dual petzel ascensions
- Thread starter Colin
- Start date
- Location
- Central Hardwood Belt, USA
Re: Dual Petzl Ascensions
Ah, 1962, you have a cousin, I will address that ascender here in a bit.
For now, we'll stay on topic with the thread.
Online TCIA Single handled Dual Ascender article, November 2009
The above link is to view the online version of the use of the ascender. I guess, here in this thread, we'll pick up where the article left off.
Below is version 1, there are ton's of pictures in the article, it's the one with Zing-It used as whipping on the handle.
Here is version 2, it's the one with 1/2" webbing as whipping on the handle. This version 2 was the ascender I was using when the article was written, and there's about 10 pictures of it in the TCIA pages.
The below ascender was 'donated' to Petzl USA at TCIA, so if any of you think I should be talking to manufacturers, they're quite aware.
Here is what Petzl 'donated' back. This is where our thread begins, Version 3
Ah, 1962, you have a cousin, I will address that ascender here in a bit.
For now, we'll stay on topic with the thread.
Online TCIA Single handled Dual Ascender article, November 2009
The above link is to view the online version of the use of the ascender. I guess, here in this thread, we'll pick up where the article left off.
Below is version 1, there are ton's of pictures in the article, it's the one with Zing-It used as whipping on the handle.
Here is version 2, it's the one with 1/2" webbing as whipping on the handle. This version 2 was the ascender I was using when the article was written, and there's about 10 pictures of it in the TCIA pages.
The below ascender was 'donated' to Petzl USA at TCIA, so if any of you think I should be talking to manufacturers, they're quite aware.
Here is what Petzl 'donated' back. This is where our thread begins, Version 3
Attachments
- Location
- Central Hardwood Belt, USA
Re: Dual Petzl Ascensions
Just as a formal signoff to the past versions, here is version 1, well- beaten and on it's way to the UK. They had their look, and then sent it on as a new classification of ascender in the Storrick Collection .
Gold and blue were two older version Ascensions. AMazing, look at the picture of it new and freshly built up above a few images, and then its condition at send-off. That was 9 months of climbing in even the crappiest weather. Version 1 rocked. How to make version 2 any better was going to be a stretch.
The next model, the black and blue was an old version/ new version hybrid and was further refined in it's safety features. not much but tried some new things and learned. I only climbed on version two for 4 months
The ones we'll be building and rigging from here on out are the full-new version 3, Spring, 2010 Single Handled Dual Ascender. In version 3 we upgraded our technology beyond tongue depressors and chopsticks and went with mini clamps from the dollar store. A couple new tweaks to keep this ascender easy, user-friendly and super safe.
Just as a formal signoff to the past versions, here is version 1, well- beaten and on it's way to the UK. They had their look, and then sent it on as a new classification of ascender in the Storrick Collection .
Gold and blue were two older version Ascensions. AMazing, look at the picture of it new and freshly built up above a few images, and then its condition at send-off. That was 9 months of climbing in even the crappiest weather. Version 1 rocked. How to make version 2 any better was going to be a stretch.
The next model, the black and blue was an old version/ new version hybrid and was further refined in it's safety features. not much but tried some new things and learned. I only climbed on version two for 4 months
The ones we'll be building and rigging from here on out are the full-new version 3, Spring, 2010 Single Handled Dual Ascender. In version 3 we upgraded our technology beyond tongue depressors and chopsticks and went with mini clamps from the dollar store. A couple new tweaks to keep this ascender easy, user-friendly and super safe.
Attachments
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
Re: Dual Petzl Ascensions
Just a comment about mating the frames. I pretty sure I don't want to shave the inner plastic on mine because I like the fat grip. Just sayin'.
Just a comment about mating the frames. I pretty sure I don't want to shave the inner plastic on mine because I like the fat grip. Just sayin'.
- Location
- Central Hardwood Belt, USA
Re: Dual Petzl Ascensions
Well, Sir, that was why the Zing-It whipping on version 1, to make the handle firm and fat.
On version 2, the winding and adherence of the 1/2" tube webbing made an even fatter handle. See the image two posts ago? the one going up the dual black rope. THAT was a fat handle.
