Safety Tip

[WannaBMonkey]

I'm still a newbie to this. Today was only my third time actually hunting from my saddle. Every time up is still a learning experience. I use WE steps for my climbing method. I love them for their portability and simplicity. And when you get a good cam-over, they are solid as a rock. But sometimes it seems like they don't cam as solidly as other times. I almost always have one or two that are a little wiggly. Maybe variation in the tree bark or technique. Sometimes they kinda slide down as they cut a groove into the bark. (Maybe I just need to go on a diet!!) Anyway, I always wondered if one might uncam and how would I get down then. For that reason and for a little more security and peace of mind, I decided, early on to climb with both the linesman rope and tether. It only adds a few minutes to the climb to follow along with the tether. Today, I found out what it was all about when about my third step down uncammed. I think I just hooked it with the toe of my boot or something. Any way, there it was, hanging by its rope still, but flipped to the precam position. I was darn glad I had linesman rope and tether both. Between both of them and the little bit of foothold I was still able to get from the out of position step, I was able to sort of inchworm myself down to the next solid step. Phwewww!!!! I, for one, will never leave the ground without both linesman rope and tether on the tree. It saved me from harm or at the very least, an embarrassing phone call and a long wait up the tree!!

 

[NYSFreezerMeat]

My first year as well. I take full responsibility for this when it happens. Whether catching it with my toe, or not camming it properly. I've been able to step on it on the way back down without issue. Fortunately for me, it has been one of my two lowest steps & I've felt confident in my equipment to protect me if the step slips further down rather than camming over with my weight put on it.

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[WannaBMonkey]

My first year as well. I take full responsibility for this when it happens. Whether catching it with my toe, or not camming it properly. I've been able to step on it on the way back down without issue. Fortunately for me, it has been one of my two lowest steps & I've felt confident in my equipment to protect me if the step slips further down rather than camming over with my weight put on it.

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Oh absolutely, I am sure it was something I did or didn't do. Not blaming the step at all. They are awesome. Just a case of operator error or didn't take enough time to find the best spot on the tree to get it solid. But stuff happens and that's why the tether and linesman rope will always be used in tandem for my climbing. As I said, it only adds a few minutes to the climb. Well worth it for the added safety and peace of mind.

 

[WannaBMonkey]

My first year as well. I take full responsibility for this when it happens. Whether catching it with my toe, or not camming it properly. I've been able to step on it on the way back down without issue. Fortunately for me, it has been one of my two lowest steps & I've felt confident in my equipment to protect me if the step slips further down rather than camming over with my weight put on it.

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And mine was sitting with standoffs pointing straight down. No recamming possible.

 

[Alan zanona]

My first year as well. I take full responsibility for this when it happens. Whether catching it with my toe, or not camming it properly. I've been able to step on it on the way back down without issue. Fortunately for me, it has been one of my two lowest steps & I've felt confident in my equipment to protect me if the step slips further down rather than camming over with my weight put on it.

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I also have had minor concerns with steps not feeling secure. Using both tether and linesmanbelt are the only way I climb. I was thinking of carrying a screw in for energency but do not know how easy it would be to use.

 

[WannaBMonkey]

I also have had minor concerns with steps not feeling secure. Using both tether and linesmanbelt are the only way I climb. I was thinking of carrying a screw in for energency but do not know how easy it would be to use.

I carry a backup linesman with and I am pretty sure that if I needed to, I could hook it onto a higher solid step to create a foot loop to lower myself past the undone step. I need to practice this sometime. Seems like it should work.

 

[Wally44]

Just saying if your step does uncam it will not move very much down the tree it's still fastened to the tree not recommending it but happened to me already

 

[melocal]

I had the same issue. Watched many videos and read many posts on proper use of steps and how to cam over. Ended up using a muddy pro and a rappel rope.

In all honesty though, I want to like the steps, the concept and packability is awesome. I haven’t sold mine, will mess with them more in the off season to see if I can like them more.

