How to Use Ascenders

Ascenders are useful mechanical tools for climbing not only mountains but trees as well. They take a little muscle to use properly but with some practice, perhaps at short distance climbs, you will accomplish the task set before you. Ascenders are not only an simpler method of scaling a wall, or tree, they are also a safer method, providing you with hand and foot holds that you would not otherwise have.

Things You'll Need

  • Aiders
  • Ascenders
  • Climbing rope
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Instructions

  1. How to Use Ascenders

    • 1

      Attach two ascenders to your rope, and clip them to your harness as an added safety precaution.

    • 2

      Attach an aider to each ascender. Aiders are straps with foot rungs on the ends that can be clipped to the ascenders and to the rope you are climbing.

    • 3

      Stick one foot into the appropriate rung of one aider and the other foot into the other aider, and begin climbing, applying weight and moving the ascenders up the rope one at a time.

    • 4

      Move up the rope by simply shifting your weight. Whichever aider is carrying the weight, that is the one that grips the rope tightly. When the weight is shifted the other aider grips the rope and the first one slides smoothly.

    • 5

      Work your way up the rope carefully, moving each free ascender with your hands and each aider with your feet until you are making slow but steady progress up the rope.