Foot locking with minimal gear in MRS

[Justinl45]

Hi all,

I enrolled in an arbory program this winter and have been learning about climbing systems, tree science, etc. So far we've only covered MRS and were required to purchase gear necessary for a simple kit. We covered closed and open systems and are currently on hip thrusting up the tree. However I've been looking in to foot locking and the different ways to do it. I've seen several videos where the climber uses a long prusik chord wrapped around both ends of the rope and ties a klemheist and connects that to their saddle, and locks their feet around both rope ends. However that requires a figure 8 to descend from mid line.

So I was wondering if I could use my current set up which is: a carabiner through a spliced eye on the termination end, and a swabisch friction hitch with a micro pulley on the other end. Can I footlock on just the one end of the line and push up on my friction hitch each time I "sit up"? And then to descend just place a couple fingers on top of the friction hitch like normal. I haven't been able to find any examples of this anywhere.

 

[RyTheTreeGuy]

Absa-totally....foot locking the tail is a very viable way to use your legs when ascending MRS. Just remember that you are covering twice the distance when foot locking the tail vs a traditional secured traditional foot lock. Grab yourself a foot ascender and make your life a lot easier....you will need it for your rope walker set up when you cover SRS anyways. Enjoy the journey...it sure is a fun one.

 

[evo]

Foot lock your tail when you get tired...
Best way is to take the bitter end of your tail and clip it as if it were a endless loop (where you attach to the prussic). Run your friction hitch up to where you want to be in the tree.
Next attach your foot lock prussic, and foot lock up to your hitch. Lanyard in, drop your tail, and connect your MRS/DdRT prussic... Then get to work. Super simple, everything is there waiting for the next step already assembled and ready to go.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Do you have a copy of The Tree Climber's Companion?

I think that most of your answers would be there too with illustrations.