Hi,
I wanted something different than what was available.
I'll post photos as thumbnails and describe the system here. Photos aren't in order with description because my internet is slow today and so I'm doing things the easy way. I'd just look at all the pics at once.
I tied a simple loop through the top standoff (between 2 step bars and back standoff...not through the narrow slot within the step) and around the post using 3/16" amsteel. I committed the sin of tying knots with amsteel but for non-life support and with how incredibly strong 3/16" amsteel is for this purpose, I have no worries. I hate doing full buries and to get the right length for the bury then I would've needed to make the loops too long.
Anyways, there's a loop on every stick like that. The knots are just overhand bends (figure 8 took too much room but would be better) with generous tag ends and then overhands on the tag ends as stopper knots and with generous tag ends off the those stopper knots. I picked 3/16" because the edges are very square on these steps. The thickness combined with amsteel being more cut resistant than kevlar (most expensive and cut resistant gloves, etc are dyneema/amsteel) means I'm not worried about the step cutting these. When I was setting my knots, I stood on the aider and bounced enough to simulate probably 1 season of climbing when used as intended and it did nothing to the amsteel.
I am carrying these in pairs on my pack. I only have the bottom orange stacking pegs on the bottom step of the top stick of each pair. The bottom stick has a bungee cord tied to it and the bungee and ball secure the top of the top stick to the bottom. The amsteel loop of the top stick of the pair will attach to each side of my saddle via kydex hooks from EWO that I heated and bent to grab and hold that diameter amsteel very well.
Once the stick is on the tree, you grab the part of the loop that is going through the top of the standoff and bend it back over the top, this pulls the knotted side against the stick tube. If you are worried about wear on the amsteel then you can rotate the loop a bit each climb at random so it isn't hitting the same spot every time.
I clip on that amsteel loop a Black Diamond MiniWire carabiner that has been covered with stealth strips. Off the bottom of the carabiner is hanging my 1 step carry as you go aider. It is made out of 7/64 amsteel right now but I might go up to 1/8". It is basically a complex loop hanging off the carabiner. The carabiner bottom goes through a bight of the amsteel made by double locking brummels. I have a small ranger band snugged up around this bight to keep it in place. The right side of amsteel coming off this locking brummel is longer and is pulled through using a wire a fuel hose that is 1/8" internal diameter. This long piece then extends up the left side. It joins the other, shorter leg (descending from the left side of the locking brummel) via a Blake's hitch. This makes it so you don't have to tie this perfectly for your step length because it is adjustable. Once it is where you like it then you could through a few half hitches on the amsteel the hitch slides on in order to lock it.
The way I'll use this is put foot on fuel line spreader, lift up holding carabiner and bringing foot with me, clip on 3/16" amsteel loop on top of stick, step up, disconnect carabiner, rinse and repeat up the tree. Going down, stick foot on fuel line, pull up to hold on foot, clip on carabiner while holding up still, pushing down with foot and allow aider to feed through hand so it stays on foot, then step down, then disconnect aider and repeat.
I have the 3/16" amsteel loop tied so that when the carabiner is on it the overhand bend forming the amsteel loop peaks through the center of the carabiner. This helps keep the carabiner flatter to the stick. Also, this length keeps the bottom of the carabiner from hitting the cleat that secures the stick to the tree. You can see most of this in one of the pics.
I wanted something different than what was available.
I'll post photos as thumbnails and describe the system here. Photos aren't in order with description because my internet is slow today and so I'm doing things the easy way. I'd just look at all the pics at once.
I tied a simple loop through the top standoff (between 2 step bars and back standoff...not through the narrow slot within the step) and around the post using 3/16" amsteel. I committed the sin of tying knots with amsteel but for non-life support and with how incredibly strong 3/16" amsteel is for this purpose, I have no worries. I hate doing full buries and to get the right length for the bury then I would've needed to make the loops too long.
Anyways, there's a loop on every stick like that. The knots are just overhand bends (figure 8 took too much room but would be better) with generous tag ends and then overhands on the tag ends as stopper knots and with generous tag ends off the those stopper knots. I picked 3/16" because the edges are very square on these steps. The thickness combined with amsteel being more cut resistant than kevlar (most expensive and cut resistant gloves, etc are dyneema/amsteel) means I'm not worried about the step cutting these. When I was setting my knots, I stood on the aider and bounced enough to simulate probably 1 season of climbing when used as intended and it did nothing to the amsteel.
I am carrying these in pairs on my pack. I only have the bottom orange stacking pegs on the bottom step of the top stick of each pair. The bottom stick has a bungee cord tied to it and the bungee and ball secure the top of the top stick to the bottom. The amsteel loop of the top stick of the pair will attach to each side of my saddle via kydex hooks from EWO that I heated and bent to grab and hold that diameter amsteel very well.
Once the stick is on the tree, you grab the part of the loop that is going through the top of the standoff and bend it back over the top, this pulls the knotted side against the stick tube. If you are worried about wear on the amsteel then you can rotate the loop a bit each climb at random so it isn't hitting the same spot every time.
I clip on that amsteel loop a Black Diamond MiniWire carabiner that has been covered with stealth strips. Off the bottom of the carabiner is hanging my 1 step carry as you go aider. It is made out of 7/64 amsteel right now but I might go up to 1/8". It is basically a complex loop hanging off the carabiner. The carabiner bottom goes through a bight of the amsteel made by double locking brummels. I have a small ranger band snugged up around this bight to keep it in place. The right side of amsteel coming off this locking brummel is longer and is pulled through using a wire a fuel hose that is 1/8" internal diameter. This long piece then extends up the left side. It joins the other, shorter leg (descending from the left side of the locking brummel) via a Blake's hitch. This makes it so you don't have to tie this perfectly for your step length because it is adjustable. Once it is where you like it then you could through a few half hitches on the amsteel the hitch slides on in order to lock it.
The way I'll use this is put foot on fuel line spreader, lift up holding carabiner and bringing foot with me, clip on 3/16" amsteel loop on top of stick, step up, disconnect carabiner, rinse and repeat up the tree. Going down, stick foot on fuel line, pull up to hold on foot, clip on carabiner while holding up still, pushing down with foot and allow aider to feed through hand so it stays on foot, then step down, then disconnect aider and repeat.
I have the 3/16" amsteel loop tied so that when the carabiner is on it the overhand bend forming the amsteel loop peaks through the center of the carabiner. This helps keep the carabiner flatter to the stick. Also, this length keeps the bottom of the carabiner from hitting the cleat that secures the stick to the tree. You can see most of this in one of the pics.
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