One stick climbing is a popular climbing method with saddle hunters, whereby the climber uses only one climbing stick to act as both a climbing device and a platform. Unfortunately, most climbers using this method are taking a chance with their safety in these ways:
- In order to prevent a fall in all foreseeable circumstances, we need to be tied into the tree the entire time, specifically with a stable anchor on the tree connected to the bridge of the saddle. Many one stick climbers are not tying in until they get on top of their first stick. A traditional lineman’s belt is not an anchor and is not an adequate tie in.
- Our tie-in to the tree must have a MINIMUM amount of slack during the entire climb. JRB recommends less than a foot of slack at all times. Many climbers are allowing several feet of slack, creating the potential for a significant fall.
- One Stick Climbers will frequently advance a tether up the tree, and while it is being advanced, it is not cinched and is not a reliable anchor. If the climber experienced a loss of footing or equipment failure while advancing their tie in, the climber could be seriously hurt.
- Falling is an obvious hazard, but not the only hazard: a climber could become stuck in a tree, hanging from a rope after a loss of footing or failure of the climbing stick. Instead of a tether, JRB recommends having a longer rope, specifically a Lifeline which provides a rappel path to ground at all times, even with no footing.
No Slack, One Stick Climbing
In this video, released in July 2024, JRB demonstrates how he approaches one stick climbing, while addressing the issues above, and executing a one stick climb with ZERO SLACK, using the Maverick Hitch as the anchor on the tree.
This video demonstrates a climb which is very similar to the one above, simply utilizing the JRB Cinch instead of a Maverick Hitch as the anchor. See dedicated page for the: JRB Cinch
Executing a Transfer
Relevant to both climbing demonstrations above, this video shows how JRB executes the TRANSFER operation, which is used in both stick climbing and: JRB Hitch Climbing.