Why don't yall 2TC?

[Crcusmonky]

@Samcirrus how did you find the wire/rope stiffener affect packability? Could you fold it down small or did you have to adjust how you packed so as not to link the wire?


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[Horn]

Currently running 9 mm C-IV for top tether and 9.5 mm Canyon tech foot tether, Longhorn Agile hitches tied with 6.8mm RIT 900. Performance has been pretty solid. Thinking about tying a soft sticht hitch out of this cord to see how I like that though.

I think you will probably like the soft sticht. It's a dandy even if I'm not sure how to pronounce it lol

 

[NMSbowhunter]

jeeebus... i feel more confused after reading about 10 pages. my one stick gets me where i need to go. "if it aint broke dont read 134 pages"
thats the saying right?

Here's a tip. Read the thread in reverse and you can see our progress learning how to do it and you can stop at the point it becomes obvious we clearly don't know what we are doing yet, lol.

 

[NMSbowhunter]

Dumb question, but to get down, are you just reversing the process, correct? Does anyone use a rap line as their topmost tether, and then just drop the rap line to the ground, rappel down, and pull with a retrieval line?

I do a lot of rock/ice climbing, and like this concept, but really like the ease of getting down via rapping vs. downclimbing.

Yes, reverse the process. I find it is easier to 2tc down that go up since on the way down you have gravity working for you.

 

[NMSbowhunter]

Can everyone tell me their favorite rope combinations and friction hitches?

For the top tether I like Bluewater assault line, 11.5 mm. For the foot tether I like Samson Predator 11.4 mm. I use a Ropeman 1 on the top tether and I clip the tail end back into the carabiner.

 

[Horn]

I see a lot of love, it seems, for the bigger/traditional size rope. Why's that? I've got 6mm that's good and stiff and I, for packability, wouldn't want the big stuff although I concede it is typically easier to handle.

 

[NMSbowhunter]

I see a lot of love, it seems, for the bigger/traditional size rope. Why's that? I've got 6mm that's good and stiff and I, for packability, wouldn't want the big stuff although I concede it is typically easier to handle.

I'm not sure why I like it. The smaller stuff is plenty strong. I built several 2tc sets that used Amsteel for the foot tethers and they come in at under a pound each. For some reason I just like the 11.5mm stuff. Maybe it's because I like the Ropeman 1 on the main tether and it is not rated for some of the smaller stuff. Even at that, it makes for a pretty compact system.

 

[NMSbowhunter]

I mean if you want to go small, you can go small. I made this all Amsteel 2tc kit early on. It worked fine. I abandoned the Amsteel on the top tether since there was concern about Amsteel knots cutting Amsteel and went to 9mm ropes on the top. But you can see what is really possible.

 

[Dope on a Rope]

I see a lot of love, it seems, for the bigger/traditional size rope. Why's that? I've got 6mm that's good and stiff and I, for packability, wouldn't want the big stuff although I concede it is typically easier to handle.

i guess it’s carry a big stick or a big rope. Next year 3/4” climbing rope will be out of stock and OpLux will be cheap.

 

[Dope on a Rope]

I mean if you want to go small, you can go small. I made this all Amsteel 2tc kit early on. It worked fine. I abandoned the Amsteel on the top tether since there was concern about Amsteel knots cutting Amsteel and went to 9mm ropes on the top. But you can see what is really possible.

Spoiler, that’s a Sasquatch boot

 

[NMSbowhunter]

i guess it’s carry a big stick or a big rope. Next year 3/4” climbing rope will be out of stock and OpLux will be cheap.

Lol. part of it is I came to 2tc from Ddrt rope climbing and had the 11.4 mm Predator and liked it. On the foot tether, where I am tying a Blakes hitch for the tether's adjustability, I like a rope with great knot tying qualities. Predator is great for that.

 

[Samcirrus]

jeeebus... i feel more confused after reading about 10 pages. my one stick gets me where i need to go. "if it aint broke dont read 134 pages"
thats the saying right?

