Rope Walking Answers and Tips

After 10 years and 3 issued patents for knee ascender I hope my efforts are helpful for other climbers and especially, adds a layer of safety.
00:48 Tree climbers find themselves in situations where their life support systems will be "non-taut". Other rope disciplines such as rock climbing or industrial access are not effected in the same way. A tree climber typically will walk up a rope, get to a branch and stand on it, walk out on the branch and may do so without every putting tension into the life support system. Lack of tension in the system is almost always the case when rope walking Stationary Rope Technique, so taking special precautions and understanding how to manage it should be taken. Keeping the area above or next to our life support system is important in this regard. The adjustable S.A.K.A is built to keep rope waking below and away from our life support.
02:00 Keeping the area near and above a life support system is important.
02:13 Standing in water? What do you mean, "keep rope walking where rope walking belongs"?
02:36 What is the restriction to the travel up the rope of the foot ascender? The knee ascender? How do we keep all of that below our life support system?
03:55 Do the teeth on the cam need to be so aggressive or sharp? I think they picked my rope.
06:03 How to I remove the cam to avoid picking the rope?
07:02 Can I see a cross section of the ascender to better understand how it works? Why did you make the cam 5mm shorter? How is the ascender more conducive to rope typically used for tree climbing? Will it still engage on very small ropes?
09:07 The new cam dimensions also help if a climbers form is not perfect.
10:52 What is the difference between the S.A.K.A.® and the S.A.K.A.®MINI?
12:12 The knee ascender and foot ascender are not PPE or life support but do provide a valuable backup when rope walking with a 'non-tensioned' climbing system SRT.
12:59 I intended to say, 'think of the knee ascender as 'unofficial backup' to our life support.
13:18 Feet travel like pistons, we are not riding a bicycle forward or backwards. The SAKA is extremely responsive as the bungee travels in a straight line with negatable friction. It will keep up with the fastest of legs.
14:12 Take the moment to store it properly.
15:24 Tips to folding the Foldable SAKA.
16:45 Understand that, unlike the foot ascender, the knee ascender must engage on a 'tensioned' climbing line.
17:50 The SAKA is totally adjustable when it comes to length, there is no need to choose a size.
19:20 Thanks for watching. www.ClimbingInnovations.com

[@anthonymoravec3599]

Thanks Mumford. I love the HHXF!!!

[@slaxxx]

Thanks Richard. I love and use many of your great products.

[@covidcrotch1960]

Thank you.

[@Sethhaun78]

Thanks for all you do richard...every company should be contacting you for there testing and r&d...ń

[@woodpeckerarborist]

As usual Richard, I appreciate your videos & perspective about tree climbing, you’re a real asset to our community. Sometimes I just don’t agree with your views. Thanks!
Toothed ascenders pick & wear ropes out faster than lobed ascenders, but engage more consistently. The wear is not just in how they disengage the rope, but also how much force is put on them. Such as when the climber is trying to race up the line or is heavily loaded. Also, your demonstration of a single needle poking vs picking the line is a less than appropriate example. Your ascender does not have a single tooth or even have all teeth engaging the rope in perfect unison. So the teeth will engage/disengage moments apart & will eventually pick the rope.
I agree proper technique will help slow the wear, but it will not keep it from happening. Not saying there is anything wrong with toothed ascenders, but your video gives a false impression of reality.

[@RichardMumford1]

I appreciate your comments, you know there's nothing worse for innovation than having someone along that just agrees with everything a person says, unless of course they're just fun to be with.
Sounds like another vid in the works.
There is wear and there is rope picking, maybe we disagree some but maybe we are on different pages.
Again, thanks.

[@TimberTrainer]

I just noticed from the patents that your middle name is Dean. I'm also a Richard Dean. My friends call me Richie.

[@RichardMumford1]

Very cool, nice to meet you.

[@TimberTrainer]

@@RichardMumford1 Very nice to meet you also. I still have one of your original SAKA's from before all the lawsuit bs. I'm glad to see you persevere and continue to innovate.