Was able to get up almost 24 feet, using just 4 tree steps (the "cam type" steps), measuring from the top step, to the ground. Makes it possible to actually hunt waterholes in the evenings, in the elk woods, given the lightweight and compact total of all gear needed.
When you are standing on the top of one step, where is the next step up? Is it knee high? And, is your harness tether above you as high as you can reach?
I'm using a lineman's belt type rope to ascend. So, the first step basically goes up almost as high as I can reach, I attach the aider to it, and climb the "rope ladder", pushing my toes into the tree with each step. Repeat for each step, putting the next step up as high as possible.
Convert the lineman's rope into a tether at the top, and supplement the top step with 3 standard tree steps, to serve as the "platform" for the "saddle hunt".
I can see an aider for the first step, but then as the risk increases I want more stable footing. That's why I bought the twelve step set(12lbs). Also, my harness tether goes up the tree above the top step which I attach neck/chest high, after the next step at my knee.
I'm somewhat of a tree monkey anyway, this was a Starlink Dish Installation I did at my place a couple weeks back, I was about 75 to 80 feet up..
Did not go the “1-step” method, though.
There was a thread a while back that TD had some great advice on using one step. I think I saved it as a favorite. Will look and copy the link here if I find it.
Treeline's Link
Go down to TD’s info.
Really worthwhile and should help!
peterk1234's Link
For wild edge steps, I never really tried an aider. Because it took me about 5 minutes to figure out they weren’t going to be my favorite. At least for now.
For the hawk heliums I modified by cutting, I use a black diamond 5 step aider. It works well. The sticks are ok nice. But, I chose that aider because the stand off from the tree makes getting your foot deep into the ladder type aiders more work then the BD aider. I just clip it onto the rope that I attach the sticks to the tree with.
For the new skeletor sticks, I use ladder type aiders connected to the steps. The stand off distance plus the way the steps angle out from the tree, makes getting your foot comfortably deep into the steps very easy.
Aiders are t going anywhere. Anytime soon. Yes, on the wrong sticks, they can be a pain in the butt. However, if you try out a few and see which one works best for your steps, they are pretty sand handy when you need to get high in the tree.
