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Tether for aider

G

Gordy77

New Member
Joined
Oct 24, 2019
Messages
33
Working on my three step aider, I'm looking for ideas on how I can extend my height. I'm dropping to 2 sticks this season which get's me roughly 15ft to my feet. If I set my platform head height, I can get to roughly 19ft using a strap to attach my aider to. This allows me to step up and across to my platform.
Anyone have thoughts on a SAFE way to accomplish what I've shown in the photo? Maybe a climbing knot of some sort or a carabiner setup? Attach to my tether?

To be clear, I'm looking for ideas to replace the strap and hook. I by no means am looking to use a hawk strap to accomplish this. I'm assuming something from an arborist or climber could help. Looking for ideas and creativity; Facebook brought out the life insurance and safety police on me.

pic1.jpgpic2.jpg
 
So, just to clarify the order of operations here, you want to stand on your second stick, set your platform around head/chest height off to the side a bit, set your aider straight in front of you, climb up the aider, and then step off to the side onto your platform? Do I have that correct?
 
Quick link? Is the open hook the part that's bothering you?
 
Marmuzz said:
So, just to clarify the order of operations here, you want to stand on your second stick, set your platform around head/chest height off to the side a bit, set your aider straight in front of you, climb up the aider, and then step off to the side onto your platform? Do I have that correct?
Click to expand...
Yes, correct. Or at least the last step to the platform be a short distance, opposed to "climbing" onto the platform. I've tried that on the ground and can only imagine it being difficult 18ft high with bibs on.
 
Maybe an ocb instead of a cam buckle. Or a truckers hitch. It might bite better just going to a different strap, that one like it's a tighter weave than the ones i have
 
Gordy77 said:
Yes, correct. Or at least the last step to the platform be a short distance, opposed to "climbing" onto the platform. I've tried that on the ground and can only imagine it being difficult 18ft high with bibs on.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I think I would want to start with the aider as the first vertical movement from the ground. Bigger tree base, less adrenaline. Aider, then sticks up to platform. I sure don’t like the idea of swinging on a three-step aider 15-18’ up and then trying to go sideways to find a platform, in the dark and cold no less.

But to your question at hand, one idea would be to take a spare rope tether, set a prusik on the rope just below where the girth hitch chokes the tree, and use a carabiner to join the prusik and your aider.
 
Weldabeast said:
What u get the hook off of? Or did u buy it specifically for this?
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I got it off an old cam/strap that came with a set of normal climbing sticks. I'm using it for experimenting at ground level but without knowning it's true rating, I plan to get one specifically for this setup.
 
You might want to consider how you will get back to the aider from the platform. The aider will be very close to the tree due to nothing holding it away from it with you using a strap or rope to fasten it to the tree. This will make getting your boot into the step very difficult. Doing this at height in the dark will be very dangerous. I personally think you are trying to go beyond what is safe in any manner with the aider fastened directly to the tree with no standoff to provide space for your boot/toe when climbing down. Going up might work but going down will be very dangerous I believe.
Good luck with it I also like to tinker with things of this nature but this scares me. Please be Safe.
 
But if you plan on rappelling down you are probably good to go. I just had this as an after thought when I hit the post button. Keep us posted on what you do. I'm also transitioning to 2 sicks with a 5 step aider and platform. I'm hoping I can get around 15' with two sticks and if I cut down my Lone Wolfs I may carry 3 sticks when the leaves fall so I can get close to 20 feet with the aider and 3 sticks. I will be rappelling down using a figure 8 and Swabich hitch as a safe guard.
 
Old Man Hunter said:
You might want to consider how you will get back to the aider from the platform. The aider will be very close to the tree due to nothing holding it away from it with you using a strap or rope to fasten it to the tree. This will make getting your boot into the step very difficult. Doing this at height in the dark will be very dangerous. I personally think you are trying to go beyond what is safe in any manner with the aider fastened directly to the tree with no standoff to provide space for your boot/toe when climbing down. Going up might work but going down will be very dangerous I believe.
Good luck with it I also like to tinker with things of this nature but this scares me. Please be Safe.
Click to expand...