One of the major advantages of this particular ascender, like the Blinkster is just sayin.... is a comfy, sturdy handle so you can do that much less two-hands-on-rope and you exploit the advantages of that.
Tree climbing is hard work. Any way you can make it easier, y'know?
So, on VERSION3, and as of this writing I have only been climbing on this set about 5 months. Below is what Version 3 looks like, currently no whipping on the handle.
Good note about the handle, Blinky. That's a critical element.
Well, Sir, that was why the Zing-It whipping on version 1, to make the handle firm and fat.
On version 2, the winding and adherence of the 1/2" tube webbing made an even fatter handle. See the image two posts ago? the one going up the dual black rope. THAT was a fat handle.
One of the major advantages of this particular ascender, like the Blinkster is just sayin.... is a comfy, sturdy handle so you can do that much less two-hands-on-rope and you exploit the advantages of that.
Tree climbing is hard work. Any way you can make it easier, y'know?
So, on VERSION3, and as of this writing I have only been climbing on this set about 5 months. Below is what Version 3 looks like, currently no whipping on the handle.
Good note about the handle, Blinky. That's a critical element.
Attachments
- Location
- Central Hardwood Belt, USA
Dual Petzl Ascensions
[ QUOTE ]
i'm looking for instructions on how you guys are attaching two petzel ascensions together.
[/ QUOTE ]
That would be upcoming.....?
[ QUOTE ]
i'm looking for instructions on how you guys are attaching two petzel ascensions together.
[/ QUOTE ]
That would be upcoming.....?
- Location
- Central Hardwood Belt, USA
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
does anyone have a link to the article?
[/ QUOTE ]
<u><font color="blue">TCIA Article: "The Single-handled DUAL Ascender, A concept approach"</font></u>
[/ QUOTE ]
Just a note, as you can see in the picture above, the title to the article is not "a concept approach" but rather, "a Concept Device"
Concept Device, as in, it doesn't really exist.
[ QUOTE ]
does anyone have a link to the article?
[/ QUOTE ]
<u><font color="blue">TCIA Article: "The Single-handled DUAL Ascender, A concept approach"</font></u>
[/ QUOTE ]
Just a note, as you can see in the picture above, the title to the article is not "a concept approach" but rather, "a Concept Device"
Concept Device, as in, it doesn't really exist.
SingleJack
Participating member
- Location
- W MD
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
does anyone have a link to the article?
[/ QUOTE ]
<u><font color="blue">TCIA Article: "The Single-handled DUAL Ascender, A concept approach"</font></u>
[/ QUOTE ]
Just a note, as you can see in the picture above, the title to the article is not "a concept approach" but rather, "a Concept Device"
Concept Device, as in, it doesn't really exist.
[/ QUOTE ]
I stand corrected ... a cerebral anal impaction.
<u><font color="blue">TCIA Article: "The Single-handled DUAL Ascender, A concept device"</font></u>
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
does anyone have a link to the article?
[/ QUOTE ]
<u><font color="blue">TCIA Article: "The Single-handled DUAL Ascender, A concept approach"</font></u>
[/ QUOTE ]
Just a note, as you can see in the picture above, the title to the article is not "a concept approach" but rather, "a Concept Device"
Concept Device, as in, it doesn't really exist.
[/ QUOTE ]
I stand corrected ... a cerebral anal impaction.
<u><font color="blue">TCIA Article: "The Single-handled DUAL Ascender, A concept device"</font></u>
- Location
- Central Hardwood Belt, USA
SingleJack
Participating member
- Location
- W MD
Re: Dual Petzl Ascensions
[ QUOTE ]
Single Jack, good to see you around.
[/ QUOTE ]
Thanks, good to be around. Nice work you're doin' there, TM. This is a great thread & forum.
[ QUOTE ]
Single Jack, good to see you around.
[/ QUOTE ]
Thanks, good to be around. Nice work you're doin' there, TM. This is a great thread & forum.
- Location
- Central Hardwood Belt, USA
Re: Dual Petzl Ascensions
Just to let everyone know, this thread was done over a year ago, at another arbo forum site, building version 1.
Now, I don't know the rules about offering links to 'competing' sites, but I don't cross-link on the forums, one site will ban you, another site doesn't mix well with another site. I get along with everybody but I do try to respect whatever needs respecting, even if I'm not sure exactly what it is.
