Desending on a VT?

[masiman]

I used to like doing a fast rappel, until I went to the small diameter cord and started burning my fingers while holing the barrel of the hitch. Which, I might add, is a good indicator as to weather you risk melting your line

Note to self: melting finger flesh while rappeling could indicate overheating in the rope

Eddie, some will use twist locks but I would not unless they are doubled and opposing.

 

[tree MDS]

So now we are having problems getting down too guys? Here I thought it was just the ascending that posed the biggest problem, lol.

 

[ATH]

.......... in long descents I can incorporate my Petzl Pirana(figure eight) without having to take off my VT. This allows me to have a back up to the fiqure eight, which is also suggested when descending. This will take the friction out of the prusik and put it in the eight, but if you were to lose your hand on the eight you will still have the prusik there to catch.
...

That is what I have been doing as well. Works great, and is very safe.

 

[Nailsbeats]

So now we are having problems getting down too guys? Here I thought it was just the ascending that posed the biggest problem, lol.

It's complicated MDS, you wouldn't understand, lol.

 

[murphy4trees]

An 8 or a munter is all pretty much the same to me, just more gear with the 8..
Welcome Eddie.. nice post.. good contribution to the conversation...

The system of backing up a munter or 8 with your friction hitch was taught by Mark Chisholm in a seminar on progreaaive climbing and rigging.. He particularly liked it for descending on a single line after choking his climbing line to the top of the spar with a running bowline.. The line would be remotely retrieved by either leaving a long tail on the bowline or hanging a secondary piece of cordage from the bowline. Particularly of use when working down a heavy front leaner to protect the climber in case of barber chair... Not used often in my experieince, but a nice trick to have in your bag when it is needed..

ps KC... call me 804-283-3214

 

[blewgrass]

The Munter is great hitch, and can be used for many different apps. But it too should be backed up with something even if it is just someone on the ground keeping a hand on the descent line just in case. We all need to remember that we have to use triple auto locking carabiners for life support, I don't believe twist locks are acceptable. Could someone clearify that for me?

with most belay devices a person on the ground can pull down on the rope and act as your braking hand in the case of an emergency, i've always known it as a fireman's brake. But a munter is the opposite of most belay devices in that you have to raise the braking hand to slow your descent. a person tending the line on the ground would be of little use with a munter set up.

screw locking carabiners are not supposed to be used for your personal safety in tree work, but some people (me) still use them for rigging.

 

[eddiesimril@aol]

Yep, thats where I heard it came from also. I believe I saw it in an ArborMaster video as well.
A buddy of mine gave me the idea of wearing my Pirana attached to the ring on the front of my Cougar. It works really well not just for descending but its nice to have it there when I want to belay myself back to the tree from a long limb walk. I don't have to take it off to load it.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

So now we are having problems getting down too guys? Here I thought it was just the ascending that posed the biggest problem, lol.

I don't have a problem with gettin down or gettin up.


What were we talking about again?

 

[tree MDS]

Sorry john, I couldn't resist that one.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Sorry john, I couldn't resist that one.

That makes two of us Yours just begged the rejoinder. (http://www.answers.com/rejoinder)

 

[(WLL)]

I climb using a bee line prusik and blue streak rope. I've been descending on the VT only. I was just reading the climber's companion to review and keep current (as we all should do from time to time) and I noticed that on pg. 49 it recommends not to descend "solely" on the friction hitch. I've been using only the VT to descend. Am I wrong?:monkey:

if yer going drt than you are not solely on the hitch. srt is solely on the hitch, give it a try and you will understand what the book is telling you.

 

[cutitup]

True, but what about this..... When chunking down a spar I tie a running bowline around the spar with my climbing line ( in addition to my lanyard). In that case I guess you could say it's 'srt'. However I'm not hot rodding down I just am moving a few feet at a time.

 

[(WLL)]

True, but what about this..... When chunking down a spar I tie a running bowline around the spar with my climbing line ( in addition to my lanyard). In that case I guess you could say it's 'srt'. However I'm not hot rodding down I just am moving a few feet at a time.

the above is not a bad way to go if your only taking a few steps down. its a pita to rapp down srt on any barrel hitch,you need to take the load off to use the hitch fer anything other than a lock. the more load applied on the hitch the tighter it gets. imo its better for me to to walk down in hooks with drt and a lanyard,cinch my drt and whopp the chunk off. i like using my custom rg if im doing long stub-less spar work. its easy to burn up a new hitch cord when burning down and a total reckless way ta wast hard ernd money imo.

 

[Deuce-fir]

Descending on a VT

sometimes I add an extra wrap on my VT, if it's feeling particularly slippy that day, and I don't want to be worrying on grabbing it all the time to make it bite. Does anyone want to weigh in on whether this would create more burn because there is more friction or less because you descend more slowly. Any other thoughts about the performance of a hitch when wraps or braids are added or taken away would be cool.