 

[robstewart]

I'm still a newbie to this. Today was only my third time actually hunting from my saddle. Every time up is still a learning experience. I use WE steps for my climbing method. I love them for their portability and simplicity. And when you get a good cam-over, they are solid as a rock. But sometimes it seems like they don't cam as solidly as other times. I almost always have one or two that are a little wiggly. Maybe variation in the tree bark or technique. Sometimes they kinda slide down as they cut a groove into the bark. (Maybe I just need to go on a diet!!) Anyway, I always wondered if one might uncam and how would I get down then. For that reason and for a little more security and peace of mind, I decided, early on to climb with both the linesman rope and tether. It only adds a few minutes to the climb to follow along with the tether. Today, I found out what it was all about when about my third step down uncammed. I think I just hooked it with the toe of my boot or something. Any way, there it was, hanging by its rope still, but flipped to the precam position. I was darn glad I had linesman rope and tether both. Between both of them and the little bit of foothold I was still able to get from the out of position step, I was able to sort of inchworm myself down to the next solid step. Phwewww!!!! I, for one, will never leave the ground without both linesman rope and tether on the tree. It saved me from harm or at the very least, an embarrassing phone call and a long wait up the tree!!

Hanging at hunt height my feet were on the top of my stick and my ring of steps when I heard a noise and looked down and my stick had dropped. I had to use a screw in step and so on to get down to it.

Since then I’ve switched to using a 30’ tether. I can rappel down it all the way to the ground if something bad happens. In fact, once you’re more experienced and have the right gear you can just lower yourself all the way to the ground and grab your steps or sticks as you go. You pull the rope out of the tree after work paracord you hooked to the top before coming down.


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[WannaBMonkey]

Just saying if your step does uncam it will not move very much down the tree it's still fastened to the tree not recommending it but happened to me already

Yeah that's basically what I did. The rope was still keeping it there but it just felt a little shaky, so I was glad I had both linesman and tether to get myself past it.

 

[WannaBMonkey]

I had the same issue. Watched many videos and read many posts on proper use of steps and how to cam over. Ended up using a muddy pro and a rappel rope.

In all honesty though, I want to like the steps, the concept and packability is awesome. I haven’t sold mine, will mess with them more in the off season to see if I can like them more.

I'm still a true believer in them. And with both tether and linesman, it wasn't that hard to get past it. So, I have no problem continuing to use them.

 

[pesqimon]

Most of the time this happens you can just “recam” it by stepping on it. Not this time though.

 

[Kenbama]

I'm still a newbie to this. Today was only my third time actually hunting from my saddle. Every time up is still a learning experience. I use WE steps for my climbing method. I love them for their portability and simplicity. And when you get a good cam-over, they are solid as a rock. But sometimes it seems like they don't cam as solidly as other times. I almost always have one or two that are a little wiggly. Maybe variation in the tree bark or technique. Sometimes they kinda slide down as they cut a groove into the bark. (Maybe I just need to go on a diet!!) Anyway, I always wondered if one might uncam and how would I get down then. For that reason and for a little more security and peace of mind, I decided, early on to climb with both the linesman rope and tether. It only adds a few minutes to the climb to follow along with the tether. Today, I found out what it was all about when about my third step down uncammed. I think I just hooked it with the toe of my boot or something. Any way, there it was, hanging by its rope still, but flipped to the precam position. I was darn glad I had linesman rope and tether both. Between both of them and the little bit of foothold I was still able to get from the out of position step, I was able to sort of inchworm myself down to the next solid step. Phwewww!!!! I, for one, will never leave the ground without both linesman rope and tether on the tree. It saved me from harm or at the very least, an embarrassing phone call and a long wait up the tree!!

I do not recommend using aiders with WE steps. Aiders can be a little tricky to use with steps. It is a good idea to carry an aider with you when climbing with steps. Th WE aider works great for this purpose and it does not add much weight. If something happens like a step kicking up, you have the extra step in your aider. You can continue to climb down past your step without any worries.