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To the vertically challenged.

M

Mddave

New Member
Joined
Apr 14, 2020
Messages
17
I am a newbie to the saddle world. im using full length hawk helium's for climbing. ive climbed 3-4 times with them so far. I started out by putting a amsteel aider from backwoods mobile gear. I just couldn't get my foot to the first step with my foot in the aider. sometimes my knee would hit my linesman rope other times I just didn't have the height. so I bought a versa aider thinking maybe this would solve the problem. same kinda problem. my knee seems to hit my linesman rope or I cant make the step.. do I need to shorten the aiders? just practice more? am I doin something wrong? im fimilar with putting lock ons up and such so climbing sticks with a linesman rope is not new although using aiders is new. Im 5'8 and wear 30 inch inseam pants.
 
A shorter aider wouldn't hurt, but there may be a few things you can do to help. Stretching every day helps more then you think. Just laying on your back and pulling one knee at a time to your chest and holding it. Another thing I have noticed with my own setup. I have one stick were the aider is slightly longer then the rest and sometimes I have problems reaching my step. So it helps alot when I step into aider, I don't put aider around my arch of my foot. I step into it and stand on the ball of my foot. This helps me get a couple inches of reach by essential standing on my toes.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
 
Mddave said:
I am a newbie to the saddle world. im using full length hawk helium's for climbing. ive climbed 3-4 times with them so far. I started out by putting a amsteel aider from backwoods mobile gear. I just couldn't get my foot to the first step with my foot in the aider. sometimes my knee would hit my linesman rope other times I just didn't have the height. so I bought a versa aider thinking maybe this would solve the problem. same kinda problem. my knee seems to hit my linesman rope or I cant make the step.. do I need to shorten the aiders? just practice more? am I doin something wrong? im fimilar with putting lock ons up and such so climbing sticks with a linesman rope is not new although using aiders is new. Im 5'8 and wear 30 inch inseam pants.
Click to expand...

Have you considered going the Carry As You Go aider route and make one out of 1" climb spec webbing in a water knot with something to hold the bottom open (I have duct taped wrapped rope inside mine that is held in place with a few stitches)? You can make that any length you want. I use it with Heliums.

Also, keeping a high lineman's belt (higher on the tree) and leaning back into it as you step helps you make the step. I set my CAYG aider so that my step from the aider to the bottom step is only a little over the height of my knee from the ground. I tested it by going slightly below what I can easily step up to when just standing on the ground.
 
I’m a vertically challenged guy myself. The advice @raisins gave you would be my suggestions as well. Play with the length of the linesman belt and keep it high up. I also move my linesman up as I’m stepping up while holding onto the tree.

I have a CAYG aider but I’ve been thinking about using a versa aider to save me having to move it up myself.
 
Holt said:
A shorter aider wouldn't hurt, but there may be a few things you can do to help. Stretching every day helps more then you think. Just laying on your back and pulling one knee at a time to your chest and holding it. Another thing I have noticed with my own setup. I have one stick were the aider is slightly longer then the rest and sometimes I have problems reaching my step. So it helps alot when I step into aider, I don't put aider around my arch of my foot. I step into it and stand on the ball of my foot. This helps me get a couple inches of reach by essential standing on my toes.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

yeah I gotta admit im not the most flexible person in the world.. I could see where that would help!!
 
I'm 5'4" and weigh 185 with just my undies...so needless to say I'm built like a fire hydrant with a big belly. I one stick up the tree and have a 3 step CAYG aider from Backwoods Mobile gear. On the first step I put my muddy about chin height for my stick and put my aider on the bottom step. I think my steps are 20" and on the bottom step I do not use my LB. Once on the bottom step I throw my tether on the tree and adjust my tether to where I can sit down...then climb to the top step and my my aider up.

I think you might want to lean out of your LB and adjust so that you can move your knee up where you can put your foot into the aider step and then climb up. Either that or put the aider on the top step and move your stick down the tree so that the top step is head height.

Experiment is the key here.
 
Are you keeping the linesman level with your hips or throwing it up around the tree a little higher?

Is the linesman tight? Maybe you need to give yourself more room between you and the tree.
 
Mschmeiske said:
Are you keeping the linesman level with your hips or throwing it up around the tree a little higher?

Is the linesman tight? Maybe you need to give yourself more room between you and the tree.
Click to expand...

I try to keep it as high as possible, to try and keep it out of the way and so it never goes below belt height as I climb. I could play with giving my self a little more slack.
 
raisins said:
Also, keeping a high lineman's belt (higher on the tree) and leaning back into it as you step helps you make the step.
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This is your fix, I’ve noticed the times I’m climbing a sketchy tree and and hug the tree a little too tight my LB get in the way of my next step. Practice with your setup in the off-season so much that it’s second nature during the season. We only perform as good as our worst practice...
 
I’m a little late replying to this, but I’m a lineman by trade. I was taught when climbing with my hooks to step on the pole with both feet and adjust my lineman rope so that the pole is right about my palms with my arms stretched out. That’s how I’ve been doing it with my saddle and it’s worked for me. And I’m vertically challenged as well.
 
Sounds like u need shorter step distance.....u shouldn't be overextending....that's when accident happen. I make all my steps on either sticks or aiders at 16" so I never have to over reach....I can skip a step if I'm feeling frisky but I always take my time and make the climb as less strenuous as possible. U may possibly have to modify or make new aider to get your step spacing correct for u and what ur capable of. Your linesman sounds like it could be loosened allowing your body to get further off the trunk
 
Ok, question since we are on this. You put your first stick on tree, you get to the top of it and are about to put your next stick on. Do you keep your LB at waist level below your next sticks strap or keep it a little above and run your stick strap just below the LB?
 
I tend to climb my first stick and then attach my linemans. I realize it's not the best practice. Once I'm attached, the linemans belt stays relatively high (between chest and waist depending on if I've taken a step up it not) and there's enough slack that I'm comfortable leaning back. My outstretched arms could probably touch the tree at 10 and 2 o'clock, if I had to guess. I don't flip my steps down (heliums) until I'm setting the stick. That may give you a little more space to work, too. I'm 5'5".
 
I like a short cable aider personally. I've tried webbing aider and to me they just swing around to much.

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stevethebreeze said:
Ok, question since we are on this. You put your first stick on tree, you get to the top of it and are about to put your next stick on. Do you keep your LB at waist level below your next sticks strap or keep it a little above and run your stick strap just below the LB?
Click to expand...
With the aider on your stick, aren't you reaching up to fasten the stick so the aider is 13 to 16 inches above your previous stick?
 
No, not really, just go slow. I'm one sticking up and rappeling down that way with one 20" hawk helium and a two step amsteel aider. There is alot of videos on the YouTube of guys climbing this way. Get on there and watch as many different videos of guys climbing as many different ways as you can find. Go out and practice a few until you find something that works for you. Ohh and if you come up with something that has never been seen before, share it here.
 
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