The stik compromise

[Bigfoot522]

I one stik and rappel. I use a three step aider but once on the stik I don't really benefit from the aider except for one step.
The tether doesn't allow me to raise the stik as high as I can when first attaching to the tree.
Due to a meniscus surgery I am struggling with my full length beast stik and will be building a mini stik soon.

This got me thinking about guys that struggle with one stiking and from my own climbing experience I am thinking that two stiks would be worth a try.

Two better than three or four keeping the weight down. With two cam cleat stiks you can climb as high as you dare while not having to hang as you will be standing on the stik. No swinging or balancing making it easier to dislodge the stik so that releasing the cleat is easy. We all know how hard it is to release the rope if we don't first pull on the stik to releave the bite on the tree.

Because you are standing on the stik you can now advance you second stik higher than hanging, advacing more per move as fast if not faster and fully benefiting from the 3 step aider.
Potentially 12 to 14 ft. and you haven't even made the first move on your one stik.
It will vary on your reach and number of aiders.

I think this may be a feasible method and I am thinking to give it a go as I am in transition with this leg of mine.

Think it over, this maybe to your liking.
It may be my next step.
What I really like is the thought of more hieght per move.(Potentially)

 

[Horn]

I'm in a similar place with one sticking and have had similar thoughts, using two+ sticks as to take advantage of a longer aider.

How are you planning on advancing your tether? Either two tethers, one in between the sticks and then transfer to another above(?) the second stick or employ a linesman belt while you move the original tether? Either way the first tether has to come completely off the tree, right?

 

[Weldabeast]

When I still using sticks I have the same mindset as u. I carried 3 16" sticks with a 3 step aider for a while....I used the 3rd stick very little....dropped down to 2 little sticks and aider and I can't really think of a single time I regretted.....the main reason I've never liked "1 stick" is not being able to set the anchor point as high when seated...I feel like 3 steps up and 1 step back when 1 stick climb...having a solid double step u can reach/advance higher with less energy IMO...and nothing stopping u from 1 stick climb after 2nd attachment if u wanted to go higher

I can technically 1 stick climb with my stirrup setup and loose a pound but being able to have full extension is more important to me

 

[mprooch]

I've messed around with the concept you are describing a bit preseason, but never got it streamlined enough to make it work. I liked the idea of two sticks and a moveable aider and could 'leapfrog' sticks pretty much as has as a fella could want to go. In theory. I tried it using just a linemen's belt while climbing and it felt way too sketchy trying to reach down to unfasten a stick from an aider to leapfrog. Pretty sure I was going to kick out on the aider, the stick, or both. Thought about adding a pinch to the lineman's so I could hang more freely, but seemed to not really be a good solution. Using my rappel line/tether worked fine but having to advance it or put lineman's on and disconnect tether to move up didn't feel like much of a savings and didn't want to have a ton of slack introduced (acknowledging that a lineman's isn't a connection or fall protection per se). For another couple of pounds I just carry three sticks and a moveable aider. Gets me 20+ easy and consistently. Rappel down and pack 'em up as I descend. I like the idea still, just like I like the idea of one sticking, but most of the time I don't feel like I need to be super mobile. I kept my aider distances short and it's pretty knee friendly (nursing cartilage issues in both knees) maybe an alternative to think about? I'd love to splurge on some super light sticks to shed a few pounds but dropping a few lbs body weight would be a better overall!

 

[htimsds9999]

I switched back to two sticks. Each stick has a three step aider and I can get 7-7.5 per stick. I just use the lineman's until I get to the top of the second stick then tether in and make any small moves needed.

 

[Bigfoot522]

I might have a day off this weekend.
I will try to get out but first I need to make another aider.

 

[TreeCreep]

This is my preferred method when getting in a tree w a recurve. I’m 5’10 ; easily get 14’-16’ to my boots , I was using two aiders but I prefer to move a 3 step aider.
I feel like it’s less of a yard sale packing up then 1 stick w 40’ of rope and a smoother climb in the dark.
A 5 step treehopper ROS adds about 2 lbs. but mostly I use a UP as my top step and platform.

 

[gcr0003]

One issue you will run into is that while standing on your first stick you can set your next stick higher than what you can easily set your tether. So if you do set your tether below the next stick you’ll have to deal with going around the next stick. If you set it right below the highest place you can get your tether then you haven’t gain much over setting the stick while hanging from my experience. There might be a happy medium but I haven’t found it.

 

[LtMoe66]

I one stik and rappel. I use a three step aider but once on the stik I don't really benefit from the aider except for one step.
The tether doesn't allow me to raise the stik as high as I can when first attaching to the tree.
Due to a meniscus surgery I am struggling with my full length beast stik and will be building a mini stik soon.

This got me thinking about guys that struggle with one stiking and from my own climbing experience I am thinking that two stiks would be worth a try.

Two better than three or four keeping the weight down. With two cam cleat stiks you can climb as high as you dare while not having to hang as you will be standing on the stik. No swinging or balancing making it easier to dislodge the stik so that releasing the cleat is easy. We all know how hard it is to release the rope if we don't first pull on the stik to releave the bite on the tree.