So without offering a link, you may want to do a google search, type in "Single-Handled Dual Ascender", just like that, with the quotation marks. It'll pop up next to the Petzl dual handled Ascentree which is a thread where I stopped short of giving my full-on honest opinion. I was trying to at least appreciate Petzl's effort that they produced us a piece of gear specifically for tree climbing, rather than SRT-oriented gear that we then adapt to our needs.
I was showing Petzl these duals here (version 1) back before Ascentree came on to the scene, Fall '08. I was telling Petzl the problems to be expected with a front-back ascender in advance of their Ascentree even hitting the market. They didn't want to hear it. I shared this single handled dual, gave them all information I had so they could best strategize.
Then I bought an Ascentree from their release at TCIA 08, just to confirm the predictions, and I found more new problems than solutions, but I still pull it out now and then and use it just to see if maybe there's something I'm missing. I see where Petzl was going with the Ascentree, but they really took the long way around and came out with a piece of gear that went at least a full step in the wrong direction. The limitations that the Ascentree imposes on the climber are numerous, annoying and unnecessary.
Again, Petzl, no discrespect, but after 17 months I'm not sure how your feedback is going, but the Ascentree climbers don't have anything better to compare to.
Intrinsic, dual-redundancy safety features, side-by-side shells and cams, and a single handle. Simplified, intuitive, sensible and strong performance. I don't stand by these things because I like them but because they perform at the highest level of ANY other ascender out there, single or dual.
At the base of it all, I'm just trying to help.
Just to let everyone know, this thread was done over a year ago, at another arbo forum site, building version 1.
Now, I don't know the rules about offering links to 'competing' sites, but I don't cross-link on the forums, one site will ban you, another site doesn't mix well with another site. I get along with everybody but I do try to respect whatever needs respecting, even if I'm not sure exactly what it is.
So without offering a link, you may want to do a google search, type in "Single-Handled Dual Ascender", just like that, with the quotation marks. It'll pop up next to the Petzl dual handled Ascentree which is a thread where I stopped short of giving my full-on honest opinion. I was trying to at least appreciate Petzl's effort that they produced us a piece of gear specifically for tree climbing, rather than SRT-oriented gear that we then adapt to our needs.
I was showing Petzl these duals here (version 1) back before Ascentree came on to the scene, Fall '08. I was telling Petzl the problems to be expected with a front-back ascender in advance of their Ascentree even hitting the market. They didn't want to hear it. I shared this single handled dual, gave them all information I had so they could best strategize.
Then I bought an Ascentree from their release at TCIA 08, just to confirm the predictions, and I found more new problems than solutions, but I still pull it out now and then and use it just to see if maybe there's something I'm missing. I see where Petzl was going with the Ascentree, but they really took the long way around and came out with a piece of gear that went at least a full step in the wrong direction. The limitations that the Ascentree imposes on the climber are numerous, annoying and unnecessary.
Again, Petzl, no discrespect, but after 17 months I'm not sure how your feedback is going, but the Ascentree climbers don't have anything better to compare to.
Intrinsic, dual-redundancy safety features, side-by-side shells and cams, and a single handle. Simplified, intuitive, sensible and strong performance. I don't stand by these things because I like them but because they perform at the highest level of ANY other ascender out there, single or dual.
At the base of it all, I'm just trying to help.
Attachments
Re: Dual Petzl Ascensions
[ QUOTE ]
I was showing Petzl these duals here (version 1) back before Ascentree came on to the scene, Fall '09. I was telling Petzl the problems to be expected with a front-back ascender in advance of their Ascentree even hitting the market. They didn't want to hear it.
[/ QUOTE ]
Could it be that they think ascenders are ill-suited to work positioning in tree work.
Dave
[ QUOTE ]
I was showing Petzl these duals here (version 1) back before Ascentree came on to the scene, Fall '09. I was telling Petzl the problems to be expected with a front-back ascender in advance of their Ascentree even hitting the market. They didn't want to hear it.
[/ QUOTE ]
Could it be that they think ascenders are ill-suited to work positioning in tree work.
Dave
- Location
- Central Hardwood Belt, USA
Re: Dual Petzl Ascensions
I don't know what Petzl thinks.
