Scott F
Well-Known Member
I have been thinking about this for some time now, but reading the post about an extension pole with SRT made me post this thread; didn't want to highjack his.
I like the idea of a one-stick climb but it seems slower than necessary because you are dealing with two tethers at about the same height causing you to inchworm up the trunk. I saw a guy on YouTube who just had two tethers, the one for his feet had a board through the rope to stand on. This seems like a better option as far as speed is concerned, but the limiting factor for me is dealing with the main harness tether being so close to the foot tether rope all of the time. I am right at 6'1" and can reach up to put my tether around 8' in the air. When I'd use either a single stick, or a secondary (lower body) tether, I still have to move my main saddle tether each time I'd stand up. In my mind it would be ideal to get two 'steps' with the lower body tether for every time you had to move your main saddle tether.
To mitigate this, I have been thinking of trying a push pole made from a couple sections of 2' PVC with couplers as a proof of concept. These could be held together by the friction of the couplers but also with a length of elastic cord through the middle, the way most tent poles are made. It would be easy to break down the stick and store it tied to the side of my pack. I think if I could reach my tether up to about 10'-12' while standing on the ground, I would be able to control my slack in the tether with whatever ascender I use and only worry about standing up and moving my lower body tether until I am at the halfway point of where I would likely hunt. I am thinking of putting a couple small rope loops on my main tether which this push pole can attach to in order to enable me to push it up the trunk. I guess the top of this push pole may have to have a 'Y' to effectively reach both sides of the tree to hoist the tether - I'll work that out later.
I haven't had time to make one of these and try it yet, but I was just wondering if anyone had attempted something similar to this?
I have an idea on a way to attach my lower body tether to my main tether with some cord so I would essentially stand up on the bottom tether, adjust my main saddle tether ascender to that height for safety, then pull the two ropes down to hoist my lower body tether higher in the tree for my next 'stand up' phase of the climb.
FWIW, I will be hunting central Florida this season with some pine, red oak, and Cyprus trees so I don't anticipate too many branches in the way as I get to hunting height. Obviously this would not work for folks hunting the snarly trees with branches starting low on the trunk.
What am I missing with this pipe dream?
I like the idea of a one-stick climb but it seems slower than necessary because you are dealing with two tethers at about the same height causing you to inchworm up the trunk. I saw a guy on YouTube who just had two tethers, the one for his feet had a board through the rope to stand on. This seems like a better option as far as speed is concerned, but the limiting factor for me is dealing with the main harness tether being so close to the foot tether rope all of the time. I am right at 6'1" and can reach up to put my tether around 8' in the air. When I'd use either a single stick, or a secondary (lower body) tether, I still have to move my main saddle tether each time I'd stand up. In my mind it would be ideal to get two 'steps' with the lower body tether for every time you had to move your main saddle tether.
To mitigate this, I have been thinking of trying a push pole made from a couple sections of 2' PVC with couplers as a proof of concept. These could be held together by the friction of the couplers but also with a length of elastic cord through the middle, the way most tent poles are made. It would be easy to break down the stick and store it tied to the side of my pack. I think if I could reach my tether up to about 10'-12' while standing on the ground, I would be able to control my slack in the tether with whatever ascender I use and only worry about standing up and moving my lower body tether until I am at the halfway point of where I would likely hunt. I am thinking of putting a couple small rope loops on my main tether which this push pole can attach to in order to enable me to push it up the trunk. I guess the top of this push pole may have to have a 'Y' to effectively reach both sides of the tree to hoist the tether - I'll work that out later.
I haven't had time to make one of these and try it yet, but I was just wondering if anyone had attempted something similar to this?
I have an idea on a way to attach my lower body tether to my main tether with some cord so I would essentially stand up on the bottom tether, adjust my main saddle tether ascender to that height for safety, then pull the two ropes down to hoist my lower body tether higher in the tree for my next 'stand up' phase of the climb.
FWIW, I will be hunting central Florida this season with some pine, red oak, and Cyprus trees so I don't anticipate too many branches in the way as I get to hunting height. Obviously this would not work for folks hunting the snarly trees with branches starting low on the trunk.
What am I missing with this pipe dream?
