Why don't yall 2TC?

[MNFarmHunter]

Take note, grasshopper. Knowing your prey and setting up accordingly is way more effective than any climbing method

Just as there is no spoon, is the greater prey the deer or the tree?

 

[MNFarmHunter]

I posted a video on how to pass a limb while 2TC climbing.

2TC - Passing a Limb

Made a quick video on how I pass a limb while 2TC climbing. The audio isn't the best. Wind was causing my mic to drop out and I should've had the camera a bit closer but it works. https://rumble.com/v18x8lt-2tc-passing-a-limb.html

saddlehunter.com

 

[Marmuzz]

What secrets do you guys have to conserve energy while 2TCing?

I've been practicing the past few weekends, climbing to about 16'. My movements are getting more coordinated, but it's still exhausting. I'm an average sized guy. A little overweight, but I work out multiple times a week and am athletic. But my legs are jelly by the top, and my foot hurts from standing in the foot tether. I have to stop and rest multiple times during a climb.

Right now I won’t even try leaning trees.

Does your choice of foot tether make a difference? I'm using a 1" tubular webbing foot loop stuffed with pex tubing to keep it open, connected by friction hitch to HTP 10mm.

 

[MNFarmHunter]

What secrets do you guys have to conserve energy while 2TCing?

I've been practicing the past few weekends, climbing to about 16'. My movements are getting more coordinated, but it's still exhausting. I'm an average sized guy. A little overweight, but I work out multiple times a week and am athletic. But my legs are jelly by the top, and my foot hurts from standing in the foot tether. I have to stop and rest multiple times during a climb.

Right now I won’t even try leaning trees.

Does your choice of foot tether make a difference? I'm using a 1" tubular webbing foot loop stuffed with pex tubing to keep it open, connected by friction hitch to HTP 10mm.

How high do you move up with each evolution? I know some try to maximize their height climbed with each evolution but I take the opposite approach. When hanging from my tether and advancing the foot loop, I try to not have my knee higher than my hip. As far as a foot loop, mine is a 8mm tether and haven't had a problem. Are you using soft soled shoes or something stiffer?

 

[NMSbowhunter]

I don't find it physically difficult at all. I have used larger popes in the 11.5 mm range and ropes as small as 9mm with my foot tether being made of Amsteel. I think it is all about technique. Here's how I do it. I put the foot tether on the tree at a height where my foot loop is at a comfortable height off the ground to step up into. This usually puts the tether around the tree at eye level or a bit higher. The main tether goes above the foot tether about 3 inches higher on the tree and I then clip my saddle into the main tether and take most of the slack out to the point that I could sit back into my saddle with my feet on the ground.

Set up this way, I can now put my foot (left) up into the foot loop and press down while simultaneously digging my toes into the tree. I then reach out and take hold of the tree with my hands and step up into the foot loop. As this is happening, I bring my right leg up alongside the tree and place my foot against the side of the tree for stability. I keep my body up close to the tree during this. This keeps my center of gravity straight up and down and I don't have to exert force to stay upright.

Now that I am balanced, I can reach down and work my top tether up the tree carefully to a point where I have little to no slack left in it. I then carefully ease back and sit down in my saddle, putting all my weight into the top tether and saddle.

I take my foot out of the foot tether at this point and work it up the tree until it is back in its original location about 3 inches under the top tether. This constitutes one move; I get about 18 inches of height per move, and I can do these moves in about 25 seconds each. I average about 13 moves to get to 20+ feet and my total climb time has gone down to about 5 minutes.

Work on mastering the move at ground level. Go up a move or two and come down. Do this until you have the moves down pat. Don't worry about getting high up or going fast. Just master the moves. Once you have them it is just repetition to get to 20+ feet.

 

[gcr0003]

What secrets do you guys have to conserve energy while 2TCing?

I've been practicing the past few weekends, climbing to about 16'. My movements are getting more coordinated, but it's still exhausting. I'm an average sized guy. A little overweight, but I work out multiple times a week and am athletic. But my legs are jelly by the top, and my foot hurts from standing in the foot tether. I have to stop and rest multiple times during a climb.

Right now I won’t even try leaning trees.

Does your choice of foot tether make a difference? I'm using a 1" tubular webbing foot loop stuffed with pex tubing to keep it open, connected by friction hitch to HTP 10mm.