Personally, I THINK ASCENDERS ARE ILL-SUITED TO WORK POSITIONING IN THE TREE. As they are built today, without proper backing up, ascenders are NOT a good choice for work positioning, and questionable on ascent itself.
What I'm conveying is that the ascenders of today are minimalist, and only <u>one</u> out there (besides the Dual we're about to build) is well-suited to work positioning in the tree. This is the
KONG Trender (click on that for the downloadable PDF),
not a perfect unit, but really good outside of the annoying back handle. It has dual on-board safety features that back one another up, so this is one of two dual ascenders in the world that possess this critical element.
I feel that the future of the ascender in treecare rests on this safety setup.
Can I show you more about this unique and recent Kong version? It is the only dual ascender that can be compared to the Petzl Duals we are about to build, based on the onboard safety features that make an ascender well-suited to ascent and work positioning in the tree.
I don't know what Petzl thinks.
Personally, I THINK ASCENDERS ARE ILL-SUITED TO WORK POSITIONING IN THE TREE. As they are built today, without proper backing up, ascenders are NOT a good choice for work positioning, and questionable on ascent itself.
What I'm conveying is that the ascenders of today are minimalist, and only <u>one</u> out there (besides the Dual we're about to build) is well-suited to work positioning in the tree. This is the
KONG Trender (click on that for the downloadable PDF),
not a perfect unit, but really good outside of the annoying back handle. It has dual on-board safety features that back one another up, so this is one of two dual ascenders in the world that possess this critical element.
I feel that the future of the ascender in treecare rests on this safety setup.
Can I show you more about this unique and recent Kong version? It is the only dual ascender that can be compared to the Petzl Duals we are about to build, based on the onboard safety features that make an ascender well-suited to ascent and work positioning in the tree.
- Location
- Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Re: Dual Petzl Ascensions
TM, you don't need to ask for permission mate!
Speaketh of thy ascender!
TM, you don't need to ask for permission mate!
Speaketh of thy ascender!
- Location
- ma
Re: Dual Petzl Ascensions
sounds like a bisness opertunity,, good luck with that/
sounds like a bisness opertunity,, good luck with that/
- Location
- Central Hardwood Belt, USA
Re: Dual Petzl Ascensions
I totally have to go with Cochran on this on. A reworking of the dual ascender concept from top-to-bottom would DEFINITELY have ribbed cams, not that the toothed cams have even once been a problem, but enough guys have that point to bitch about, so lose the teeth, give us some potential creep, because that's what you get in exchange.
A dual gri-gri morphed into a single handled dual ascender. Hmmm. The gri gri requires a bend in the rope. that's what makes it the impossible 1:1 ascender. A primary positive of a handled ascender is the rope passing through the device and keeping a straight line. In descent and friction control, the rope is hardly ever straight as it goes through the descender device, usually does some simple bend or multiple bends. Multiple bends through a device can make slack tending a pain, that's why devices such as these are descent-only, and not so good for work positioning- you HAVE to be able to adjust up, or adjust down for precision work positioning, whether in descent or ascent mode.
That means an ascender needs to adjust downward, and a descender needs to adjust upward. Both need to be able to handle single or twin line. That is a complimentary pairing of pieces.
I feel like 'downward adjustment of the ascender' is where guys get blurry. But that's what dually redundant, onboard, self-backing safety features now allow you to do- much more easily than with a friction hitch. Otherwise there wouldn't be any real reason to ascend on an ascender, would there? I mean, if all you could do is ascend?? That's pretty limiting. You just can't be switching back and forth between devices every time you want to go up or down, that is just not practical. Both devices need to be able to do crossover work, that is, to do each other's job to a large extent, while doing what they're supposed to do exceedingly well.
I totally have to go with Cochran on this on. A reworking of the dual ascender concept from top-to-bottom would DEFINITELY have ribbed cams, not that the toothed cams have even once been a problem, but enough guys have that point to bitch about, so lose the teeth, give us some potential creep, because that's what you get in exchange.
