SRT with rope wrench and haas knee ascender

[JCLINE84]

Ok so I got some new climbing gear and got a chance to try it out today. First of all let me say that the first SRT setup that I made the video with is probably the cheapest and easiest way to SRT for saddle hunting. The first time I tried it I hated it and thought it was too much trouble to fool with. I was using a madrock lifeguard and a hand ascender with foot loop. After a few hours practicing it was so easy and I'm sure it showed in my video. It was probably the same way with a lot of you guys. Fast forward to winter boredom and I found myself some good deals on a ropewalking setup. I have a rope wrench, haas knee ascender, and petzl foot ascender. First observation when installing it on the rope is it is a lot more gear intensive. And a little difficult to set up. First time walking up the rope and it's a lot more difficult to get a feel for than the first srt setup. Also the hitch you have to tie is super important to get right. Tried a vt and it slipped a lot. Abandoned that and went to a distel hitch and it hooked up great. So we're safe enough with the hitch to actually get off the ground and climb. I went up and down the tree for a couple hours and what started out as oh my God this is an awful way to climb turned into a smooth easy walk up the tree. So it's a lot like the first setup in that it takes some practice to become comfortable. I really like the rope wrench. It's a little work to install on the rope but once it's on it is so quiet and easy to operate. I am going to hang from it to hunt I think because it is so easy to move up or down the rope to adjust tether length and when it's time to go you just rappel down without having to change over to another system. Also I think this setup will be nice to rappel down, take a leak, and walk right back up the rope quietly. I hate the foot ascender. It's very uncomfortable on your foot while climbing. But I can deal with it to get to use the rest of the system.

 

[JCLINE84]

The knee ascender is a little finicky and you have to get the length of the elastic cord the right length for it to work well but once you get it dialed in it works perfectly. It is a very safe way to climb once you get everything dialed in. And it doesn't take up much room. Fits into a small pack I keep in my backpack. Overall after spending a couple hours with this system I think I am going to really like it. The rope wrench is what makes it all worth while. Walking up the rope is fun but not any easier than the original system with the lifeguard and hand ascender. It's just a lot more fun than the original system I used and I can see myself buying some longer rope and just climbing trees for fun with this setup. At around $400 new its ridiculously expensive but I have a lot less in my setup that I assembled from people selling used gear. @cedar paul was nice enough to hook me up with some gear and tell me how to use it. I'm sure I will be picking his brain often while I'm still learning. But anyway that is my honest opinion of the rope walking srt setup. It is kind of overkill for the short climbs we do but it is really nice and a lot of fun

 

[cedar paul]

I used a Wrench this season at my friends son's property and I left my climbing line in the tree with my Wrench setup on the rope. I would come in connect my carabiner and I was up at hunting height in less than a couple of minutes. I only used a foot ascender and only climbed 25'. Very little energy expended and at 61 I love being attached both up and down and using the wrench as my tether adjustment (climbing line acts as tree tether).

 

[rakbowhunter]

Now we need a video! I based my SRT off your 1st video and am really enjoying it. At this point, i don't "need" to change anything. However, I'm always up for another video convincing me to blow more money on saddle hunting!

 

[JCLINE84]

Now we need a video! I based my SRT off your 1st video and am really enjoying it. At this point, i don't "need" to change anything. However, I'm always up for another video convincing me to blow more money on saddle hunting!

Thats exactly what would happen too lol. That first system is bulletproof and so easy when you get the hang of it. Really no need to change it but the saddlehunting effect strikes again and you wake up saying how the heck did I just spend that much money to climb a tree 30 seconds faster lol. If its warm enough to talk the girlfriend into shooting some video this week I will try to make one showing this new setup. Im thrilled every time someone says they put together an SRT setup after watching my video. I get calls and text from guys still from relationships started by that srt video. There was all kinds of SRT video on youtube but all of them just assumed you knew about climbing gear and techniques. And none of it is saddle hunting specific so I did my best to explain how to do it with a hunting saddle and minimal gear. Ive just always wanted to try rope walking and finally got all the gear to do it.

 

[PJC]

Thats exactly what would happen too lol. That first system is bulletproof and so easy when you get the hang of it. Really no need to change it but the saddlehunting effect strikes again and you wake up saying how the heck did I just spend that much money to climb a tree 30 seconds faster lol. If its warm enough to talk the girlfriend into shooting some video this week I will try to make one showing this new setup. Im thrilled every time someone says they put together an SRT setup after watching my video. I get calls and text from guys still from relationships started by that srt video. There was all kinds of SRT video on youtube but all of them just assumed you knew about climbing gear and techniques. And none of it is saddle hunting specific so I did my best to explain how to do it with a hunting saddle and minimal gear. Ive just always wanted to try rope walking and finally got all the gear to do it.

Can you link your first video here? I’d love to see you make a new video too. I’m still trying to wrap my head around how SRT can work for me. I have some places where I could definitely use it.


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[Oakridge]

I’m really excited to start SRT! I’ve watched your video a bunch of times. Deffinetly want to see the new setup in action!

