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Why don't yall 2TC?

I got out early and climbed again 2TC. For my top tether I used the 40 feet of Canyon Elite I bought for 1 sticking with a Delta Link. For the rappel set up I used a Distel hitch above a figure 8 and clipped through the figure 8 to the bridge of my Recon sling. For the foot tether I used a 10 foot piece of 11.4mm Samson Predator I had on hand as a tether for giant trees. I tied the lower portion back onto itself with a Blakes hitch forming an adjustable foot loop. I know this is not a minimalist setup, but I am whittling it down slowly as I gain confidence in the overall method. I just like that option to rappel out at any time if I feel like doing it. I videoed the climb and I went up about 12 feet or so. From the time I clipped in to when I was at 12 feet was 6 minutes. That seems like an awful long time but when I thought about it compared to using the climbing sticks, I wasn't so put off. Six minutes to get 12 feet puts me at 20 to 22 feet in 12 minutes. Prior to last season I timed my stick climbs, and they were averaging about 15 minutes. It's not a race but it is good to be able to compare. I am sure I will get faster and better with practice. I would say in actual practice in the field under hunting conditions with sticks that held up pretty well with just a few issues.

So far, I like it. Here is how I see it at this stage. Compared to sticks I see some real advantages. One is the ropes are much quieter and weigh a lot less, even in the rappel configuration. I think there is less potential for noise too. Getting around limbs is going to have to be addressed as soon as I feel truly comfortable with the climbing aspect of it. If I can get past that it will be a great method for me. Compared to my little climber I would say that it should be about equal once I get comfortable with the method. Any tree I could use the climber on I can use 2TC.

I do have to work out how to carry and climb with the ring of steps for this particular system. I'm looking hard at one of those small chest rigs.
 

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NMSbowhunter said:
I got out early and climbed again 2TC. For my top tether I used the 40 feet of Canyon Elite I bought for 1 sticking with a Delta Link. For the rappel set up I used a Distel hitch above a figure 8 and clipped through the figure 8 to the bridge of my Recon sling. For the foot tether I used a 10 foot piece of 11.4mm Samson Predator I had on hand as a tether for giant trees. I tied the lower portion back onto itself with a Blakes hitch forming an adjustable foot loop. I know this is not a minimalist setup, but I am whittling it down slowly as I gain confidence in the overall method. I just like that option to rappel out at any time if I feel like doing it. I videoed the climb and I went up about 12 feet or so. From the time I clipped in to when I was at 12 feet was 6 minutes. That seems like an awful long time but when I thought about it compared to using the climbing sticks, I wasn't so put off. Six minutes to get 12 feet puts me at 20 to 22 feet in 12 minutes. Prior to last season I timed my stick climbs, and they were averaging about 15 minutes. It's not a race but it is good to be able to compare. I am sure I will get faster and better with practice. I would say in actual practice in the field under hunting conditions with sticks that held up pretty well with just a few issues.

So far, I like it. Here is how I see it at this stage. Compared to sticks I see some real advantages. One is the ropes are much quieter and weigh a lot less, even in the rappel configuration. I think there is less potential for noise too. Getting around limbs is going to have to be addressed as soon as I feel truly comfortable with the climbing aspect of it. If I can get past that it will be a great method for me. Compared to my little climber I would say that it should be about equal once I get comfortable with the method. Any tree I could use the climber on I can use 2TC.

I do have to work out how to carry and climb with the ring of steps for this particular system. I'm looking hard at one of those small chest rigs.
Click to expand...
Love the idea of that single foot loop rope and how you employed a Blake's hitch!
 
Red Beard said:
Love the idea of that single foot loop rope and how you employed a Blake's hitch!
Click to expand...
Thanks. The key to a Blakes hitch, for anyone wanting to try this, is getting the knot tension right. It is a simple thing once you tie it a couple of times and weight it. In this application you would only need to tie it once.

I think this 2TC has the possibility to replace sticks and a climber for me. The big hurdle will be the maneuvering past limbs. I also see making a truly minimalist set of tethers.
 
NMSbowhunter said:
Thanks. The key to a Blakes hitch, for anyone wanting to try this, is getting the knot tension right. It is a simple thing once you tie it a couple of times and weight it. In this application you would only need to tie it once.