You gotta takes notes so you don't get confused and see different people's personal evolution, because what was done at the start of a 2TC journey may be very different now....or not.
Think of it like a college course with 10 or so professors....not confusing at all.

 

[Samcirrus]

@Samcirrus how did you find the wire/rope stiffener affect packability? Could you fold it down small or did you have to adjust how you packed so as not to link the wire?


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It packs great! I can get the rope to coil all the way down to 5" loops! I only have 40" of wire and probably could have used 32"....I just wanted to be sure to have enough for a few giant white pines I've been eyeing.

 

[Samcirrus]

1 more.
20' foot tether and 60' top tether/rappel rope on my saddle. Both with the 40" wire.

 

[Dope on a Rope]

I love this group because we’re all doing this same niche activity but with probably nothing short of a thousand ways to do the same quirky tree climbing to kill horn-bunnies.

 

[Sbrammer]

I'm thinking of trying this. I'm sure these questions are asked here amongst the 135 pages, but I'm lazy.

I plan on rappelling down. Any reason I couldn't use my rappel rope as my tether? What's general consensus on a good rappel rope? Who sells a good kit so I can buy everything in one place?

 

[NMSbowhunter]

I'm thinking of trying this. I'm sure these questions are asked here amongst the 135 pages, but I'm lazy.

I plan on rappelling down. What's general consensus on a good rappel rope? Who sells a good kit so I can buy everything in one place?

Some people use a rappel rope for their top tether. I don't and just keep it simple, but if I were going to buy one complete, I think I would check out Eastern Woods Outdoors. Also check out CGM, Custom Gear Modifications. They make a good bit of 2TC gear.

 

[gcr0003]

I'm thinking of trying this. I'm sure these questions are asked here amongst the 135 pages, but I'm lazy.

I plan on rappelling down. Any reason I couldn't use my rappel rope as my tether? What's general consensus on a good rappel rope? Who sells a good kit so I can buy everything in one place?

climbing with your rappel rope for 2TC is the same as 1-sticking, some guys like it, some guys hate. I’m in the dislike it camp. climb with 2 standard tethers and if you want rappel down you can do that later.

I always carry 50 ft of Oplux or Samson Ultratech to rope climb or rappel on. Last year I rappelled after the hunt most of the time. The rope also doubled as my pull up rope. That said, I strongly recommend everyone learning 2TC And one sticking to learn to climb down with that method. The good thing about 2TC is that it is extremely easy to come down. Several guys opt to climb down with 2TC vs rappelling. If you’re climbing a tree where you have to go around many limbs that’s an excellent time to rappel. If it is a straight pole to 25ft 2TC will get you to the ground safely in the time it’ll take you to take the rappel rope out of your bag and rappel down.

Lots of people ask what they need to buy to 2TC. That is the wrong question. With 2TC the question is what else can I get rid of and still 2TC. To me 2TC shines because of its simplicity, all you need is 2 tethers, that’s it! If you want to work the rappel rope in later that’s fine, but I would get out there and start getting familiar now for free. If you have never climbed one sticking you may have a steeper learning curve.

 

[shmelton]

I started 2TC this yr, and I have yet to repel. To me it’s no different then using a hand climber.


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[Marmuzz]

Tried this again in the backyard. I might be convinced of 2TC if I can dial in the system.

I used my 9mm HTP lineman's belt as my upper tether and experimented with two different foot tethers. One was 10mm HTP with a webbing footloop stuffed with PEX plumbing pipe, on a prusik (shoutout to the no-sew footloop video from @gcr0003). The other was my EWO Predator sewn eye tether with the tail tied into a Blake's hitch.

@NMSbowhunter did adding the rubber hose to your Blake's hitch make it more comfortable underfoot? I think I liked the ability to tighten the Blake's hitch around my boot to avoid fishing it back into the webbing footloop every progression, but the rope pinching was far less comfortable, bordering on hurting after a while.