very happy bright disposition. Great guy I always look forward to seeing him when I’m at the mine.


Hopefully things will work out this way for you. Thank you for your service and god bless.

James
 
rakbowhunter said:
I was going to suggest SRT as well.

Thank you for your service and good luck getting back at it!
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Yeah - good luck and thank you for your service. SRT came to mind for me as well as you can do the lifting with your upper body and good leg. With e.g. a RADS yo-yo setupyou only really use 1 leg for the climb.
 
I have had my left hipp and both knees replaced due to a climbing stand accident. i use a 16 pack of wildedge stepps. i use my right leg to lift. i place them closer together for the bend in my knees. lone wolf and xop cant use. muddys i can cause of the steps on both sides. i tried aiders but cant use them. thers a learing curve with the stepps. the stepps to me are the most secure and safest way to climb.
 
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