footlocking

S

stephen

Why oh why oh why do so many people keep harking on about F@#ck*"g footlocking?? Yes I can see that, well flippin done, you got up to near your final anchor-point quickly and efficiently and with a large modicom of crowd pleasing style, but that represents about 3% of your days climbing time! I'm afraid I really can't see the benefits of dwelling so heavilly on a discipline that doesn't really contribute to pruning a tree day in/ day out; i.e . choosing boots on their footlocking attributes to me is as relevant as how much they make your feet smell at the end of a day!!
I recently hired an Australian climber whilst he was visiting, he used a frog style ascender based system over my conventional DDRT system and F@*&K me he was up there quick, way faster than me, but that seemed to be an end to his sceince, his route planning and rope short cut techniques were not nearly as dynamique and he trailed behind for the rest of each and every climb.
I appreciate that any quick method to access the top of a trees canopy is of benefit, but why such an equipment/topic focus constantly??
Anyone can get to the top, its what you do when you get there that counts surely???
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Stephen well I'll be the first to make a response to your ranting on access. Well the thing with all the mechanical ascenders and what not makes canopy access easier and more efficient. If I can slap on a pantin and a hand ascender and basically walk up the rope to the canopy that is 40 ft or higher then I have just saved my energy on the canopy access and now I am free to move about the tree. Also with some of our mechanical systems such as the srt using ascenders you can set a floating falls crotch and use the benefits of the single line in addition to being able to drt to work the tree. Plus nothing really changes in the drt system when you're working a tree. There's not a whole lot of stuff that is going to change unless you move to a mechanical hitch. Then it's still a matter of the person being able to see the tree and know which way he's goingn to do. I was taught by a good climber that you walk around the tree and have it taken apart for the most part before you even start to climb. Even if it's a prune job you should look and see how you're going to work the tree. Usually the most efficicent in two motions. One of those being on the way up for one side and back down the tree on the other side.
 
I think footlocking is discussed so much because it is actually a very difficult thing to do, and when you see it you want to be able to do it.

That's how I felt when I first saw a climber footlock. I tried it immediately and failed miserably.

So I went away, and at weekends I practiced till I was blue in the face until I got it. I used footlocking with a large prussik loop and two petzl asscenders bolted together for about 4 years until I was introduced to the far superior SRT system of climbing, which i think is better for your knee joints long term.

I still footlock but only with double ascenders not the friction hitch method. I still think it has its place for all the guys that can do it properly.

The reason guys discuss boots so much in relation to footlocking is that if ypou have any kind of a heel or shiny hard sole it is very difficult to footlock efficiently.

What does this mean?[ QUOTE ]
rope short cut techniques

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Hi there Grover and PUClimber, listen, I have and use pantin/ISC ascenders/Petzl ascenders (various) (and PU I know about and have used the SRT ascended DRT climbing system you mentioned but don't find it personally useful) and are fully aware of the boot issues Groves but you may be slightly swerving my point.
To me footlocking, as dynamic and access efficient as it is, is a bit like the Le Mans Racing Car Start where they run to their vehicles to get the best pole position....I wonder if they (the drivers) talk so vehemently about the shoes with which they run to their cars in, or focus more on the rest of the race!!!
Please don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking the concept, more the emphasis of the concept!!!
 
i think its talked about so much because people see the top footlockers and want their skills to be in line with them. i personally dont footlock all that well, but i wish i did, and to be honest if i invested time in it i would probably use it more! at the moment though as im not conditioned for it i see it as quite an arduous task.....i WILL put some effort into it soon though!
 
Is it because you can't do it Stephen? are you jealous of all those big boys with their strong arms that can?
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[ QUOTE ]
his route planning and rope short cut techniques were not nearly as dynamique

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Could you translate this into english please stephen?
 
Its ok I understand now, you mean fore thought and poor planning like he was continually going up and down the tree wasting a lot of energy, right?
 
I will be finishing my tricep reps about 4.30ish...by my watch that'll be pretty much beer o'clock. Where will you be?
beer.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
i think its talked about so much because people see the top footlockers and want their skills to be in line with them. i personally dont footlock all that well, but i wish i did, and to be honest if i invested time in it i would probably use it more! at the moment though as im not conditioned for it i see it as quite an arduous task.....i WILL put some effort into it soon though!

[/ QUOTE ]

I wouldn't bother Steve. Its like trying to accelerate in reverse without realising you could just turn the car around, sit properly, and go through the gears.

My advice? Put effort into nailing your SRT systems instead.
 
Footlocking is worth knowing and being good at. I'm not sure there's a quicker way to do short ascents (less than 50') than footlocking. When it comes to being better than the guy next to you, it's a good trick to have in the bag.

love
nick
 
[ QUOTE ]
is a bit like the Le Mans Racing Car Start where they run to their vehicles to get the best pole position....I wonder if they (the drivers) talk so vehemently about the shoes with which they run to their cars in, or focus more on the rest of the race!!!


[/ QUOTE ]If it meant getting the pole position and finishing 1rst or runner up I bet they would.
 
Footlocking is a basic skill that should be mastered. Whether a climber chooses to use it exclusively or use the Pantin is another matter. My P is on all of the time because there are many times that I footlock the tail while in the tree.
 
Sounds to me you can't footlock . If you don't master the footlock , you got alot of hard climbing in front of you . If I never learned how to footlock , I'd never climb a big tree again . Well maybe for the right price , but it is a way easier way to get up a big tree or a little one too.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Sounds to me you can't footlock

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That's a big 10-4.

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you got alot of hard climbing in front of you .

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I beg to differ.

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If I never learned how to footlock , I'd never climb a big tree again .

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Whoa! No $hit?
 
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c'mon now , you can't footlock with one foot .

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You can footlock with one foot SRT or DdRT (poor man's Pantin):

For the right foot...

Make a loop like so, put your foot in
447315264_cacb329180.jpg


Point your toe DOWN to lock, stand up, push hitch or ascender up.
447314848_9eac845afe.jpg


To release, point your toe UP. The loop is self-tending over 10 ft. or so.
447321005_ffe816a37b.jpg


Keep your leg/knee inline with hip from front to back when you load it. If you flex your leg out to the side from your hip and stand you'll toast your knee eventually.

You can use two legs to stand up by putting one foot on the other. Advantage over Pantin is you can use either foot, and it's free.

Photo series also here
-moss
 
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