 

[JCLINE84]

 

[Piney]

The knee ascender is a little finicky and you have to get the length of the elastic cord the right length for it to work well but once you get it dialed in it works perfectly. It is a very safe way to climb once you get everything dialed in. And it doesn't take up much room. Fits into a small pack I keep in my backpack. Overall after spending a couple hours with this system I think I am going to really like it. The rope wrench is what makes it all worth while. Walking up the rope is fun but not any easier than the original system with the lifeguard and hand ascender. It's just a lot more fun than the original system I used and I can see myself buying some longer rope and just climbing trees for fun with this setup. At around $400 new its ridiculously expensive but I have a lot less in my setup that I assembled from people selling used gear. @cedar paul was nice enough to hook me up with some gear and tell me how to use it. I'm sure I will be picking his brain often while I'm still learning. But anyway that is my honest opinion of the rope walking srt setup. It is kind of overkill for the short climbs we do but it is really nice and a lot of fun

I have used a Rope Runner and Bull Dog Bone in SRT...I didn't want to have to fool with a friction hitch in the dark with a Rope Wrench. Both worked well but the Bull Dog Bone is easier to attach to the line in the dark. Also used a Saka Mini Knee Ascender https://climbing-innovations.myshopify.com/products/saka-minion my left foot with a CT foot ascender on my right foot and could walk up 30 ft. in about 30 seconds with no effort. The Saka was about half the cost of the HAAS, easy to adjust and easy to stow. My whole SRT setup stows in an entrenchment tool bag minus the rope of course. I have a Kong Futura hand ascender I haven't played around with yet but may work into the mix. You're right though it's overkill expense wise for short climbs but new climbing toys are definitely cool.

 

[PJC]

@JCLIONE84 Thanks for re-posting that. Looks simple enough. I was going to ask why not just use a Ropeman for the assent, but on your way down I realized why not.
Ok @Piney I think it's time you make a video for us too. Let's see what you got. It's one thing to read about it, but it's a whole other thing to see it happening.
All these device names are making my head spin.

 

[Newhunter1]

I priced the two extra pieces that I don't have...rope walker and haas knee ascender...that's another 350.00. This may be light weight hunting but it sure is dragging my pocket book. I'll pass as I have the Petzl Rig, lifeguard (I know redundant), the hand ascender and foot ascender. I don't even want to add up all I have invested in SRT

 

[skyjacker]

The Rope Runner and Rope Wrench will not work with 9mm Sterling HTP ... I'm out. You can rope walk with a hand ascender, kong duck/ropeman 2/climbing technology rollnlock, foot loop, and a foot ascender. Rappel with a munter hitch or any descender.

 

[Timothy Barnhouse]

The knee ascender is a little finicky and you have to get the length of the elastic cord the right length for it to work well but once you get it dialed in it works perfectly. It is a very safe way to climb once you get everything dialed in. And it doesn't take up much room. Fits into a small pack I keep in my backpack. Overall after spending a couple hours with this system I think I am going to really like it. The rope wrench is what makes it all worth while. Walking up the rope is fun but not any easier than the original system with the lifeguard and hand ascender. It's just a lot more fun than the original system I used and I can see myself buying some longer rope and just climbing trees for fun with this setup. At around $400 new its ridiculously expensive but I have a lot less in my setup that I assembled from people selling used gear. @cedar paul was nice enough to hook me up with some gear and tell me how to use it. I'm sure I will be picking his brain often while I'm still learning. But anyway that is my honest opinion of the rope walking srt setup. It is kind of overkill for the short climbs we do but it is really nice and a lot of fun

I have the Mad Rock Safeguard and hand ascender with foot loop and love it. You were the one that got me started and I appreciate it every time I climb. It is way faster for me to get set up and hunting. I have para cord hanging everywhere in trees we’re I have pre scouted for different winds. I have found out it is a lot easier to have presets in several different places. I did add a ring to my set up to make it easier to retrieve my rope from the tree. Thanks again for everything.

 

[PJC]

I have the Mad Rock Safeguard and hand ascender with foot loop and love it. You were the one that got me started and I appreciate it every time I climb. It is way faster for me to get set up and hunting. I have para cord hanging everywhere in trees we’re I have pre scouted for different winds. I have found out it is a lot easier to have presets in several different places. I did add a ring to my set up to make it easier to retrieve my rope from the tree. Thanks again for everything.

I’ve got to get this all done before next season starts. Way too many places I could hunt with an SRT setup.


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[JCLINE84]

If people give it a real chance they always end up loving it. That safeguard and hand ascender setup is the best

 

[PJC]

If people give it a real chance they always end up loving it. That safeguard and hand ascender setup is the best

Is there a link to that in here somewhere?


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[Jay2413]

Hahaha, I’ve watched your video a million times, and again at the base of a tree before my first climb. Didn’t know it was you I bought my Knaider/swaider from. I’ll be doing it all next season, thanks for sharing your knowledge. It’s appreciated more than you know. Me 25’ on my first SRT climb

 

[Jay2413]

Hahaha, I’ve watched your video a million times, and again at the base of a tree before my first climb. Didn’t know it was you I bought my Knaider/swaider from. I’ll be doing it all next season, thanks for sharing your knowledge. It’s appreciated more than you know.

 

[Mitchellfarmer1982]

Ok so reading this I realised I screwed up and ordered the Madrock Lifeguard instead of the Safeguard will it still work for ascending and rappelling?

 

[PJC]

Ok so reading this I realised I screwed up and ordered the Madrock Lifeguard instead of the Safeguard will it still work for ascending and rappelling?

This is my fear. I don’t know enough to know that I’m looking at the right stuff.
Where do you order SRT Gear? I was looking on Bartlettman.com and didn’t see what I was looking for.


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