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Who Wants Nothing To Do With One Sticking?

I carry my SRT gear with my saddle. It's all in a large pouch. Most of the time I'm going to be platform climbing but it's nice to have the ability to rappel down and then SRT back up the tree. I'm very mobile and prefer the element of surprise so presets aren't really my thing but I do carry line with me to do that as well. I've also tossed my throwball a couple times to SRT but prefer to just platform climb. But when it comes to actual climbing and going up, SRT is way easier. I just don't like the noise and mess of a throwball, especially if you don't get it right the first time.
 
I see often that people mention their primary reason against one-stick climbing is the amount of slack that is introduced. Please understand that you DO NOT have to one-stick climb with that much slack in the system. I don’t.

When I climb I use both the lineman’s (for stability) and the tether/rappel rope (for safety). By using the lineman’s rope I’m able to have the stability to move my tether up with each step up whether my feet are on the aider or on the stick. At the most I have no more than 15” of slack in my tether at anytime in the climb. Too often we have seen videos of people climbing who have climbed to the point that their tether is now 2-3’ below their saddle. . This IS a dangerous amount of slack and if a fall were to occur could certainly cause some serious injury. If you fall with your tether 2-3’ below your saddle that ‘s a 4-6’ fall. That’s a huge shock load on the system and the body.

I am attached to the tree with the tether and the lineman’s from the first step into the aider at the bottom of the tree. As some have mentioned, the only way to have less slack is to SRT/DRT climb where you have no slack.

For those who consider climbing sticks with a lineman’s safer, think about the dynamics and the reality of what will happen when you fall on just a lineman’s rope. You‘re going fall straight down, most likely onto your stick, until the lineman’s grabs the tree and brings you in tight to the tree. From actual reports you very well may slide down the tree until the lineman’s catches on something, likely your stick. Yes, it’ll very likely keep you from a catastrophic injury or death, but you’re gong to hurt. If I fall on that 15” of slack I will not be sliding down the tree at all. The tether, already girth hitched to the tree will catch very quickly. If I’m injured, because my rappel system is my attachment during the whole climb, I have to simply drop my rappel rope and rappel down.

Just some thoughts as to the safety aspect of one-stick climbing if it is done properly. Unfortunately we have a whole lot of examples of people showing a dangerous way of doing it.
 

I bought all the stuff. I’m all about the rappel. It’s just the stupid climb. Makes no sense to me. I put the stick on the tree and stared at it for about 10 minutes and decided this is stupid. I mainly don’t like aiders. Especially more than one step aiders. I’m pretty quick with my sticks and doubt I can climb faster one sticking. Only benefit I was interested in was not having to pack up the sticks after the climb down. Hauling them is no problem.
 
I bought all the stuff. I’m all about the rappel. It’s just the stupid climb. Makes no sense to me. I put the stick on the tree and stared at it for about 10 minutes and decided this is stupid. I mainly don’t like aiders. Especially more than one step aiders. I’m pretty quick with my sticks and doubt I can climb faster one sticking. Only benefit I was interested in was not having to pack up the sticks after the climb down. Hauling them is no problem.

For me one-sticking is not about speed. It’s about so much less to carry in and mess with. But in the end we each have to do what we’re comfortable and safe with. I will say, when I do set multiple sticks I still prefer to rappel down, especially in the dark. For me it’s so much safer than trying to find steps and aiders in the dark.
 
I bought all the stuff. I’m all about the rappel. It’s just the stupid climb. Makes no sense to me. I put the stick on the tree and stared at it for about 10 minutes and decided this is stupid. I mainly don’t like aiders. Especially more than one step aiders. I’m pretty quick with my sticks and doubt I can climb faster one sticking. Only benefit I was interested in was not having to pack up the sticks after the climb down. Hauling them is no problem.
I'm definitely not about multistep aiders either. That's why I only use a single step aider ( a 24" GM Climb runner) attached to the bottom standoff of my one stick. I just have to lean back a bit in the saddle to get my foot engaged and then step/pull myself up.
 
For me one-sticking is not about speed. It’s about so much less to carry in and mess with. But in the end we each have to do what we’re comfortable and safe with. I will say, when I do set multiple sticks I still prefer to rappel down, especially in the dark. For me it’s so much safer than trying to find steps and aiders in the dark.

But you still have to stop and pull each step down. So in my opinion, why carry the rappel stuff.
Also, for my set up, I carry 3 or 4 cut down lone wolf sticks. They pack up against the stick with the scout on top so it packs no wider than a one stick.
It’s just the wrapping of the rope on each stick at the bottom of the tree. Then cinching them all onto my pack. Probably not much different in a hassle than unhooking the figure 8. Packing it away. Wrapping up 40ft of rope and packing it away. Then wrapping up the one stick and packing it onto my pack. Like you said. It’s all a routine that you get use to and efficient at.
 
But you still have to stop and pull each step down. So in my opinion, why carry the rappel stuff.
Also, for my set up, I carry 3 or 4 cut down lone wolf sticks. They pack up against the stick with the scout on top so it packs no wider than a one stick.
It’s just the wrapping of the rope on each stick at the bottom of the tree. Then cinching them all onto my pack. Probably not much different in a hassle than unhooking the figure 8. Packing it away. Wrapping up 40ft of rope and packing it away. Then wrapping up the one stick and packing it onto my pack. Like you said. It’s all a routine that you get use to and efficient at.

