MNFarmHunter
Well-Known Member
First off, let me begin that climbing trees is as much a hobby for me as it is a method to hunt.
In the beginning, everyone uses sticks. They're simple and get you in the tree. After that, everyone looks for the newer, shinier, more betterer option. Out of that comes SRT, DRT, JRB, 1-stick, 2TC, platform and every other possible option.
Being a hobby, I love trying these different methods and see the advantages (and disadvantages) of every method. I also see the abject stubbornness in people to push or champion a method due to their particular investment in their chosen climbing method. I'm no different but have the unique ability to step outside myself and criticize what I'm doing so here it is.
2TC: I am a firm believer that everyone needs to know how to self-rescue. This is solely due to my professional life in that "rescue" is a feel good word and most times it's nothing more that preventing a given situation from getting worse. 2TC will get you out of 99% of situations you find yourself in. It is also a valid ascending method but it's maybe the 2nd most inefficient method.
SRT/DRT/JRB/Similar: IMO, rope techniques are the most efficient method to climb and descend but take specialized training, skills and/or pre-season setup. This is my preferred method to climb and descend but only with presets due to the types of trees in my area. This is also a Ford v. Chevy argument. I see SRT, especially base anchoring, as the simplest and safest method. Others will argue otherwise. Point being is to cut through the menusha and the biased hype and use what works best for your area.
1-Stick: Same minimalist mindset minus the ability to self-rescue using this method. IMO, it's more inefficient that 2TC but like most things, this is my opinion.
This leads back to sticks. Having not done any preseason scouting and thus no preseason presets, I'm finding multi-sticks being a far simpler solution to 2TC. While 2TC is always an option, sticks are simply easier to climb, albeit with a weight penalty.
And there you have it. I prefer SRT over all other methods. While I applaud innovators, I also see the other rope techniques as trying to build a better mousetrap. While I believe 2TC and a critical skill that everyone must know, both it and 1-stick and niche methods. This comes back full circle to climbing with multi-sticks.
Now, time to break out the sewing machine and sew some aiders for those sticks...
In the beginning, everyone uses sticks. They're simple and get you in the tree. After that, everyone looks for the newer, shinier, more betterer option. Out of that comes SRT, DRT, JRB, 1-stick, 2TC, platform and every other possible option.
Being a hobby, I love trying these different methods and see the advantages (and disadvantages) of every method. I also see the abject stubbornness in people to push or champion a method due to their particular investment in their chosen climbing method. I'm no different but have the unique ability to step outside myself and criticize what I'm doing so here it is.
2TC: I am a firm believer that everyone needs to know how to self-rescue. This is solely due to my professional life in that "rescue" is a feel good word and most times it's nothing more that preventing a given situation from getting worse. 2TC will get you out of 99% of situations you find yourself in. It is also a valid ascending method but it's maybe the 2nd most inefficient method.
SRT/DRT/JRB/Similar: IMO, rope techniques are the most efficient method to climb and descend but take specialized training, skills and/or pre-season setup. This is my preferred method to climb and descend but only with presets due to the types of trees in my area. This is also a Ford v. Chevy argument. I see SRT, especially base anchoring, as the simplest and safest method. Others will argue otherwise. Point being is to cut through the menusha and the biased hype and use what works best for your area.
1-Stick: Same minimalist mindset minus the ability to self-rescue using this method. IMO, it's more inefficient that 2TC but like most things, this is my opinion.
This leads back to sticks. Having not done any preseason scouting and thus no preseason presets, I'm finding multi-sticks being a far simpler solution to 2TC. While 2TC is always an option, sticks are simply easier to climb, albeit with a weight penalty.
And there you have it. I prefer SRT over all other methods. While I applaud innovators, I also see the other rope techniques as trying to build a better mousetrap. While I believe 2TC and a critical skill that everyone must know, both it and 1-stick and niche methods. This comes back full circle to climbing with multi-sticks.
Now, time to break out the sewing machine and sew some aiders for those sticks...
