Ascension Only?

[Tony]

10, 15 years ago, he would have been cutting edge.
.

In contrast to the bulk of our industy. He is using a cutting edge system.

I agree on many of your points your points. In time I think it will all play out. Why deny any climber the joy of discovery as long as the framework in which they climb is safe.

Tony

 

[Tony]

But I completely agree on the frog walker being too complex. With so much hardware there's a risk of climbing up with the system not installed correctly on the rope.

For the record, the system described sounds much more like a Mitchell system than a frog walker. A respectable, servicable, if limited system. But potato potato...

Tony

 

[Richard Mumford-yoyoman]

Whatever we call it or however he uses it, I wish him luck if he sneaks up on a bee hole in the tree.
I think we should rename the whole concept to the Super Shredder.

 

[Raven]

This was my system exactly when I started using single rope for access. Before we had all these beautiful multiscenders. Yes you needed to transition to a descender or doubled rope system to work or rappel, this was probably the impetus for all the innovative basal anchor systems that were developed in those days. It's not really inherently dangerous in itself - just depends on how you use it and what's your plan in event of emergency.

 

[fall_risk]

It sounds to me like he is using a frog walker with a knee ascender in place of the upper ascender. My first system, and still the fastest I have used, was a straight frog walker, and I started SRT single up/double down; it changed my life, and that was how I climbed for more than a year. You can still buy frog walker kits.

I will also never stop using Ddrt, and in any big prune, my stock setup is SRT with a 70ish' Ddrt system on my hip, ready to go. I'm so lazy that now, a lot of the time, I set the Ddrt line as my pull down line so that I don't have to carry it or pull it up. An upper ascender w/foot loop is still faster, for me, than a knee ascender, but I don't usually use it b/c the knee ascender is faster on and off rope, and it doesn't bother me to leave it on all the time.

This is how I bet he's using the system:

Maybe show him how easy it would be to use the same set up w/ a multicender:

Props to @countryboypa31 for the videos. Derek is a beast.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

 

[Tree-Taylor]

I skimmed over this so sorry if it was already mentioned but when I used a frog walker system I would have a prussic with a ring tied above my hand ascender. I'd use my Ddrt system to tie into the ring and that was my main attachment point and means of self rescue. I wouldn't tie into the hand ascender but I still used a Croll since it was self tending and eliminated slack in the system. If any work needs to be done on the way up, the toothed ascenders should be disengaged and I'd usually throw in a quick stopper knot under the prussic.