Here's the first part. I'll have to add parts as time permits. I hope to get the second and perhaps final part done today, but that's pretty optimistic.

Part 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCE1Bwkkxx0

Part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sRwcrlKVSk

Part 3: Do we finally get on rope? You betcha!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXLQor36XMM

I'm loving these series, Ron!!! Very nice, thorough work, indeed! I like that new saddle, too.

Can't wait to see what you do with the RADS ... you are gonna do a RADS series ... right?

Thanks Jack!

Yeah, I plan to do the RADS - I may have to borrow some of you video stuff just to show what can be done with the RADS at the top levels of innovation and craftsmanship. Full credit to you, of course.

I also have to commend your video taking/production/editing skills. Your videos are some of the clearest and cleanest products on youtube (where most people just grab the closest cell phone and dump it straight to youtube). I appreciate the time it takes to put together a polished video (let alone set of videos) as you're doing Thanks!

Thanks, Ron! I've always really enjoyed your videos.
This is coming at just the perfect time for me, as I finally bought my own Croll, and need to brush up before hitting the trees.
My first time frogging was in that very tree in the video!! Good times...

Good stuff Ron. I'm thinking that if you added a second short rope bridge to your harness you could get your Croll sitting lower. When I had a Butterfly II harness I put two bridges on it, that configuration was convenient for certain situations.

A TIP for folks who don't have an adjustable tether to their upper ascender. You can replicate the effect that Ron gets to make it easy to do a switchover from ascent to a rappel device. When you're ready to descend detach the HUT strap from the Croll, do one more ascent cycle/push upward, the Croll moves down the rope (relatively, doesn't really move down) as you move up. Now when you sit back your weight is on the upper ascender only. Thumb the cam on the Croll and feed enough rope up through the Croll to attach your rappel device. Croll remains on the rope with sufficient slack above it. Install your rappel device on the rope between the Croll and the upper ascender. Confirm that your descender is installed correctly and that you are tied in to it and detach the Croll from the rope. Take a lock on the tail below the rappel device (single foot lock loop, double foot lock or Pantin), stand up and take the upper ascender off then sit back down on your rappel device. You're ready to descend.

The reason i don't use an adjustable type tether is I like all soft attachments for my ascenders, a sling runner is used girthed first to the acender and then girthed to my harness attachment point.

Thanks again Ron, great job.
-AJ

moss,

That is similar, but the change over process is not as simple. One of the things I wanted to accomplish was to avoid having to stand and balance in foot loops while installing, adjusting, or releasing any gear. The adjustable tether makes all that possible.

If I understand you correctly, and I'm pretty sure I do, you are assuming that we would be changing over to a Grigri type device. It would be fairly straight forward to stand in the foot loops and take up the slack with the GG and it would then support your weight when you sat down and hence unload the tether and foot ascender.

However, if one prefers to use a micro dual-hyperbar rack, Scarab, F8, etc. - almost anything but a GG type device, the method you describe won't work because you can't get the descender tight enough to unload the tether and foot ascender UNLESS you stand in the foot loops, hold yourself up with one hand and try to work the slack out of the descender. Quite precarious to say the least.

With the adjustable tether, the change over to a rack, etc. is easy. Another advantage of the adjustable tether, is if you want to stop to rest, etc. you can set your feet/legs where you find them most comfortable/useful, and pull the slack out of the tether and you have an almost instant, backup to your saddle with little if any slack in it, so if it did catch you, the shock loading would be minimal.

Plus, if you make the tether a bit longer, you can actually do some DRT descending with it to accomplish short position adjustments.

I forgot to comment about this. Interesting you should say that, I had a 'dual' bridge on my saddle and removed it without even trying it. It just seemed to add too much bulk, but I can see how it could be useful.

I might be able to shorten it a couple of inches, but I made it pretty short to start with. If it gets much shorter, the bridge will be too short to pull the saddle over my hips.

What?! Really? You've got everything else on your saddle ... what's and extra bridge matter? LOL






Thanks, Ron ... I don't need any "credit". It was your short little vid a few years back that got me started on the RADS. For me, it's still the best all-round system for moving around a tree ... just looking for some little tip or tidbit to refine my system even further.

Again, good job!

ROFL !! - hmmm, when you think about like that....


RADS is pretty unique, even more so the way you implemented it. My RADS vid was just an implementation - the system you put together was masterfully crafted!

Ron, that reminds me... Tom Dunlap made an adjustable bridge, he's got a Microcender or whatever the lanyard version of the device is (slightly different than the Microcender) anchoring one side of the bridge. Very secure and easy to adjust. However... more gear, more bulk, more cash...

Harnesses with a dedicated waist attachment points like the Petzl Sequoia SRT are also pretty nice for froggy type systems.
-AJ

Yep, right on all points. And, the frog works pretty well with my harness the way it is. Of course it doesn't have the stroke length a lower connection would provide, but I'm not sure the cost/gear benefit would be worth the effort.


Well, that's true, but as you say, "...more cash...", and there's that cost/benefit thing again.

I could use my On Rope 1 frog harness - it does do the frog well, but for hanging on a rope, it's awfully tiring. I spend waaaay too much energy holding my upper body upright when I'm not climbing.