I prefer 1” tube with nothing in it. My loop is just big enough to get over my boot. I leave my loop on the entire time though. No problem with foot pain, and I often climb in sandals (not recommended just making a pint about foot pain.)

 

[Samcirrus]

What secrets do you guys have to conserve energy while 2TCing?

I've been practicing the past few weekends, climbing to about 16'. My movements are getting more coordinated, but it's still exhausting. I'm an average sized guy. A little overweight, but I work out multiple times a week and am athletic. But my legs are jelly by the top, and my foot hurts from standing in the foot tether. I have to stop and rest multiple times during a climb.

Right now I won’t even try leaning trees.

Does your choice of foot tether make a difference? I'm using a 1" tubular webbing foot loop stuffed with pex tubing to keep it open, connected by friction hitch to HTP 10mm.

You need a WIDE footloop. Everything is so much better and more comfortable. Try it! The skinny footloop is just for an emergency/alternative 2TC kit or for an ultralight version that sounds cool!.....In my opinion....but I know others get by wonderfully with spaghetti noodles!

 

[Marmuzz]

How high do you move up with each evolution? I know some try to maximize their height climbed with each evolution but I take the opposite approach. When hanging from my tether and advancing the foot loop, I try to not have my knee higher than my hip. As far as a foot loop, mine is a 8mm tether and haven't had a problem. Are you using soft soled shoes or something stiffer?

I don’t think I’m making excessively high progressions. After watching @Red Beard video on 2TC I try to keep in mind that it’s not one sticking, trying to stretch out every single movement. I’m wearing Timberland mid hiker boots, they have a little flex but it’s a solid sole.

 

[Marmuzz]

I don't find it physically difficult at all. I have used larger popes in the 11.5 mm range and ropes as small as 9mm with my foot tether being made of Amsteel. I think it is all about technique. Here's how I do it. I put the foot tether on the tree at a height where my foot loop is at a comfortable height off the ground to step up into. This usually puts the tether around the tree at eye level or a bit higher. The main tether goes above the foot tether about 3 inches higher on the tree and I then clip my saddle into the main tether and take most of the slack out to the point that I could sit back into my saddle with my feet on the ground.

Set up this way, I can now put my foot (left) up into the foot loop and press down while simultaneously digging my toes into the tree. I then reach out and take hold of the tree with my hands and step up into the foot loop. As this is happening, I bring my right leg up alongside the tree and place my foot against the side of the tree for stability. I keep my body up close to the tree during this. This keeps my center of gravity straight up and down and I don't have to exert force to stay upright.

Now that I am balanced, I can reach down and work my top tether up the tree carefully to a point where I have little to no slack left in it. I then carefully ease back and sit down in my saddle, putting all my weight into the top tether and saddle.

I take my foot out of the foot tether at this point and work it up the tree until it is back in its original location about 3 inches under the top tether. This constitutes one move; I get about 18 inches of height per move, and I can do these moves in about 25 seconds each. I average about 13 moves to get to 20+ feet and my total climb time has gone down to about 5 minutes.

Work on mastering the move at ground level. Go up a move or two and come down. Do this until you have the moves down pat. Don't worry about getting high up or going fast. Just master the moves. Once you have them it is just repetition to get to 20+ feet.

Thanks for the step by step. That sounds like what I’m doing although I know having exact distances on ropes and hitches dialed in can make a difference. Usually when advancing the foot tether I just sit in the saddle, knees against the tree, and just hang out until ready to step into the foot loop. Guess I’ll have to keep practicing.

 

[Marmuzz]

You need a WIDE footloop. Everything is so much better and more comfortable. Try it! The skinny footloop is just for an emergency/alternative 2TC kit or for an ultralight version that sounds cool!.....In my opinion....but I know others get by wonderfully with spaghetti noodles!

I’ve been thinking of trying a 2” webbing foot loop and see if that helps.

 

[Marmuzz]

I’d really like this method to work for me because it’s so lightweight and reduces a lot of fall risk imo. But I tested it this past weekend against one sticking. I can one stick 50% faster, and that’s with one aider and three tether advances per stick move- resulting in the same slack as 2TC and never climbing higher than my tether as 2TC- with far less effort. Ultimately I determined one sticking that way probably isn’t too dangerous. I’d just love for 2TC to be viable backup option to drop weight or noise when I want to go way back in.

