Combining climbing methods

[justsomedude]

I've been doing a lot of post season scouting and tree prepping on the public land I hunt lately and with that I've been trying out new climbing methods, especially bolts. I have been one stick climbing for years and decided to branch out lately to try new things. Tried spurs, didnt like them. Carbon bolts, like them but don't fully trust them. Treehopper bolts, worked great but again didn't feel comfortable with them when getting up to and over 20 feet. Wasn't really the bolts at fault, I just hate using the required lineman's belt and on the way down the treehopper bolts were really hard to pull out of the tree. So what I have settled on lately is using carbon bolts for the first 8-10 feet, then mounting my stick and using my swaider and knaider to one stick climb from there. By doing this I get up the tree faster, need less climbing iterations with the stick to get to hunting height, make less noise because I have to move the stick less, and sweat less by doing less climbing iterations. I feel safer and more productive using the one stick method because I am always tethered in, and I am not limited to a certain height because I ran out of bolts. With one stick climbing, if your using a swaider or knaider or both, the length of your stick is pretty much irrelevant, so I pack a 15 inch climbing stick that fits almost anywhere which is another huge benefit for me. Anyone else here combining climbing methods?

Use a tether with bolts.
I do

 

[Nutterbuster]

Use a tether with bolts.
I do

Can you elaborate on that? I tried climbing with a tether instead of a linemans and just couldn't get the hang of it. Any tips?

 

[justsomedude]

Can you elaborate on that? I tried climbing with a tether instead of a linemans and just couldn't get the hang of it. Any tips?

It's slower. You just move the tether up or down as you go.
But that only works if you are putting bolts in on the way up or taking them out on the way down.

If my legs are tired from a long day, it's a much more relaxed climb down if I know I won't fall

 

[Nutterbuster]

It's slower. You just move the tether up or down as you go.
But that only works if you are putting bolts in on the way up or taking them out on the way down.

If my legs are tired from a long day, it's a much more relaxed climb down if I know I won't fall

Gotcha. Maybe I just need more practice. I did it several times and it was just hard to move the tether up and hold yourself to the tree at the same time. Just to clarify, you climb with only a tether, and no linemans? I like the simplicity and the fact that you're tethered the whole time.

 

[Murph4028]

Sorry, newby here guys and don't know the acronyms quite yet. Murph, what is "RADS" and "SRT"?

RADS= rapid ascent/descent system
SRT= single rope technique

SRT is kind of a catch all phrase for any single rope climbing method

A RADS system is a form of SRT that consists of a hand ascender with foot loop, a belay device, and a single climbing rope. If you watch the @JCLINE84 SRT video he is demonstrating a RADS system. It's about as simple as an SRT system can get. I am new to it but really like it. Seems complicated until you try it and messing with a throw line sucks but can be done for a run and gun scenario but for SRT pre sets are king.

 

[MaxJac]

I live in Raeford and hunt Uwharrie most of the time and a private land parcel in Sanford.

I live in Southern Pines and hunt in Raeford on private land. Interested to meet up some time after Easter? Still new to saddle hunting and interested to learn.

 

[dalton916]

I went Mt Giliad last week and drove through part of the Uwharrie on my way.....some beautiful ground through there.

 

[Stickman]

Gotcha, thanks Murph.

 

[enkriss]

Anyone try using a qsafe as a tether? I have one i always used when I used climbers and hanging hang ons. I wonder how that would work with bolts? Its spring loaded so probably much easier than dealing with trying to slide a tether up the tree

 

[TNSTAAFL]

Anyone try using a qsafe as a tether? I have one i always used when I used climbers and hanging hang ons. I wonder how that would work with bolts? Its spring loaded so probably much easier than dealing with trying to slide a tether up the tree

Very interested in hearing from those with one. For tether based climbing systems (LW, 1-stick, etc) it seems like this might help a lot.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[justsomedude]

Gotcha. Maybe I just need more practice. I did it several times and it was just hard to move the tether up and hold yourself to the tree at the same time. Just to clarify, you climb with only a tether, and no linemans? I like the simplicity and the fact that you're tethered the whole time.

Yes, I just hang with my knees on the tree

 

[Adamcincy]

I

Anyone try using a qsafe as a tether? I have one i always used when I used climbers and hanging hang ons. I wonder how that would work with bolts? Its spring loaded so probably much easier than dealing with trying to slide a tether up the tree

I bought a qsafe and was very disappointed with it. Great if the teee is the size of a telephone pole but I found it about useless for smaller and bigger diameter trees. Threw mine away.

 

[Murph4028]

Gotcha. Maybe I just need more practice. I did it several times and it was just hard to move the tether up and hold yourself to the tree at the same time. Just to clarify, you climb with only a tether, and no linemans? I like the simplicity and the fact that you're tethered the whole time.

The best way I've found to do it is to keep your tether somewhat loose with just a little slack in it to where you can move it up over your head and then slowly load your weight onto the saddle. Ensure you place the tether over the next few bolt holes and then insert your bolts all the way up to your tether and repeat. Stiffer rope makes a big difference as well. My tethrd rope sucks for one sticking or maneuvering the tether up and down because it's flimsy and soft. It likes to grab onto everything and it's terrible to do on pines. Predator or something like it works much better.

 

[Murph4028]

Also coming down is much easier because you still keep some slack in your tether but on the way down you just lower the tether until it rests on the next bolt down then you pull tight and step down until your sitting again. I can get down probably in half the time it takes to climb up

 

[justsomedude]

The best way I've found to do it is to keep your tether somewhat loose with just a little slack in it to where you can move it up over your head and then slowly load your weight onto the saddle. Ensure you place the tether over the next few bolt holes and then insert your bolts all the way up to your tether and repeat. Stiffer rope makes a big difference as well. My tethrd rope sucks for one sticking or maneuvering the tether up and down because it's flimsy and soft. It likes to grab onto everything and it's terrible to do on pines. Predator or something like it works much better.

If you girth hitch through a screwlink, it is easier to loosen and move your tether.
I use them for the ‘no stick’ stirrup Climb

 

[Murph4028]

If you girth hitch through a screwlink, it is easier to loosen and move your tether.
I use them for the ‘no stick’ stirrup Climb

Good idea. I actually have some laying around. I'll give it a try. Will be handy when I don't SRT

 

[Bkbowhunter]

Im going to get 4 lone wolf sticks. I’ve never used them before. I like to hunt about 20 ft. Will they get me to that height or would I need a step aidder. Thanks

 

[mattsteg]

Im going to get 4 lone wolf sticks. I’ve never used them before. I like to hunt about 20 ft. Will they get me to that height or would I need a step aidder. Thanks

32 in sticks?

32*4= 128in from sticks, round 10 10.5 ft.

If you use 2+ft between sticks, 1st step at 40 in, and set up 2 ft above your last stick, you're well above 20. If you set up level with your top stick, and use 16 in gaps and first stick height...you're more like 15 ft.

 

[rutjr]

I love the Lone Wolf hand climber and plan on using bolts to get around limbs or bring on a sick where I can't use bolts. That's my plan anyways, I haven't tried it yet. Most of the time I find trees without limbs in the way.

 

[Nutterbuster]

Also coming down is much easier because you still keep some slack in your tether but on the way down you just lower the tether until it rests on the next bolt down then you pull tight and step down until your sitting again. I can get down probably in half the time it takes to climb up

Thanks for the response, not sure how I missed it.

Maybe I need to abandon my tubular webbing and 8mm and go back to heavier stuff. I just can't make it easy like a linemans. I've hunted that way maybe 3 times, and while it was doable it was just a drag.