A dual gri-gri morphed into a single handled dual ascender. Hmmm. The gri gri requires a bend in the rope. that's what makes it the impossible 1:1 ascender. A primary positive of a handled ascender is the rope passing through the device and keeping a straight line. In descent and friction control, the rope is hardly ever straight as it goes through the descender device, usually does some simple bend or multiple bends. Multiple bends through a device can make slack tending a pain, that's why devices such as these are descent-only, and not so good for work positioning- you HAVE to be able to adjust up, or adjust down for precision work positioning, whether in descent or ascent mode.
That means an ascender needs to adjust downward, and a descender needs to adjust upward. Both need to be able to handle single or twin line. That is a complimentary pairing of pieces.
I feel like 'downward adjustment of the ascender' is where guys get blurry. But that's what dually redundant, onboard, self-backing safety features now allow you to do- much more easily than with a friction hitch. Otherwise there wouldn't be any real reason to ascend on an ascender, would there? I mean, if all you could do is ascend?? That's pretty limiting. You just can't be switching back and forth between devices every time you want to go up or down, that is just not practical. Both devices need to be able to do crossover work, that is, to do each other's job to a large extent, while doing what they're supposed to do exceedingly well.
- Location
- Central Hardwood Belt, USA
Re: Dual Petzl Ascensions
There ya go! I can not comment on the the lockjack family. I have not ever used one, but I hear good things.
With a lockjack, as with a Unicender, the ascending and descending features are all-inclusive in one device, so for a seasoned 2:1 tree climber there should be a lot of familiarity, I would think. In search of the holy grail device.
There's pure positive in a single device that will work with you on the up and the down. But usually there's a tradeoff. You get that perceived benefit of never having to change over, OR the perceived sentence of being sort of locked into a perpetual one-way of doing things. Maybe you can't apply the device/piece to a parallel twin line, or maybe you can't install the device midline, or it keeps you in 2:1 mode which means you're simply swapping a device for a friction hitch. Then you pay in the form of 2:1 slacktending, which, all things being relative, I guess if you walked every day in cement shoes, it might take awhile to adjust to, but after some time it just becomes normal. If everyone around you also wears cement shoes, then cement shoes is just the way it's done right?
A true story, only it's made-up.
One hot, hot Summer day, at the bottom of a tall hill stood two men. One seasoned veteran of shoe wearing, and another guy, from another place, a loner..... a rebel. In this well-populated mecca of shoe wearers, everyone wore cement shoes, but not the Loner. He wore.... crosstrainers, but kept a second pair of shoes for in his travels afoot he would need to cross streams, small rivers and swamps, all kinds of things you come across when leaving your comfort zone and seeking something better. When Loneboy would come to a wet crossing, he'd slip into the water shoes. Once across, back on with the crosstrainers, taking on hills and obstacles.
So in arriving in cement shoeville on this very hot Summer Day, Lonedawg in his crosstrainers met a Seasoned Local wearing cement shoes. Both looked up a particular hill, tall with a wide-spreading upper reach. Local, being from the local area said, "At the top of the hill is a refreshing waterslide going down the other side, let's go."
"Dude, I'm in. "
"Are you gonna walk up the hill with..... those?" pointing to the crosstrainer shoes.
"Actually, these are made for walking up hill; light, comfortable, ventilated, well-fitting, good tread and unfailing traction."
"They look all fancy and complicated. Have you been able to determine what falls can be sustained with your 'crosstrainer shoe' setup?"
So they began up the hill. The local had an interesting method of walking uphill. Since his shoes were cement, he could only take half-steps at a time. To advance himself forward, Local Guy would lunge one hip forward, grab the leg by hand, move it forward, then tend the 'slack' leg by manually pulling it forward. Lonedog looked mildly puzzled.
In the same time, Lonedog took one full step forward, the same distance, but with a remarkably smaller amount of effort; clean, instant, comfortable and easy.
Lonedog, after having taken his step waited, while the local guy again lunged his hip forward, moved the leg forward by hand, then tended the slack leg.
Lonerdude looked increasingly puzzled, but tried to be polite.
"It's called a hip-thrust. Sorta looks like air humping but it gets you up the hill."
Lonedog took another full step forward. And waited.
As the grade lessened the local was able to just step forward without the thrust, but still always had to tend the slack leg. Since he could still only do half-steps at a time, the slack leg tending was doubled.
Loner guy asks, "So what do you do about all that excess friction caused by the cement shoes.?"