Because you are standing on the stik you can now advance you second stik higher than hanging, advacing more per move as fast if not faster and fully benefiting from the 3 step aider.
Potentially 12 to 14 ft. and you haven't even made the first move on your one stik.
It will vary on your reach and number of aiders.

I think this may be a feasible method and I am thinking to give it a go as I am in transition with this leg of mine.

Think it over, this maybe to your liking.
It may be my next step.
What I really like is the thought of more hieght per move.(Potentially)

I started out the same way. Went to the 2 stick then 3. Lol! I came to the conclusion that the weight savings isn’t worth the convenience. I use 3 or 4 sticks with a 2 step aider on the first and depending on where I’m going a 1, 2 or no aiders on the others. I rappel down for safety so I don’t have to worry about foot placement. A good pack makes the weight not that big an issue. I found it to be more comfortable going up the tree and I feel less fiddle factor. I can EASILY get 18-20+ft comfortably. Good luck!

 

[Horn]

One issue you will run into is that while standing on your first stick you can set your next stick higher than what you can easily set your tether. So if you do set your tether below the next stick you’ll have to deal with going around the next stick. If you set it right below the highest place you can get your tether then you haven’t gain much over setting the stick while hanging from my experience. There might be a happy medium but I haven’t found it.

Words are a struggle for me, you put that really well. I wonder if maybe one of JRBs exploding hitches would work for the tether? Or maybe a re-think on tether to tree connection...

 

[enkriss]

2 sticks with a 3 step moveable aider will get you 16’ do you really need to get any higher? Add a 3rd stick for 1-1.5lbs and you are 24’ up… enough for most any situation. Fumbling around back and forth with 2 sticks seems like more work.

I guess I one stick different than the YouTube stars. I only use the bottom step on my stick. I don’t like reaching way down I think that’s too much movement. I also don’t like to capture the stick with the rope. That’s wasted height and way more effort to push out from the tree to jam the stick in there and movement. Silly thing to be doing IMO. 14-16” steps on the 3 step aider. Make it easy on yourself instead of trying to stretch out every move for as much height as possible. Less effort… less movement…

 

[mprooch]

Words are a struggle for me, you put that really well. I wonder if maybe one of JRBs exploding hitches would work for the tether? Or maybe a re-think on tether to tree connection...

IDK. Sort of get to the point that you're basically SRT or DRT then, right? As you'd need your rope up the tree already or above your highest stick? I haven't followed all the JRB method stuff mainly because I have given traditional hand ascender/foot loop SRT a go and found I hate using throwballs, hunt a lot of areas with tall, straight, limbless oaks that don't lend itself to any rope ascension method, or spent more time trying to set up from a paracord loop to ascend than it would've taken to just slap on some climbing sticks and go. Or maybe you are saying there is a hitch that is easy on easy off that I've not payed attention to.

Will echo that a good pack that manages some weight makes it pretty doable to carry 3 + a platform. I use a Kuiu 1800 and in the end, we're talking maybe 10 lb of gear with steps, platform, ropes, and such. Not an ounces count guy. Yet, anyway.

 

[kyler1945]

One issue you will run into is that while standing on your first stick you can set your next stick higher than what you can easily set your tether. So if you do set your tether below the next stick you’ll have to deal with going around the next stick. If you set it right below the highest place you can get your tether then you haven’t gain much over setting the stick while hanging from my experience. There might be a happy medium but I haven’t found it.

I can reach above me and easily tie a stick attachment at 7.5’ above the bottoms of my boots.

Set first stick attachment at 7.5’, which puts top step about 8’ish feet. Climb up linemans in.

Hang tether as high as I can reach. Use second stick to push tether up to 9’ or so to 17’.

Hang second stick attachment at 15.5’. This puts top step at 16’.

Climb up and adjust tether as needed.


I wouldn’t climb this way. But it seems simple enough to use your second stick as a push stick.


I’d just use my lineman’s belt and hang the sticks and climb them with it, and when o reach the top of second stick, I’d hang my tether.

A short person will probably only get 14-15’ out of the above method.

This would require roughly 6.5’ total of stick and aider length.

 

[Horn]

maybe you are saying there is a hitch that is easy on easy off that I've not payed attention to.

This is what I'm suggesting. If it's easy on easy off maybe running 2 tethers or moving the tether would be easy enough to hit that sweet spot to be able to advance the tether above the next stick

@enkriss can you explain how you attach your stick?

 

[enkriss]

This is what I'm suggesting. If it's easy on easy off maybe running 2 tethers or moving the tether would be easy enough to hit that sweet spot to be able to advance the tether above the next stick

@enkriss can you explain how you attach your stick?

I climb most of the time with my stick to the left of my tether. Attach it right under my tether. Attach it, climb, drop off to the right of the stick and repeat.

