Step or rope walking systems, sit on the heels systems

Vertical caving terminology and methods > Prusiking systems, prusiking methods

Step or rope walking systems, sit on the heels systems

These systems use the power from each foot separately, with each foot being given the same priority. They use a repeated motion of stepping vertically with each foot, similar to climbing stairs. Almost all of these systems will provide the main body support via an ascender or chest roller attached to the chest harness, giving a nearly standing position for the entire motion cycle.

All step systems can also be used with a different motion more like a clumsy sit-stand system, called "sit on the heels". One knee is lifted and bent first (either out in front, or underneath), then the other knee is lifted and bent to give a position of sitting on your heels, followed by standing upright again. The motion ends up being step-squat-stand, and one foot is favoured over the other. This is almost never used now, but may be favoured for the use of prusik loops in some cases. See "Prusiking", 1973 by Robert "Bob" Thrun for more details of all the different ways that such an approach might be used.

Most of these systems, when used with appropriate safety cords, leave an incapacitated caver relatively upright, which causes suspension syncope to take effect faster than it would while seated, but the exact position will depend on the length of the safety cords, and how they are connected to the chest harness or sit harness. The tight chest harness used with many of these systems could also pose its own breathing problems, but research here is lacking.

These systems are listed roughly in ascending order of where the foot powered ascenders are placed.

Subsections

• Rope walking, ropewalker, double bungee ropewalker, three Gibbs ropewalker, Howie rig, ropewalker rig, bicycle rig, four Gibbs ropewalker, Murphy system, stair climbing method, cams on feet, floating cam system (former name)
• Gérard Alpine technique, three knot prusik, pygmy system, pygmy rig (sometimes mistakenly called the "prusik method" in USA)
• Plummer system, two knot system, Kaczmarek system, spiderweb system, three phase system (in Plummer system mode), Cuddington third phase, the Cuddington climbing system
• Another prusiking system, A.P.S. system, Mitchell system with floating cam, rope hopper, floating cam system (Australia 2007 name), floating cam rig
• Mitchell system, Mitchell rig, Mitchell three phase system (in Mitchell system mode), Cuddington three phase, stair step prusik
• Jumar system, Jumar rig, UBSS system, Gossett system, Gossett rig ("jugging" in USA climbing)

<< Hands and feet system | Rope walking, ropewalker, double bungee ropewalker, three Gibbs ropewalker, Howie rig, ropewalker rig, bicycle rig, four Gibbs ropewalker, Murphy system, stair climbing method, cams on feet, floating cam system (former name) >>

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