TFTC #41 How to Rope Walk with Ascenders

When it comes to more modern ways of ascending, the use of mechanical ascenders has had a profound impact on the way we climb into trees. Largely coming to us from other rope disciplines, the ascender's sole purpose is to consistently grab the rope and not get tired the way our muscles tend to. These spring-loaded devices have tiny teeth that are integral to the operation. If you are new to this method of climbing or a seasoned rope climbing veteran hoping to pick up some tips on how to teach others, hopefully this Tip helps with how to properly set up and use ascenders to, quite literally, walk up the rope. In its most basic description, a climber takes these mechanical ascenders, mounts them to their feet, clips into their climbing device, attaches a tending aid, and then simply starts walking up.

It starts with a foot ascender, which is a necessity. Just like life, you will need to know your right from your left. Whatever your dominant hand, that’s likely also your dominant foot. I recommend putting the foot ascender on your dominant foot. You want the foot ascender adjusted so that the ascender itself is located slightly forward of your ankle joint and right in the center of your boot vertically. It should be pretty intuitive, but if it’s too low or too high, it impedes functionality and is far less comfortable. When the ascender straps are new, they will stretch and need to be adjusted. If you notice the ascender moving around on your foot, take the time to adjust it so it stays tight to your foot. Whether you use a device with a locking catch or one without is pure preference. Starting out, and for competition, I recommend a device that locks the cam in place (like the Climbing Technology Quick Step), keeping the rope contained in the device. For work, it is nice if a catch is not there (like the Petzl Pantin) so you can quickly detach from the rope with a swift kick up and back. Either way you go, having a foot ascender is step one with rope walking. As you step down (weighting the device) the cammed part of the device clamps down on the rope and provides a kind of step that allows you to stand up on that foot. The basic principle of ascenders in general is to use a combination of a spring-loaded cam, usually with sharp points (but not always), to work together to pinch the rope against the fixed body of the ascender.

When it comes to the other foot, you can’t use a second regular foot ascender because they can’t pass each other on the rope. There are two main styles arborists use these days to get around that. The first is a frog walking set up where a hand ascender (like the Petzl Ascension), mounted above the climbing device, has a tether attached to your foot. You raise your foot as you advance the hand ascender up the rope, then step up on the tether. The other main method is using a knee ascender (like the HAAS Velox or SAKA). They usually have a piece of elastic bungee that’s clipped to the harness on one end, with the other attached to the ascender itself. The ascender then has a tether from the ascender to the foot. As you raise your foot, the bungee automatically advances the ascender up the rope. The knee ascender tends to be the most intuitive for people, but both methods are highly effective once the form is dialed in. This set up engages both legs (foot ascender and knee ascender/frog walker) which makes the ascent easier and preserves energy for the remainder of the climb. The only thing left in terms of equipment would be something to tend or advance your climbing device if climbing on a stationary rope system (SRS). It’s important to note that rope walking can be done with either a moving rope system (MRS) or SRS. Having something to tend a climbing device such as the Notch Rope Runner Pro is an important safety component to allow the system to operate properly and keep the climber from having excessive sit back when it comes time to sit in the climbing device. This tending aid could be a dedicated chest harness, hydration pack, neck tether or even just your work positioning lanyard passed over the shoulder. I encourage you to find what works best for your setup and style.

To close this out, let’s talk about how to actually ascend. If you picture a rope hanging in free space, the goal is to keep the body parallel to the rope. Your legs, with the ascenders, should be doing all the work, so the goal is to step just like you’re on a ladder, straight down. Pick the legs up and drive them straight back down in line with the rope. Your arms are then only used to keep the body upright and shouldn’t need to actually grip the rope. When doing this properly, you should be able to have an open hand, palms facing you, just to stabilize your upright position. The tending aid can be helpful in this regard too, especially if it’s a chest harness. It will help keep your body in line and upright while making it more comfortable while ascending. Hopefully this helps explain how to use ascenders when rope walking, but like anything new, I’d encourage you to keep it low and slow to become comfortable before you blast into the top of the trees. Make sure to disengage those ascenders before you start coming down. Take it from me, it’s not a very comfy position if you forget to do that. Have a great and safe day out there!

Author Bio: Jeff Inman is the Risk Manager for Truetimber Arborists based out of Richmond, VA. He is an ambassador for Courant Vertical Living as well as @Height Equipment. Jeff is an ISA Tree Climber, Arborist, TRAQ and TCIA CTSP, but more importantly, he is a husband to his beautiful wife and father to their two children. His passion is rooted in climbing, learning, and growth. His mission is to help others be the best version of themselves and pass along the information and love of arboriculture that was shared with him many years ago. Find him on Instagram at @ClimbinJeff.

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