 

[Bigterp]

2 sticks with a 3 step moveable aider will get you 16’ do you really need to get any higher? Add a 3rd stick for 1-1.5lbs and you are 24’ up… enough for most any situation. Fumbling around back and forth with 2 sticks seems like more work.

I guess I one stick different than the YouTube stars. I only use the bottom step on my stick. I don’t like reaching way down I think that’s too much movement. I also don’t like to capture the stick with the rope. That’s wasted height and way more effort to push out from the tree to jam the stick in there and movement. Silly thing to be doing IMO. 14-16” steps on the 3 step aider. Make it easy on yourself instead of trying to stretch out every move for as much height as possible. Less effort… less movement…

Exactly this, I’m tall enough that that added step on top of my onestick is more of a liability than advantage. I use LB the whole time & advance tether when I get to bottom step of stick & then adjust my Ropeman & swing out for the next move. Costs me about 18” per move but feels more comfortable/safe to me.

 

[gcr0003]

I can reach above me and easily tie a stick attachment at 7.5’ above the bottoms of my boots.

Set first stick attachment at 7.5’, which puts top step about 8’ish feet. Climb up linemans in.

Hang tether as high as I can reach. Use second stick to push tether up to 9’ or so to 17’.

Hang second stick attachment at 15.5’. This puts top step at 16’.

Climb up and adjust tether as needed.


I wouldn’t climb this way. But it seems simple enough to use your second stick as a push stick.


I’d just use my lineman’s belt and hang the sticks and climb them with it, and when o reach the top of second stick, I’d hang my tether.

A short person will probably only get 14-15’ out of the above method.

This would require roughly 6.5’ total of stick and aider length.

It’s a little more cumbersome and harder to achieve the same height while standing from a stick, but yea what you described could be done. Would you not want to hang and detach the stick you were standing on for your third move so that with the third move you’d be to say around 20 +/- ft

 

[Plebe]

I can reach above me and easily tie a stick attachment at 7.5’ above the bottoms of my boots.

Set first stick attachment at 7.5’, which puts top step about 8’ish feet. Climb up linemans in.

Hang tether as high as I can reach. Use second stick to push tether up to 9’ or so to 17’.

Hang second stick attachment at 15.5’. This puts top step at 16’.

Climb up and adjust tether as needed.


I wouldn’t climb this way. But it seems simple enough to use your second stick as a push stick.


I’d just use my lineman’s belt and hang the sticks and climb them with it, and when o reach the top of second stick, I’d hang my tether.

A short person will probably only get 14-15’ out of the above method.

This would require roughly 6.5’ total of stick and aider length.

I have the impression a single push stick doesn't work that great. Two push sticks seem to do the trick.

 

[woodsdog2]

For most of my hunts I'm averaging 16' to 18' HH easy with three moves total (including my first move from the ground). I use a three-step aider completely on my first stick set from the ground. The bottom aider is only about 8 inches off the ground as I can't reach any higher at first but I'm still probably almost 8' on that first move. Like @enkriss, my stick is always to my left, and I hang off the right side to advance my stick. I also do everything off of the bottom step of my stick (i.e., advance my tether etc. and hang off from that) and then use either the first or second step of the aider on my next two moves. So, I'm only dropping off the platform twice, its not that much of an issue for how I use the one stick but, my problem is carrying the rappel rope up in my pack and I probably should just use my rappel rope as my tether but for some reason I like having a separate tether to use and just use my rappel rope for rappelling.

 

[Plebe]

I one stik and rappel. I use a three step aider but once on the stik I don't really benefit from the aider except for one step.
The tether doesn't allow me to raise the stik as high as I can when first attaching to the tree.
Due to a meniscus surgery I am struggling with my full length beast stik and will be building a mini stik soon.

This got me thinking about guys that struggle with one stiking and from my own climbing experience I am thinking that two stiks would be worth a try.

Two better than three or four keeping the weight down. With two cam cleat stiks you can climb as high as you dare while not having to hang as you will be standing on the stik. No swinging or balancing making it easier to dislodge the stik so that releasing the cleat is easy. We all know how hard it is to release the rope if we don't first pull on the stik to releave the bite on the tree.

Because you are standing on the stik you can now advance you second stik higher than hanging, advacing more per move as fast if not faster and fully benefiting from the 3 step aider.
Potentially 12 to 14 ft. and you haven't even made the first move on your one stik.
It will vary on your reach and number of aiders.

I think this may be a feasible method and I am thinking to give it a go as I am in transition with this leg of mine.

Think it over, this maybe to your liking.
It may be my next step.
What I really like is the thought of more hieght per move.(Potentially)

One sticking was really birthed from two sticking. Not many stuck with the o.g. because the benefits didn't outweigh the costs. Part of that was the ultra-lightness of a single stick, but I would think that more people would still two stick if it was significantly less effort.

Also, you still need to hang to detach the lower stick from what I've seen of two sticking.

Climbing with just two sticks and aiders is something altogether different and I see folks weighing in on both approaches here. I think it can go ok on the way up, but descending on multi step aiders seems tricky.