Ascending - Texas Kick

This videos illustrates one of the ascending techniques used in the Cornell Tree Climbing Institute's instructional classes. This information is not intended to be an online tutorial for beginners. Our intent is to share these general procedures with other qualified professionals who are interested in developing a college-based recreational tree climbing program. Tree climbing can be hazardous! If you are new to tree climbing, seek qualified instruction before attempting these techniques.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Tree Climbing
• Ascending
• Texas Kick
• Single Rope Technique

[Zember007]

Would a Petzl Pantin and a double hand ascender work better? It seems as if the feet cannot get high enough to advance quickly due to the length of the foot-loop.

[CornellTreeClimbing]

@Zember007 Oh, sure - there are about six million ways to climb rope. Each has it advantages and disadvantages. In the case of Texas Kick, one can make the foot loop as short as one wants. The shorter the connection, the longer the throw. I used a similar system to the one you describe (two hands on upper ascender, foot ascender, and chest ascender) in the redwoods this year. For a quick synopsis, the book "On Rope" has a handy point by point comparison chart of many methods.

[chupis11666]

I'd like to recommend something. If your want climb trees, wear pants and boots!!

Come on guys!! Shorts and keens? lol!

Nice video!!

[CornellTreeClimbing]

@chupis11666 You may be confusing recreational tree climbing with arborist work. We aren't obligated to go anywhere and get into any particularly awkward or scratchy situation. I climb very comfortably in shorts and sandals. In many parts of the world in which we climb, people climb with no shoes at all!

[TheBlackDog84]

Great vids! I learned a few tricks. Btw Sarah is hot C:

[CornellTreeClimbing]

@PINECONEG We performed drop tests with bolted granite. We are very confident that the ascender / sling connection is safe and durable. In addition to the tests we have miles and miles of ascending with this system with no incidents. As anyone who climbs with these systems will tell you, NONE are safe to hold a fall. They are used for body weight ascension and nothing more. A prussik will usually slip with a slow pull. A hard fall will snap it. A fall on ascenders tends to de-sheath the rope.

[PINECONEG]

@CornellTreeClimbing how did you test the connection from my understanding the ascender can cut through the slings or ropes even from a small fall, also i tested the prusic system you showed that sliped when there was a fall

[CornellTreeClimbing]

@chupis11666 Actually, there is nothing wrong with girth hitching slings to the carabiner. We've tested the connection for strength and durability. It is our opinion that a carabiner is overall less secure, as it adds an additional component to check.

[chupis11666]

One more thing!!!!! ALWAYS USE a carabiner with the hand ascender, THE way you guys are showing in this video is WRONG!!

[CornellTreeClimbing]

@bk119957 Sure thing. You might find the knots in the rope to be a bit bulky and get in the way, but in principle you can join them with anything sufficiently strong.