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Why don't yall 2TC? - ultralight rope technique

Red Beard

Red Beard

Well-Known Member
SH Member
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Mar 3, 2019
Messages
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in my skin
Saddle hunting is dangerous. People have died doing it. Know that if you hunt from an elevated position, there is a higher percentage of you not coming home to your loved ones than if you stay on the ground. Take the words/ideas of dudes on the internet with a grain of salt; very few of them are experts. I am not an expert. DO NOT run out and climb 20' to attempt what you see below. Some of the concepts you see below may be physically demanding in nature. DO NOT attempt what you see without assessing your own physical abilities and limitations. Think about it. Test it. Proceed with caution.

With all the climbing methods available now, and the hundreds of doll hairs being thrown around to achieve the lightest system in the galaxy, I'm wondering why more folks haven't taken to Two Tether Climbing. Some may call it walking on spaghetti strings (my buddy @Weldabeast), but there are a few nuts around here that have become very efficient with it.

For me, an ascending/descending method with minimal buy-in cost that can be stuffed into a cargo pocket is one that's hard to beat. However, I understand that it may not be for everyone and that's exactly what I'd like to explore in this thread. If you've tried 2TC and walked away from it for some reason, would you share why? What didn't work for you? What didn't you like about it? What did you like? And if you've never tried it, what is keeping you from giving it a go?

Maybe together, we can share some tips and/or tricks that will encourage you to try it, or try it again!

@always89y

Per our one and only @tailgunner in post # 3010: "i mean everybody who has looked at this thread ,its because deep down you know you dont need anything but 2 tethers to get up a tree despite your cool looking beloved (extra) gear.and it is just that extra."
 
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I think people get annoyed at the youtube videos and turn em off before they get to actual climbing. I appreciate the vids but the editing and production needs work.


It's certainly a cheap way to go. Especially for limbless trees below hunting height. Multiple limbs to go above would be exhausting in hunting situations unless you want to carry multiple extra tethers that you can swap out going up the tree
 
My tip is, take it slow for the first 20 times. Like, methodically slow. The learning curve is steep, but once you get it, you got it and wont look back. The hard part that I hear the most is being shaky on the foot loop. toe dig and leg lock! Im like a wet noodle when it comes to coordination and this was my hurdle. After playing with it, I had a "Oh shi$%" moment and realized the leg around the tree is one key. The other is the leg band. Easy to make and it really makes all the difference in the world when it comes to stability. Heres a video of how to make one for those interested.

 
SNIPERBBB said:
I think people get annoyed at the youtube videos and turn em off before they get to actual climbing. I appreciate the vids but the editing and production needs work.


It's certainly a cheap way to go. Especially for limbless trees below hunting height. Multiple limbs to go above would be exhausting in hunting situations unless you want to carry multiple extra tethers that you can swap out going up the tree
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Those dudes DO need to learn to produce/edit videos!
 
SNIPERBBB said:
I think people get annoyed at the youtube videos and turn em off before they get to actual climbing. I appreciate the vids but the editing and production needs work.


It's certainly a cheap way to go. Especially for limbless trees below hunting height. Multiple limbs to go above would be exhausting in hunting situations unless you want to carry multiple extra tethers that you can swap out going up the tree
Click to expand...
I have heard some folks with the same concern. I find it easier with 2TC on branchy trees. No matter what system you use, you have to contend with branches and moving/switching tethers/LB. With 2TC, you only have the ropes to deal with. I used to hate trying to maneuver 1 stick or multiple sticks. I love one sticking. Probably my favorite method, but because of the branches in the areas I hunt, Im pretty much 2TC all the time.
 
A lot of folks have seen the use of Amsteel and shy away from 2TC because a lot of the guys using it also use Amsteel. Amsteel is not a part of the climbing system, but just a way to make a ultra light climbing system even lighter. Also, if you already have a LB and tether, you have everything you need except the leg loop, and thats not absolutely necessary.
 
Are you using beeners in your system for the girth hitch of the tether or using just the loops? The latter is where it's annoying to go around limbs.
 
I played around with a different variation of two tether climbing a couple years ago. The main reason I didn't pursue it any farther was because of an incident I had when climbing a tree only to realize there was a bees nest in it. I am allergic to bees and that incident made me realize the importance, for me at least, of having the ability to get back down the tree quickly in an emergency. Having sticks already placed on the tree make that a possibility.
 
GCTerpfan said:
I played around with a different variation of two tether climbing a couple years ago. The main reason I didn't pursue it any farther was because of an incident I had when climbing a tree only to realize there was a bees nest in it. I am allergic to bees and that incident made me realize the importance, for me at least, of having the ability to get back down the tree quickly in an emergency. Having sticks already placed on the tree make that a possibility.
Click to expand...
One of the tethers should always reach the ground for just an emergency for a quick descent down rope only.
 
Red Beard said:
With all the climbing methods available now, and the hundreds of doll hairs being thrown around to achieve the lightest system in the galaxy, I'm wondering why more folks haven't taken to Two Tether Climbing. Some may call it walking on spaghetti strings (my buddy @Weldabeast), but there are a few nuts around here that have become very efficient with it.