Indeed I am trying to find the safe method. I will admit, with it laying against the tree it is difficult to get my foot into the aider. I even struggle with the aiders attached directly to my stick, usually have to kick the loop out and scoot my foot in. If it came down to repelling down, I'd probably just go the one stick route which I am trying to avoid. What I may do is find a way to hook off my tether with my one step aider attached to my foot. PLaying around with this, it allows me to tether in before stepping onto the platform, plus give me that last 2-4 ft. I'm really only trying to get 18ft as that's where im comfortable at.
 
Gordy77 said:
Indeed I am trying to find the safe method. I will admit, with it laying against the tree it is difficult to get my foot into the aider. I even struggle with the aiders attached directly to my stick, usually have to kick the loop out and scoot my foot in. If it came down to repelling down, I'd probably just go the one stick route which I am trying to avoid. What I may do is find a way to hook off my tether with my one step aider attached to my foot. PLaying around with this, it allows me to tether in before stepping onto the platform, plus give me that last 2-4 ft. I'm really only trying to get 18ft as that's where im comfortable at.
Click to expand...
I wouldn’t lump in rappelling exclusively with one sticking. Not wanting to switch methods entirely is understandable. Even for sticks, especially with aiders, I think rappelling would be a great and safe way to come down. At that height, for not a lot of money and a small increase in pack bulk you could rappel down on a figure eight, or even a munter hitch on a spare carabiner, either with a friction hitch backup.
 
Old Man Hunter said:
But if you plan on rappelling down you are probably good to go. I just had this as an after thought when I hit the post button. Keep us posted on what you do. I'm also transitioning to 2 sicks with a 5 step aider and platform. I'm hoping I can get around 15' with two sticks and if I cut down my Lone Wolfs I may carry 3 sticks when the leaves fall so I can get close to 20 feet with the aider and 3 sticks. I will be rappelling down using a figure 8 and Swabich hitch as a safe guard.
Click to expand...
I’ve been crunching numbers for a buddy considering getting into saddle hunting and have been thinking of recommending the same setup! I figure you can hit approx. 15’ with 2 sticks with aiders plus a multi-step aider to get started from the ground, and then rappel down. Seems very doable and not too heavy to pack in depending on the platform choice.
 
phatkaw said:
Com'on Gordy, just start one-sticking!


:smile:
Click to expand...

Yeah yeah I know... I was suppose to give it a shot this summer and never found the time. Horrible excuse but I just keep looking at it thinking it's a ton of work and a great way to work up a sweat. But I can't bash something I haven't tried. Those one stick platforms comparable to my ridge runner? I'd have a tough time giving it up hahaha.

Marmuzz said:
I’ve been crunching numbers for a buddy considering getting into saddle hunting and have been thinking of recommending the same setup! I figure you can hit approx. 15’ with 2 sticks with aiders plus a multi-step aider to get started from the ground, and then rappel down. Seems very doable and not too heavy to pack in depending on the platform choice.
Click to expand...

Repelling down while having sticks on the tree seems redundant. Although probably the safest method, especially in the dark. I drop roughly 5lbs by dropping down to 2 sticks. What does repelling add back in? Bulk and weight are the two important aspects of my setup I focused on reducing this year.
 
Do you really thinking swinging in a two step aider 20’ up in the air while performing the most dangerous part of treestand hunting is a good idea?

I’d use the aider low, and have a solid step to transition from stick to platform.
 
I've been rappelling with sticks. Typically 3 skeletors, bottom has 3 aiders and the other two have 1. I really don't like stepping down on the aiders, especially with boots, in the dark. I have found rappelling to be the easiest way. Drop, pull it off, stow, repeat. Just weighed my rappel kit sans safeguard and its 2 lb 10 oz, but so far 40' of rope has been excessive. You could do 30' of 8mm and replace your tether your net increase is probably less than 2 lb.
 
Why not just attach the aider to the platform and use the platform as your “last stick”. I “no stick” climb with just an aider attached to my platform, keeps the aider away from the tree too so solves that problem. Ultimaider from EWO would be my go to for it’s adjustability.
 
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