How often do you foot lock into trees?

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For me it all depends on the week. Last week I had several tall trees where my rope was set away from the trunk. I footlocked every day a couple of times my rope was set at 80 feet and I got there in 2 minutes. For me footlocking is the easiest way into the tree. I have tried ascenders but for me they are no easier than a good old prussic.

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Unless we're climbing some of those tall pines up in Tamworth Matt, then you can SRT up with me.

Boy, that was a cold day!
 
Yeah I gotta admit I love footlocking also, especially watching the head to head.I was just wondering where the industry would be without the comps influence.Sure its not perfect but i think its still been a very important part of this industries growth.
 
i foot lock everyday with the dual ascender or on a knot it depends on how close i can get to the tip with out breaking the 5 to 1 rule on the knot. on big removals i marbar. although i have been using the adjustable hitch climber a lot lately and just thrusting my way into the tree.
 
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For me it all depends on the week. Last week I had several tall trees where my rope was set away from the trunk. I footlocked every day a couple of times my rope was set at 80 feet and I got there in 2 minutes. For me footlocking is the easiest way into the tree. I have tried ascenders but for me they are no easier than a good old prussic.

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Unless we're climbing some of those tall pines up in Tamworth Matt, then you can SRT up with me.

Boy, that was a cold day!

[/ QUOTE ] I take it back now. Footlocking with just a prussic on a cold day with gloves that do not grip, probably not the best idea. That was one of my worst ascents. I had to sit on my prussic on every footlock the alternative was no gloves and that was not happening. In some cases SRT is the way to go. It is funny how quickly we forget.The view was nice though when I finally made it to the top!
 
If you are getting a good solid lock with your feet you can do an on rope rest without sitting on your knot. Having to loosen your knot is a pain, makes FL much more work. The prusik is there as a safety not as a crutch to rest on.
 
Now that I've finally manned up and started giving FL a go, I've also applied my normal 'gearhead' factor and instead of using a prussic cord I'm using a two handed ascender.

Until I learn to get a really good capture with my feet though being able to sit on the ascender is helping tremendously.

Hmmm...mebbe it is time to by a double ascender too?
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For us Geezers, ascenders with a short tether are the way to go... 1:1 straight up the rope, good handhold, rest anytime you want, no knot to loosen.
Knots are cool though, nothing to stow, you can drop the cord when you're done... I'm gonna make a short one and try it out.

Honestly, I don't see why more climbers don't footlock at work.
 
Noooo, Rick!!! Resist the urge to learn FL on doubled rope. Once you learn on single you'll see that it isn't hard at all.

Learning on doubled and then going to single is harder because you have to relearn.

With single you only have one line to hook and lock. Two ropes get squirrely and you'll miss locks.

Using a Pantin and cross my left toe on top of my right is a footlock motion. The advantage is that the rope stays captured and I don't have to do the toe hook with my left and then rotate my ankles at all. The only off-motion is that my left foot goes a bit pigeon toed. My knees/hips stay in alignment and not out to the side like frog legs.

To maximize movement I roll my shoulders back, push up the Unicender, pull my knees towards my chest then stand upright. Going frog legged does gain a bit more distance and speed on each lock...but that isn't important to me. AT the end of equal climbs I'm less winded and hot from doing a Pantin FL with forward knees than a plain FL with frog knees.

Your mileage may vary
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I FL into every tree I can. Sooo much faster and less effort than body thrusting. I dont SRT, but I do FL fast, so I figure the time saved not having to set up SRT is still in my advantage.
 
You can SRT on a hitch...actually, ascending on a doubled rope with a hitch like most climbers ascend is SRT.

Not having to isolate a TIP is a HUGE time saver with SRT ascent. A belay anchor isn't required unless you want to build in a layer of safety. A running bowline at the TIP or around the base of the tree is simple and quick.

Getting gear on the rope for SRT doesn't take any longer than for traditional ascent.
 
true story, Im mostly jealous because I dont have an SRT system. My problem is I like FL to much. And it does take less time to set a FL than an SRT because for FL all u do is tie on knot. As you stated, for SRT, there are a couple. The difference is minimal, but still their. I also dont have to much difficulty isolating.
 
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If you are getting a good solid lock with your feet you can do an on rope rest without sitting on your knot. Having to loosen your knot is a pain, makes FL much more work. The prusik is there as a safety not as a crutch to rest on.

[/ QUOTE ] I am only guessing that you are replying to me. You try footlocking with no hands. There is no other way of doing it besides sitting on your prussic.Like I said, it wasn't any fun.
 
Just about any hitch will work for ascent. Finding one that will work for ascending and descending is the challenge.

when you experiment always follow the maxim:

Low and slow

For SRT my first choice is always a mechanical device. The only time that I wouldn't have an ascender is if I didn't have my kit bag...in that case I'd probably have 3 or 4 so I would loan you one :)
 
Srt for me is.. Tie a hitch, clip on one acender and strap on a pantin. It is a misconception that SRT is heavily gear intensive and time consuming to set up. The only mechanical device you need for a fast SRT system is a pantin which is like $40.00 I think. I think a hitch for the upper acender is just as good. It just takes a little longer to take on and off but not much.
 
By the time you get that pantin on the old kevin would have already been in the top of the tree,not to mention setting up a proper back up for that ascender-just messing with you kevin.fact is there is a time and place for both and the differnce in time is minimal at best.when I do footlock doubled rope I try to set up and access line and go up it and then get my tip this seems to be the fastest method for me.But some really tall climbs and do like to srt with the frog walker and it does take a little more time to put on the croll and pantin not to mention the anchor.I guess if your in a tree sometimes for hours whats 5 extra minutes on the ground.I just think there is practical applications for both tchniques and will make you a better climber if your more versitile and not bias -do what works for each particular tree the best.
 
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