This is why I don’t think about climbing methods only in terms of complexity or time to climb up.

I take an overall view. How much does it cost, how steep is the learning curve, how much storage space at home does it take up, how much maintenance, how much time to pack it up to go to the woods, how heavy is it, how much space does it take up in my pack, how long to unpack at the tree, how long to prepare to climb, how long to climb up, how long to climb down, how safe that process is, how long to pack up.

when you look at a climbing method from that perspective, two things become clear: climbing a tree when you don’t know deer will be under you is pretty dumb, and that all climbing methods end up being more similar in terms of total effort/focus than they are different. There’s just tradeoffs.
 
But you still have to stop and pull each step down. So in my opinion, why carry the rappel stuff.
Also, for my set up, I carry 3 or 4 cut down lone wolf sticks. They pack up against the stick with the scout on top so it packs no wider than a one stick.
It’s just the wrapping of the rope on each stick at the bottom of the tree. Then cinching them all onto my pack. Probably not much different in a hassle than unhooking the figure 8. Packing it away. Wrapping up 40ft of rope and packing it away. Then wrapping up the one stick and packing it onto my pack. Like you said. It’s all a routine that you get use to and efficient at.

Safety coming down in the dark is the main reason I prefer to rappel down. Let me clarify though, when I only climbed using multiple sticks I didn’t rappel. I mostly climb single stick now so I always have the rappel gear on my saddle. I set multiple sticks for my daughter and after dark it is so much safer to just rappel down than to fumble with trying to find aiders in the dark.

I find it ridiculous how people get so caught up on speed and promote their system as the fastest and such. I have found that the times for me are pretty close to the same whether multiple sticking or single-sticking, it’s just where the time is spent. Single sticking I spend less time at the base of the tree at the beginning and less time coming back down. I do spend about the same time climbing and packing up so it’s about a wash for me. My reasons for single sticking are the less bulk and weight going in as well as not being limited in height to what my multiple sticks will give me. With single sticking I can go as high as I need to. It sounds like you’ve got a very good system with the cut down sticks and the Scout. I would imagine that the weight is not much different than a single stick system either.

I don’t dare put down someone else’s system, what works, is safe, and gets you hunting is what’s important.
 
Safety coming down in the dark is the main reason I prefer to rappel down. Let me clarify though, when I only climbed using multiple sticks I didn’t rappel. I mostly climb single stick now so I always have the rappel gear on my saddle. I set multiple sticks for my daughter and after dark it is so much safer to just rappel down than to fumble with trying to find aiders in the dark.

I find it ridiculous how people get so caught up on speed and promote their system as the fastest and such. I have found that the times for me are pretty close to the same whether multiple sticking or single-sticking, it’s just where the time is spent. Single sticking I spend less time at the base of the tree at the beginning and less time coming back down. I do spend about the same time climbing and packing up so it’s about a wash for me. My reasons for single sticking are the less bulk and weight going in as well as not being limited in height to what my multiple sticks will give me. With single sticking I can go as high as I need to. It sounds like you’ve got a very good system with the cut down sticks and the Scout. I would imagine that the weight is not much different than a single stick system either.

I don’t dare put down someone else’s system, what works, is safe, and gets you hunting is what’s important.

I’m just trying to convince myself to one stick but can’t. Lol
 
This is why I don’t think about climbing methods only in terms of complexity or time to climb up.

I take an overall view. How much does it cost, how steep is the learning curve, how much storage space at home does it take up, how much maintenance, how much time to pack it up to go to the woods, how heavy is it, how much space does it take up in my pack, how long to unpack at the tree, how long to prepare to climb, how long to climb up, how long to climb down, how safe that process is, how long to pack up.

when you look at a climbing method from that perspective, two things become clear: climbing a tree when you don’t know deer will be under you is pretty dumb, and that all climbing methods end up being more similar in terms of total effort/focus than they are different. There’s just tradeoffs.

I wouldn’t get out the house if I had to consider all of that! LMAO!
I would settle on shooting them from the back porch while I watched tv in my recliner sipping coffee.
 
Bottom line is that there is no one right and/or best way to climb. The last tree I hunted from was so wide that SRT was the only option. I also climb trees that I need to get well over 20' that aren't ideal for SRT but are too high for normal sticks. That leaves 2TC, 1-stick, spikes or bolts. You have to choose the climbing method you're most confident in and matches the trees in the area(s) you're hunting, not the other way around.
 
I wouldn’t get out the house if I had to consider all of that! LMAO!
I would settle on shooting them from the back porch while I watched tv in my recliner sipping coffee.
I’m fairly confident we all wish we could do that to some extent lolol
 
I’m just trying to convince myself to one stick but can’t. Lol

Then it sounds like it’s not for you. I’m mildly interested in SRT but don’t want to hassle with throw ropes and presets. That may change though as I like gear too. LOL
 
Hard to teach an old dog new tricks. To change a method that you can do with your eyes close and been doing it for over 20 years, there would have to be a big benefit to change. Like dropping the lockon and getting in a saddle.
 
Hard to teach an old dog new tricks. To change a method that you can do with your eyes close and been doing it for over 20 years, there would have to be a big benefit to change. Like dropping the lockon and getting in a saddle.
I was just gonna show you how it’s done. I ain’t trying to get you to change your ways. I know better than that. Next I’ll show you what SRT is all about.
 
Does anybody not use climbing spikes anymore? It’s always been my preferred method of climbing, then once at hunting height, rappel down….


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