"Well if I wanted, before I correctly tie, dress, set and inspect my cement shoelaces, I could place a remote retrievable friction saver, throw in some micropulleys, swivels, a couple of locking biners, a dog leash clip, maybe a rope clamp, a tether, some advanced, high temp cordage and an extra prussik, just in case..... that helps."
"All to walk up and down a hill? Sounds... so........ simple."
"So what do you call your method of advancement up the hill?" said the local guy.
"I call it, foot-walking, and these shoes are specifically designed to climb hills and course over continuous vertical and horizontal obstacles, up down and all around, all day long, to the furthest tips of this steep hill, just these shoes."
"How do they stay connected to you?"
"Triple lock shoelaces, that's it."
"Looks complicated. Must be expensive"
"If you say it is, then I guess, if you have your mind made up about them without ever having even tried them firsthand, then I guess they really must be complicated. And assuming a guess that they're expensive must also make that a truth."
The two reached the top. "Pretty good, huh?" said the local, winded and sweating. "Now we go down the waterslide."
Lonedog was changing into his water shoes.
"Annoying changeover! Takes time, danger, you could fall off the hill!"
Lonedog, now finished with the 5-second changeover, politely let the local finish his rant, then said,
"These water shoes are specifically designed for negotiating wet terrain. I can stop and go at will, I can position myself anywhere on this hillside, I can take any route I want, I can go back up if I want or I can slide down this hill as fast as I desire."
"But you had to change over ..... what if you had to go back down while in your dual crosstrainers, IMMEDIATELY?"
"I can downward-adjust immediately in the crosstrainers. I can position myself anywhere on the hillside with the crosstrainers. I can go up with near frictionless effort, or back down in frictionless, incremental steps. I just can't run, full-bore, down to the bottom of the hill in the crosstrainers, unless I risk ropeburn on my belay hand."
"So why don't you just leave the crosstrainers on all the time like we do with our cement shoes?"
"I could, technically speaking, the gear <u>would</u> allow that, but the crosstrainers do very well what the crosstrainers do, and the water shoes do very well what the water shoes do. The price I pay for this specialized demarcation of duties is a 5 second changeover."
"Time, danger, hassle, complication, trinket, fancy, shiny, expensive, we've always done it like this,... my boss taught me...... old school...... Git er done...eeeb arb blibbit zoink blonk flit"
"Yea, I'll be going now. It's been an enlightening experience. I'd like to buy you a beer sometime. Until later, my friend."
Ummmmm, what were we talking about?
There ya go! I can not comment on the the lockjack family. I have not ever used one, but I hear good things.
With a lockjack, as with a Unicender, the ascending and descending features are all-inclusive in one device, so for a seasoned 2:1 tree climber there should be a lot of familiarity, I would think. In search of the holy grail device.
There's pure positive in a single device that will work with you on the up and the down. But usually there's a tradeoff. You get that perceived benefit of never having to change over, OR the perceived sentence of being sort of locked into a perpetual one-way of doing things. Maybe you can't apply the device/piece to a parallel twin line, or maybe you can't install the device midline, or it keeps you in 2:1 mode which means you're simply swapping a device for a friction hitch. Then you pay in the form of 2:1 slacktending, which, all things being relative, I guess if you walked every day in cement shoes, it might take awhile to adjust to, but after some time it just becomes normal. If everyone around you also wears cement shoes, then cement shoes is just the way it's done right?
A true story, only it's made-up.
One hot, hot Summer day, at the bottom of a tall hill stood two men. One seasoned veteran of shoe wearing, and another guy, from another place, a loner..... a rebel. In this well-populated mecca of shoe wearers, everyone wore cement shoes, but not the Loner. He wore.... crosstrainers, but kept a second pair of shoes for in his travels afoot he would need to cross streams, small rivers and swamps, all kinds of things you come across when leaving your comfort zone and seeking something better. When Loneboy would come to a wet crossing, he'd slip into the water shoes. Once across, back on with the crosstrainers, taking on hills and obstacles.
So in arriving in cement shoeville on this very hot Summer Day, Lonedawg in his crosstrainers met a Seasoned Local wearing cement shoes. Both looked up a particular hill, tall with a wide-spreading upper reach. Local, being from the local area said, "At the top of the hill is a refreshing waterslide going down the other side, let's go."
