All cord SRT

FlashD

Over my past four months off work I've had a lot of time to think... Which can be a terrible thing. Lately though, I've been pondering the ability to create a ropewalker system entirely from knots. I know cavers and the such used to climb solely off of prusiks before ascenders were invented. My main focus has been how to create a foot ascender from cordage. It's proven to be very simple... Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone else has attempted this and how their experiences played out.

Hopefully this weekend I can con a friend into being my test dummy (I can't currently climb). If he'll try it, I'll do my best to get some pictures.

TrevMcRev

Interesting experiment, lets see it!

FlashD

Soon. I tested it in the house last night and it seemed to work well. It will get a full testing this weekend. Hopefully I remember to take pictures.

dov

I replaced my adjusters with prussiks ages ago, first on my flipline (I like to double-tail it) and then on the climbing rope. Have never used a foot ascender though. Post some pics.

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FlashD

Well, we got it tested. It functioned... As long as my friend kept climbing. He said it was zero fun to take a rest in. My greatest victory is that the foot ascender worked perfectly. Here are some pictures.

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FlashD

For an explanation of what this experiment entaled. We installed a line through a crotch and secured the end to another tree. Then, using short footlock prusik I had laying around tied a prusik on the line and secured it to the saddle. Another footlock prusik was tied to the first using a klemheist as to create an adjustable foot loop. A standard friction hitch (in this case a distel) with micro pulley was tied and secured as with traditional DdRT. For the foot ascender we used a Petzl William ball-lock and some Samson 5mm ultra-tech cord to create the "frame" (Think pantin, using the tech-chord in place of webbing straps) and then tied a michoacan onto the access line and attached it along with a mirco pulley to the carabiner.
The footlock prusik combination was used just like a normal ascender/footloop system. The idea with the foot ascender is that it acts just like a traditional hitch, just on the foot. Once enough weight is below it, it tends itself as the foot is raised (close to the ground it is necessary to manually tend it, though a rope bag, or something with significant weight could be used).
Like I said before, it worked fairly well, and could be useful as long as resting wasn't necessary. One think I would have changed/addes is a chest harness, which could be done in the same suit using a webbie sling and a carabiner, simply put a twist in the sling, place it around the back and secure the two ends with the carabiner, then attach the carabiner to the rope. I think this would help keep the climber upright and increase efficiecy. One thing I will add is that this system isn't near as quick to set up or remove as a traditional srt setup. I pretty much just thought it up because I was bored being off work for four months, and because I'm too broke to buy ascenders, but would really like to give srt a go. Hopefully in the next 6 months, I can start climbing again and I can give this a go myself.
Thanks for reading.

TrevMcRev

Hey FlashD

Interesting to how it can be done, good experiment.

End of the day though there is nearly as much $$$ hanging off your foot as a pantin anyway....

Still, it's likely stuff anyone would have floating around in the bottom of their bag, but you wouldn't go out and buy it to set it up.

FlashD

Exactly.
I can't say it's a real working system, and if I were going to use it for a working system, I'd just buy the hardware.
I've just had a lot of spare time on my hands and wanted to see if it could be done.
In the foot ascender portion I actually only had $18 for the carabiner, $2.50 for the tech cord, and $5 in the HRC for a total of $25.50.
A pantin would easily pay itself off in a very speedy fashion though, so I know what you're saying.

sir_nick2

I was wondering just the other day if this could be done lol it looks like in this particular example that the climber would lose a foot or so in push before the prussik took hold, pretty cool though. I just got my hitch climber setup from the states and have been playing with it a bit lately I wouldn't mind using the system (DdRT) with a foot ascender but am too broke lately. I have a petzl basic ascender and have been fiddling around making a strap to be used as a pantin but haven't had the chance to try it yet has anyone else tried this? also with the prussik ascender is the tail end weighted? to help advance or is it just in the breeze?

FlashD

It was weighted.