For me, an ascending/descending method with minimal buy-in cost that can be stuffed into a cargo pocket is one that's hard to beat. However, I understand that it may not be for everyone and that's exactly what I'd like to explore in this thread. If you've tried 2TC and walked away from it for some reason, would you share why? What didn't work for you? What didn't you like about it? What did you like? And if you've never tried it, what is keeping you from giving it a go?

Maybe together, we can share some tips and/or tricks that will encourage you to try it, or try it again!

@always89y
Click to expand...

What's the best video or post that shows how to do it?
 
Red Beard said:
With all the climbing methods available now, and the hundreds of doll hairs being thrown around to achieve the lightest system in the galaxy, I'm wondering why more folks haven't taken to Two Tether Climbing. Some may call it walking on spaghetti strings (my buddy @Weldabeast), but there are a few nuts around here that have become very efficient with it.

For me, an ascending/descending method with minimal buy-in cost that can be stuffed into a cargo pocket is one that's hard to beat. However, I understand that it may not be for everyone and that's exactly what I'd like to explore in this thread. If you've tried 2TC and walked away from it for some reason, would you share why? What didn't work for you? What didn't you like about it? What did you like? And if you've never tried it, what is keeping you from giving it a go?

Maybe together, we can share some tips and/or tricks that will encourage you to try it, or try it again!

@always89y
Click to expand...
I'll be using this method next year thanks to you and @always89y Been testing it in the back yard for a couple weeks now. There are still some trees where I'm hunting low and can get there with my one sticking setup without moving it so I'll use my stick on those.
 
I kinda want in on this, but haven't tried it yet, so I am not the OP's target of those that tried and gave it up. But since my interest and engagement ebbs and flows, I am somewhat related to the target audience.

My hesitation mostly stems from two things:

1) experiences with "tether climbing" (LWHC & 11-sticking). Pros and cons, but mostly didn't enjoy the climbing process. By that I mostly mean dangling in the saddle in sub optimal ways relative to dangling at hunting height (exertion comfort, etc).

2) DIY limitations. While I'm not opposed to DIY, and I do it a lot with sticks, my lack of sewing capacity and knowledge makes things like the helpful leg strap, and related gear like rappel roll pouches a barrier for me. If they were for sale somewhere I'd be more inclined to buy & try. I realize there is a limited market and huge risk factors that probably prohibit this.

I would love to get over it and try though. Oddly, my biggest interest is so that I can take my hang on stand, which I love to hunt from, and avoid the weight and packing issues of sticks.
 
I have made a couple of the 2TC after watching @always89y vids and watch his and @Red Beard methods on how to climb and I will be doing it this weekend to start practicing. I feel it’s another viable method to get up the tree and will include it in my Arsenal for this year and I agree like everything you got to commit to it and practice.
and if you guys lack or don’t have time to DIY one up. Give a shout to @always89y. I’m sure he can hook you up
 
I watched the videos, made my gear, tried it out on a tree behind my house. Thought it was going to be my new go to. First time out hunting with the method, I realized the trees in my area aren't the best for it. The best tree for my position wasn't the best for climbing. It leaned over one way, bent, and then leaned the other way. I was soaked with sweat by the time I got up 12 feet, and exhausted and didn't try to go any higher.

While in that tree, I looked around and made the conclusion that the majority of trees in my main hunting area aren't good candidates for 2 TC, but they are all good candidates for SRT. I hunted SRT the rest of the season.

I still carry the full 2 TC system with me in case I come across a straight tree with no limbs and can't SRT though. I already planned to rappel out, so SRT doesn't add much to my system at all.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
 
Easiest is a ladder tree where the branches are low enough to ground to reach.

If lowest branch is out of reach, throw rope over and choke/cinch, or clip the end to your harness: either fixed or moving rope to ascend. Once you are just below the branch your rope is over, throw the end of the other lanyard over another branch above, again can either choke or clip back to harness, stationary vs moving. Tossing up to the second lowest branch, if possible, will allow you to stand the lowest branch to make it easier for next rope advancement.

Trying to use the two lanyards as tethers, choking on the trunk, is a lot more difficult and time consuming than the above method.

Larger diameter ropes or hand ascender will make it easier to pull yourself up. Using a single foot footlock makes climbing a fixed rope easier by using the legs more, and the use of smaller diameter ropes possible also.
 
SNIPERBBB said:
I think people get annoyed at the youtube videos and turn em off before they get to actual climbing. I appreciate the vids but the editing and production needs work.


It's certainly a cheap way to go. Especially for limbless trees below hunting height. Multiple limbs to go above would be exhausting in hunting situations unless you want to carry multiple extra tethers that you can swap out going up the tree
Click to expand...
This is good feedback man. Thank you. I'll be less wordy next time for sure. Silent climb!

As for navigating around branches, I'm with @always89y. Branches throw a monkey wrench into the speed of any method. I haven't personally done a video yet with branches because of that particular reason. Maybe we should do a video incorporating that too though so folks can see how we tackle it. A silent branchy climb!
 
I'm intrigued by the method. I'm not a fan of standing in a foot loop while repositioning. Maybe it reminds me of a horrible 5 step aider experience, but much prefer being on a fixed step (one sticking) to advance tether and also sitting down in saddle to advance climbing method.

I think it's more about the stability "feel" of the method and the what happens if I slip when my toe is in the tree. Maybe it's just my perceived margin of error?
 
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