"Dude, I'm in. "
"Are you gonna walk up the hill with..... those?" pointing to the crosstrainer shoes.
"Actually, these are made for walking up hill; light, comfortable, ventilated, well-fitting, good tread and unfailing traction."
"They look all fancy and complicated. Have you been able to determine what falls can be sustained with your 'crosstrainer shoe' setup?"
So they began up the hill. The local had an interesting method of walking uphill. Since his shoes were cement, he could only take half-steps at a time. To advance himself forward, Local Guy would lunge one hip forward, grab the leg by hand, move it forward, then tend the 'slack' leg by manually pulling it forward. Lonedog looked mildly puzzled.
In the same time, Lonedog took one full step forward, the same distance, but with a remarkably smaller amount of effort; clean, instant, comfortable and easy.
Lonedog, after having taken his step waited, while the local guy again lunged his hip forward, moved the leg forward by hand, then tended the slack leg.
Lonerdude looked increasingly puzzled, but tried to be polite.
"It's called a hip-thrust. Sorta looks like air humping but it gets you up the hill."
Lonedog took another full step forward. And waited.
As the grade lessened the local was able to just step forward without the thrust, but still always had to tend the slack leg. Since he could still only do half-steps at a time, the slack leg tending was doubled.
Loner guy asks, "So what do you do about all that excess friction caused by the cement shoes.?"
"Well if I wanted, before I correctly tie, dress, set and inspect my cement shoelaces, I could place a remote retrievable friction saver, throw in some micropulleys, swivels, a couple of locking biners, a dog leash clip, maybe a rope clamp, a tether, some advanced, high temp cordage and an extra prussik, just in case..... that helps."
"All to walk up and down a hill? Sounds... so........ simple."
"So what do you call your method of advancement up the hill?" said the local guy.
"I call it, foot-walking, and these shoes are specifically designed to climb hills and course over continuous vertical and horizontal obstacles, up down and all around, all day long, to the furthest tips of this steep hill, just these shoes."
"How do they stay connected to you?"
"Triple lock shoelaces, that's it."
"Looks complicated. Must be expensive"
"If you say it is, then I guess, if you have your mind made up about them without ever having even tried them firsthand, then I guess they really must be complicated. And assuming a guess that they're expensive must also make that a truth."
The two reached the top. "Pretty good, huh?" said the local, winded and sweating. "Now we go down the waterslide."
Lonedog was changing into his water shoes.
"Annoying changeover! Takes time, danger, you could fall off the hill!"
Lonedog, now finished with the 5-second changeover, politely let the local finish his rant, then said,
"These water shoes are specifically designed for negotiating wet terrain. I can stop and go at will, I can position myself anywhere on this hillside, I can take any route I want, I can go back up if I want or I can slide down this hill as fast as I desire."
"But you had to change over ..... what if you had to go back down while in your dual crosstrainers, IMMEDIATELY?"
"I can downward-adjust immediately in the crosstrainers. I can position myself anywhere on the hillside with the crosstrainers. I can go up with near frictionless effort, or back down in frictionless, incremental steps. I just can't run, full-bore, down to the bottom of the hill in the crosstrainers, unless I risk ropeburn on my belay hand."
"So why don't you just leave the crosstrainers on all the time like we do with our cement shoes?"
"I could, technically speaking, the gear <u>would</u> allow that, but the crosstrainers do very well what the crosstrainers do, and the water shoes do very well what the water shoes do. The price I pay for this specialized demarcation of duties is a 5 second changeover."
"Time, danger, hassle, complication, trinket, fancy, shiny, expensive, we've always done it like this,... my boss taught me...... old school...... Git er done...eeeb arb blibbit zoink blonk flit"
"Yea, I'll be going now. It's been an enlightening experience. I'd like to buy you a beer sometime. Until later, my friend."
Ummmmm, what were we talking about?
- Location
- Central Hardwood Belt, USA
Petzl Dual Ascender Build
Heh, heh. I'm sorry. That's sorta rude to eat up that much post without a picture.
Heh, heh. I'm sorry. That's sorta rude to eat up that much post without a picture.