I think this 2TC has the possibility to replace sticks and a climber for me. The big hurdle will be the maneuvering past limbs. I also see making a truly minimalist set of tethers.
Click to expand...
Since I've been practicing I just use a separate tether to go around limbs. Place it above limb and tie into bridge. Once that is set remove the tether below the limb and keep advancing up the tree. I guess it turns it into 3TC at that point lol but still a spare tether is nice to have on hand even if I don't use it.
 
Hall17 said:
Since I've been practicing I just use a separate tether to go around limbs. Place it above limb and tie into bridge. Once that is set remove the tether below the limb and keep advancing up the tree. I guess it turns it into 3TC at that point lol but still a spare tether is nice to have on hand even if I don't use it.
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Yes, this is what I was considering this morning. I also thought about a tie in on the foot loop tether to clip into and hang off that while detaching the top tether and advancing it. I'm trying not to make it into 3TC territory, lol.
 
Well check out post #536 for an idea on how to not need a 3rd tether. You don't have to make an adjustable one. It can just be an extra friction hitch with a large enough loop to easily clip your bridge or extra bridge into.
 
Samcirrus said:
Well check out post #536 for an idea on how to not need a 3rd tether. You don't have to make an adjustable one. It can just be an extra friction hitch with a large enough loop to easily clip your bridge or extra bridge into.
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Yes. I watched your video the other day when you posted it and that is basically the idea I was envisioning for avoiding a third tether. What is that knot, or knots you have on the foot loop? It looks like a great idea. Also, what knot are you using on the tethers with the carabiners?
 
Tether girth hitch is on post 563. My foot loop hitch attach is a michoacan but with a twist. I'll take a close up photo this afternoon for you.
 
I just tried it again and this time I used my normal tether with Ropeman on the top and the Predator Blake's hitch foot loop on the bottom. I chose a different tree this time. I picked a pine about 24 inches wide. Around here we have a lot of pines, ranging from toothpicks to a few 4 feet in diameter. Most of them fall in that 10 to 24 inch range and I wanted to see how this system deals with pines. I worked fine and I was a bit surprised since I thought the bark might cause some issue. I went about 15 feet up and came back down pretty smoothly. I don't see any reason 2TC can't take the place of a climber for me. I can sure see using it on a pine in place of the 4 lone wolf sticks I was dragging all over creation this past season.
 
Post 563 inspired this version, a Schwabish here, but could be any hitch. Small chunk of wood helps with lengthening, and with the second stopper knot of the hitch, keeps the hitch away from the tree for easier adjusting. The first hitch stopper tends the hitch for one hand shortening.
A2BE28E8-0DDB-4FE5-8DC8-6460AFC3963D.jpeg
 
Ok, last climb of the day...I'm tired. I went up a short way and installed my ring of steps and climbed up onto them. I was using the minimalist system again with the short standard tethers. It seemed to go pretty well. It was harder to break over the cam on the buckle since I didn't have anything to push against. I had to sort of hug the tree to get leverage. After that, all went well. I need to just keep practicing and refining the setup. Then move on to navigating around limbs. So far so good.
 
tailgunner said:
Oh....it was a 2 trunk l eaner.with knots and branches.kid walks right up and down it.looks at his dad disappointingly. Loosing Confidence in his dads judgement,and capabilities. It happens to us all someday
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Hey, I'd be interested in seeing how that kid climbed up
Brocky said:
Post 563 inspired this version, a Schwabish here, but could be any hitch. Small chunk of wood helps with lengthening, and with the second stopper knot of the hitch, keeps the hitch away from the tree for easier adjusting. The first hitch stopper tends the hitch for one hand shortening.
View attachment 62803
Click to expand...
Nice! I really like the one-handed adjustment of it, but how would you incorporate a QL or Carabiner for easy release around branches?
 
Went across the road to try this on a 'real' tree. Climbed to about 33 or 35 feet with ease.
Was just hanging out for a bit , looking down and around. I reached in my Step Satchel to get my rappel rope to hook up and I figured what the heck, I'll 2TC down...
Going down is pretty easy and quick. Waayyy better than one-sticking down that's for sure.
 
phatkaw said:
Went across the road to try this on a 'real' tree. Climbed to about 33 or 35 feet with ease.
Was just hanging out for a bit , looking down and around. I reached in my Step Satchel to get my rappel rope to hook up and I figured what the heck, I'll 2TC down...
Going down is pretty easy and quick. Waayyy better than one-sticking down that's for sure.
Click to expand...
Awesome! I love rappelling down but I also find that the 2TC back down is not hard for me. Gravity sort of helps out with the tethers on the way down where I seem to have to fight them a bit on the way up.
 
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