Grapnel Use in Trees

[Tim Gardner]

I plan to use a grapnel while climbing. I would like to get input from climbers whom have actually used one for tree work. My main use for one will be to snag the lowering line when it is placed in another tree out of my reach or for retrieving the working end of my climbing line while making a new pitch.



http://www.yahoo-geo.com/DCP01544.JPG

 

[treeclimber165]

I'd be interested in hearing how it works for you, how much it gets in your way and what other uses you come up for it.

I tend to prefer multi-purpose items to minimize how much crap I carry with me. For instance, I can snag a rope hanging within 9'-10' by using my adjustable lanyard (7' fully extended) with steel snap. I also can use that same lanyard for snapping out small deadwood that is just out of reach (instead of calling for someone to send me up a polesaw, which I then need to find a way to carry). I also can use it as a false crotch, a redirect, and several other uses that I can't recall right now.

 

[Tim Gardner]

Originally posted by treeclimber165
I'd be interested in hearing how it works for you, how much it gets in your way and what other uses you come up for it.

I tend to prefer multi-purpose items to minimize how much crap I carry with me. For instance, I can snag a rope hanging within 9'-10' by using my adjustable lanyard (7' fully extended) with steel snap. I also can use that same lanyard for snapping out small deadwood that is just out of reach (instead of calling for someone to send me up a polesaw, which I then need to find a way to carry). I also can use it as a false crotch, a redirect, and several other uses that I can't recall right now.

Sometimes I will swing large leads out of the tree I am working in by roping from another tree. The limbs/leads will swing in a large arc and will be lowered to the DZ before all of its weight is loaded onto the line. By doing this I minimize the shock load on both trees and rope. A lot of times this lowering line is twenty feet or more away from me and I would like an easier way of retrieving the line than having a groundie trying to swing the rope over to me or having to pull it back up with my climbing line. I would like to see someone try to snag that rope with a lanyard. I have my grapnel on a small wind up reel to make deploying it fast and tangle free. This is one of the reasons I wanted climbers that have used a grapnel in a tree to reply to this thread. I want to know tips or tricks using one. Not what someone that has never tried to use one thought.

 

[rbtree]

Tim

Do a people search for "dan kraus" and email him your questions. He has one... and I plan one getting one.

Cool tool!! Get yours from New Tribe?

 

[Tim Gardner]

Originally posted by rbtree
Tim

Do a people search for "dan kraus" and email him your questions. He has one... and I plan one getting one.

Cool tool!! Get yours from New Tribe?

I wish I had one of New Tribe's King Grapnels. I am just a humble and poor climber so I had to home make mine.

 

[Toddppm]

Have you used yours yet? Looks like you'd ned more hook to hang on to a rope?

Isn't it a grapple or is there something new about it like snapple?

 

[DDM]

How big is the hook? kinda hard to get a size from the picture.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

I got a newtribe grapple.

For setting lines

1. use ball as you normaly would and isolate the line
2. girth hitch the grappnel onto the line between you and the new TIP. Extra weight, such as a Karab may be needed.
3. swing grap out and flick it around to catch the end the ball is loading
4. pull to retriev the ball
5. note that you need to ensure there is enough line to pull every thing back to you
   [/list=1]
   
   The trickiest thing is getting the ball to rest without it going all te way to the growund. I usualy need a little slack to make every thing work right.
   
   Terminaly tied and weighted it can be used to snag hangers out from below you.
   
   I've used it to retrive ropes/MTIP caught in crotches when a noose was too light
   
   I once pulled a snap caught in a crotch I was not able to climb to. Long story, don't want to talk about it Shoulda clipped it to my saddle before down-climbing
   
   ----
   
   It is kept in a small line bag with 60 ft of line I can clip it to the back middle loop of my saddle and everything is out of my way.
   
   Not used every week, but they run for around 15 bucks at newtribe, and one transfer can pay for that. i got mine at a show for 8.

 

[Tim Gardner]

Originally posted by Toddppm
Have you used yours yet? Looks like you'd ned more hook to hang on to a rope?

Isn't it a grapple or is there something new about it like snapple?

I am just guessing but with nothing in the pic to use to judge size it would be hard to tell if the hooks were the right size. I have done tests on the ground at different distances and so far all has gone well. The “in tree” test will let me know for sure though.


Grapnel (n.) A small anchor, with four or five flukes or claws, used to hold boats or small vessels; hence, any instrument designed to grapple or hold; a grappling iron; a grab.

 

[Toddppm]

Well I'll be , sure enough , never heard it described as a grapnel

How much does it weigh?

 

[Tim Gardner]

Originally posted by Toddppm
Well I'll be , sure enough , never heard it described as a grapnel

How much does it weigh?

Hey, don't feel bad bro. I was calling it a grapple also until I seen the New Tribe catalog.

Below is a link to the King Grapnel in the New Tribe online catalog for anyone that is interested in one.

http://www.newtribe.com/tree_entry.html

 

[DDM]

. We supply each one with 20 feet of 1/8” throwline, which is about the maximum distance you can effectively snag a line. High visibility orange color.


LOL Apparently they never thought of using it as a big shot projectile.

 

[Toddppm]

Wow only 3 ounces, 4 inches long. Neat

 

[Tim Gardner]

I had made a grapnel about 7 years ago but there were a few things wrong with it so I abandoned the use of it. It had only three hooks, the line was too short and the line was too heavy (5/16” double braid). When I saw what New Tribe had done I decided to try it again.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

The only time in my life I ever heard of a grapnel is from New Tribe. All other times I've read grapple. No big deal, to mate toe to mot toe...

If you ever use a grapple to lift a piece of stuck gear or a hanger out of the tree, you need to have a retrieval method. After setting the throwline I get the weight on the ground and then pull down about as much line as the distance from me to the stuck thing. That's where I girth hitch the grapple. If I need extra weight, I clip a biner into the top loop and girth hitch the other end of the biner above the grapple. Now it's time to pull the grapple up. Before pulling the end of the line off the ground, tie the ends of the throwline together. Now you have a loop of line. This way you can pull the grapple back down or flick it over towards the object. Works every time!

I've gone months without using mine and then use it in a flurry for a week. A good investment.

Tom

 

[Tim Gardner]

JPS & Tom,

Thank you for the replies. Those are ways I never thought of to use the grapple. It seems like it is a more versatile tool than I had thought.

I keep a throw ball on my saddle and rarely need to use it but when I do it is well worth the trouble of carrying it. I think the grapple will also be standard saddle gear from now on.

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

When I first saw the grapple I was so excited about using it. Then I found out how it is supposed to be used. See, I thought it was like the thing bat man used, life supporting. I envisioned throwing it into the crotch of an adjacent tree, tugging a couple times to make sure it was secure, and pulling myself over.
What a let down to see how it's suposed to work.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Well, if you got spectra line and a thick barked tree..I imaging it would be rough on the hands though

 

[Tim Gardner]

The way I understand it, grapple is what you are doing, a verb. A grapnel is the tool, a noun.


grapple ( grápp’l ) to hook or hold something with a grapnel or other hooked device

grapnel ( grápnl ) a device consisting of an iron shaft with several hooks at one end and a rope at the other by which it can be thrown to attach itself to something.

 

[Tim Gardner]

Tom,

What is the length of line you attach the grapnel to when you are using it in the tree? New Tribe claims that 20’ is about the max for snagging a line. How far have you been able to retrieve a line from?