Climbing/rigging question

[crater]

I watched vid of one Murphy's climber one day (Epps I think) on U-tube which left me curious about the attacment the the climber used on his climbing rope. It looked like some sort of desender but I could be wrong. If it was a ascender was it used for the purpose of self belay? Or better yet how about some of you pro's post some pics of your climbing setups and what you are using for rigging?
Bty I also think the descender was hook to a d-ring on the side of his belt via a strap or maybe a biner not sure. Anyway just looking for a better way of climbing without a man pulling slack (belay) rope.

 

[2FatGuys]

Start with "Tree Climber's Companion" by Jeff Jepson.

 

[crater]

Thanks, I'm starting to read it. Just received it (2nd edition last night)

 

[crater]

ok finished reading. Lots of good info, but now I have a question about the prusik/micro pulley setup. It would seem to me that if there was a failure of the standing line of the climbing rope (attached to anchor point on harness) that the prusik knot and micro pulley (attached to the running end)would not act as a second point of tie off. The running line would simply pull back through the crouch and down you go. I realize that this setup probably works great for limb walking and ascending but in the same scenario if the running line is severed and you lose balance, down you go unless a second tie is used. Murphy's guy (belayed by Murphy) says the Epps won't have to use a lanyard to climb with because of the setup. This worries me because the climbing line only acts as 1 tie in, the lanyard (flipline) is supposed to be the second tie in isn't it?

 

[Tree Pig]

You are correct about your assumption. The second tie in point would be his lanyard which he does use when cutting. While climibing its pretty common to have one tie in, either lanyard or climb line though it is also common and safer to use both, obviously this is assuming your climbing on spikes during a removal. If your just learning try and get someone experienced to give you some training it will make things much safer.

 

[crater]

Thanks for the chime-in stihl. I climbed years back but only had a belay man pull my slack to tend the rope. Embarresed to say that know but funny thing is, back then my balls were bigger and it things (body) didn't seem to hurt as much when I bumped them. Now I'm older and way more safety concious and know that I can make as much money as I want given I can work tomorrow and the next day. So in my book it's saftey first. I'd rather take 10hrs taking down a tree than spend 1 second in pain because of a unsafe accident

 

[Tree Pig]

I hear yeah, the guy that originally showed me the ropes was old school and would just toss a line over a limb and belay you on the way up the tree until you lanyard in. It was fast but if you ever fell no one could hold you up... well at least not me.

 

[crater]

I learned in the military. Man I wonder what OSHA would say about the crap we used then. Non locking biners, biners or d-rings as figure-8's, rope that no one had a clue about, LOTS of hundred mile an hour tape mixed with 550 cord. Anyway @ 38 I'm getting back into it and just wanted to get back up to speed (which maybe a crawl for awhile). Funny I used my first boom lift two weeks ago, took down a 65', 4'dbh silver maple seemed like the damn lift was in the way more than it did good. It was a Biljax (model??, rented it) went up to a working height of 51'. This is were some better rigging techique was needed. Nothing went wrong I just think there probally was a better way of rigging it upon hindsight. Experence is invaluable, and also the ability to learn from history. The "this is the way we always have done it" assumes there is only one way to do it. BS in my opinion