 

[NMSbowhunter]

Thanks for the step by step. That sounds like what I’m doing although I know having exact distances on ropes and hitches dialed in can make a difference. Usually when advancing the foot tether I just sit in the saddle, knees against the tree, and just hang out until ready to step into the foot loop. Guess I’ll have to keep practicing.

Keep at it and good luck. I just takes a little time and experimentation to get it just right for you. Sooner of later setting the right height will just come naturally, like judging how much angle the bottom of a climbing stands base needs to have at the ground to be level at hunting height.

 

[DanD]

I’ll be new to saddle hunting this fall and thanks to this post will be using 2TC as my first climbing method. I made a wraptor saddle and used some leftover seatbelt webbing for my foot strap, with a rubber band to hold it on my foot. I find it comfortable in stiff boots, rubber boots and chucks (haven’t tried it in crocs yet).

I feel like I am making large steps, but I like to get both feet on the tree in front of me around hip height before moving the foot tether up. Then I can simultaneously step down into the foot loop, out against the tree, and pull up on my top tether until I am vertical and can wrap my right leg around the tree.

I’ve made about 20 climbs so far but without having to go around limbs I have been getting from on the ground everything stowed to hunting ready on a platform at 16-20’ in 14-15 min.

What is the benefit of the thigh band I see many using?
Dan

 

[Red Beard]

I’ll be new to saddle hunting this fall and thanks to this post will be using 2TC as my first climbing method. I made a wraptor saddle and used some leftover seatbelt webbing for my foot strap, with a rubber band to hold it on my foot. I find it comfortable in stiff boots, rubber boots and chucks (haven’t tried it in crocs yet).

I feel like I am making large steps, but I like to get both feet on the tree in front of me around hip height before moving the foot tether up. Then I can simultaneously step down into the foot loop, out against the tree, and pull up on my top tether until I am vertical and can wrap my right leg around the tree.

I’ve made about 20 climbs so far but without having to go around limbs I have been getting from on the ground everything stowed to hunting ready on a platform at 16-20’ in 14-15 min.

What is the benefit of the thigh band I see many using?
Dan

Good for you bud! Keep at it!

 

[Samcirrus]

I’ll be new to saddle hunting this fall and thanks to this post will be using 2TC as my first climbing method. I made a wraptor saddle and used some leftover seatbelt webbing for my foot strap, with a rubber band to hold it on my foot. I find it comfortable in stiff boots, rubber boots and chucks (haven’t tried it in crocs yet).

I feel like I am making large steps, but I like to get both feet on the tree in front of me around hip height before moving the foot tether up. Then I can simultaneously step down into the foot loop, out against the tree, and pull up on my top tether until I am vertical and can wrap my right leg around the tree.

I’ve made about 20 climbs so far but without having to go around limbs I have been getting from on the ground everything stowed to hunting ready on a platform at 16-20’ in 14-15 min.

What is the benefit of the thigh band I see many using?
Dan

Not much that I've found. But those that use it like the stability from swinging around the tree while lifting the foot tether. Its a second support other than just the saddle.

 

[MNFarmHunter]

What is the benefit of the thigh band I see many using?
Dan

All depends on climbing style. If you’re trying to get maximum height per evolution, there is some benefit. Conversely, if you make smaller vertical movements, it doesn’t seem to matter, for me at least.

Being older, out of shape and crappy lungs, going for smaller vertical evolutions works well and doesn’t take too much effort. I’ll happily move 18” per evolution if it means I’m not worn out or break a sweat.


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[always89y]

We did a quick video of our set ups

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[HuumanCreed]

Good setup. The camera you're using has strange focus....make it seem like you're standing infront of a green screen. Are you actually doing this in the basement pretending you're on vacation instead of slaving away making stuff?

 

[MNFarmHunter]

We did a quick video of our set ups

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Nice video. I had never thought about using webbing as that would further reduce the weight and packing size. Then again, I don't trust my sewing enough yet to use it as a lifeline. Do you protect the stitching in any way?

What I do find fascinating overall is that even though we're all tailoring this to our own preferences, we're also doing very similar things.

Bonus points to the no shirt/no shoes bubba cameo in the background.

 

[always89y]

Good setup. The camera you're using has strange focus....make it seem like you're standing infront of a green screen. Are you actually doing this in the basement pretending you're on vacation instead of slaving away making stuff?

Ha! No, its some phone feature. I'm still learning. We is on vacation! North GA Mountains

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