Have you changed your style ?

[beastmaster]

I am a big fan of the rads system. I foot lock with it so I forgot that most people use a footstrap with that method. The footstrap makes it even easier. My goal was to try and keep my srt as equipmentless as possible. It's really easy to footlock on the rads, because you use the handled ascender also as you move up.

Pdqdl, the secret weapon is working off of a SRT(single rope technique)system to access the tree. then using a prussic anywhere on the single rope, switching over to a DRT(double rope technique)

Iustinian, if you have your SRT anchored on the ground, you wouldn't have to climb up to retrieve the line it could be lowerd from the ground when you were throu. Or am I missing something?

For the action, on really long ascends I use a croll chest ascender, with a handled ascender, a foot strap on one leg and a panten(sp?) on the other. Though equipment intensive, by far the fastest, easiest, way to access a tall tree. I can't remember what they call that, but its like walking up the tree.

 

[ForTheArborist]

BM, it's called a Frog Technique. I think.
Ascending - Frog Type Systems - YouTube

You'll like how this guy has the two pantenes working.
DLRW - YouTube

PDQ, look up secret weapon on treestuff.com Just attach that guy on your SRT, but put a Alpine Butterfly under it once you have it to the height you like. Then you can do what your thing with the DRT out of the two green rings.

 

[sgreanbeans]

I need a video on all this! I wouldn't mine giving it a try, but I don't wanna go buy all the stuff before I see it in action. I have been deadly accurate with a big shot for 10 years now! Did you know they can shoot a rock over the Mississippi! OH YEAH! Need binos to mark your shot, dont hit anybody with a water balloon with it, it hurts, anyways! On a big canopy, if I am pruning, I will often shoot one over a long reaching branch, and foot lock right up to it. My problem is doing that several times, so the SRT makes this easier, I am interested, also in the SRT to DRT thing. Will be interesting to see.

Another FYI for all you gadget geeks, our Active Endeavor Store just reopened, bigger and better. They have tons of rock climbing gear. Lots of Petzl stuff, just for comparison, their helmets (exact same that we use) are 65 bucks, double locking biners, 12 bucks. Loop slings 2-4 bucks, CHEAP! They are getting in rock exotica swivels and such, I would expect they will be much cheaper as well.
Couldn't get a price on descender's and such, as they where not in yet. Just saying, dont rely just on the Arb stores, if ya have a store like this, check it out, has saved me lots of mula!

 

[pdqdl]

Thanks, FTA. I think I get the picture.

It looks to me like you would have a bunch of extra ropes hanging around in the tree. I suppose it work to an advantage some of the time. That would leave 4 lines hanging down from the tree, not counting any bull ropes. Three ropes attached right where the climber is at, too.

I think it makes more sense to raise a doubled line to the tip by using a single rope anchored at the base of the tree, then climbing the doubled line "srt-style", while maintaining the ability to go DRT at any point. I'm not real partial to setting a prussic way above my head where I couldn't tend it.

 

[treeclimber101]

I haven't changed anything in reguards to climbing , but in reguards to my wardrobe I have started wearing the new T's with the extra 3" of material in the back so my ass doesn't show when I pick something up or bend over to fix something , pretty radical I know but the weather has changed and a cold asscrack isn't fun

 

[beastmaster]

I haven't changed anything in reguards to climbing , but in reguards to my wardrobe I have started wearing the new T's with the extra 3" of material in the back so my ass doesn't show when I pick something up or bend over to fix something , pretty radical I know but the weather has changed and a cold asscrack isn't fun

Where can I get some of those? I don't need a WM when I BOF during freezing weather. Anything to help prevent CAC is a welcome addition to my GBT's.

To help those who don't understand: WM wardrobe malfunction. BOF bendover and fix. GBT's growing bag of tricks. CAC well I'm sure were all acquainted with that one.:msp_biggrin: In fact anyone wanting to help prevent CAC, can send a blank check, or your credit card to: UR beat, Ca. 91730. care of beastmaster.

 

[ForTheArborist]

My order is sent. I ordered a dozen.

 

[Scrat]

Where can I get some of those? I don't need a WM when I BOF during freezing weather. Anything to help prevent CAC is a welcome addition to my GBT's.

To help those who don't understand: WM wardrobe malfunction. BOF bendover and fix. GBT's growing bag of tricks. CAC well I'm sure were all acquainted with that one.:msp_biggrin: In fact anyone wanting to help prevent CAC, can send a blank check, or your credit card to: UR beat, Ca. 91730. care of beastmaster.

Thanks for the definitions, and scary visuals, of the above acronyms. Fortunately my pants fit and I'm not over weight so the only way I would suffer CAC is if I decided to climb in my birthday suit.......doubtful to say the least.

 

[ForTheArborist]

Thanks for the definitions, and scary visuals, of the above acronyms. Fortunately my pants fit and I'm not over weight so the only way I would suffer CAC is if I decided to climb in my birthday suit.......doubtful to say the least.

No, don't! ANSI and OSHA. Enough said.

 

[sgreanbeans]

Ok, so I am sold on the idea, I have ordered the secret weapon, going to go up to the Active Endeavors to look at some acsenders and a pantin, this should be interesting. I will give it a whirl. I can, for the most part, hand over hand 25-30ft straight up, before taking a break, before I was hurt, I wouldn't stop, but to grab slack. Now, I can still go pretty good, but my shoulders wear out real fast. Thinking the pantin will help alot with the way I go now, if I am going straight into space. Dont know that I would work SRT, but I like the SRT to DRT thing, that makes sense to me. I agree with LXT about dressing the weapon tho,but feel the alpine would keep it in place and if it is dressed right from the beginning, I would think it would be ok, unless you are doing some serous bangin around
Still want a vidoe from you guys, the ones on U-tube are dudes in caves, wanna see it with a tree ninja

 

[Saw Dust Smoken]

Extra stuff

Setting a srt line then working off it drt? Why? Ya like hauling all the extra stuff around? Old habits are hard to let go! For 8 years I was stuck in the same rut. My body thanks me for moving on.
With all the different equipment available to use for srt. Get to work! Less time jacking with equipment.
Like many that switched to srt in the past. I only wish I'd done it sooner. Seems like you cheat climbing those big trees now! Put on twenty pounds since swithing. Gotta find something harder\more work to do.

 

[ForTheArborist]

Ok, so I am sold on the idea, I have ordered the secret weapon, going to go up to the Active Endeavors to look at some acsenders and a pantin, this should be interesting. I will give it a whirl. I can, for the most part, hand over hand 25-30ft straight up, before taking a break, before I was hurt, I wouldn't stop, but to grab slack. Now, I can still go pretty good, but my shoulders wear out real fast. Thinking the pantin will help alot with the way I go now, if I am going straight into space. Dont know that I would work SRT, but I like the SRT to DRT thing, that makes sense to me. I agree with LXT about dressing the weapon tho,but feel the alpine would keep it in place and if it is dressed right from the beginning, I would think it would be ok, unless you are doing some serous bangin around
Still want a vidoe from you guys, the ones on U-tube are dudes in caves, wanna see it with a tree ninja

There is a treeman's demo on youtube. It's three videos all called secret weapon and secret weapon 1 and 2. Click this vid, and the second two vids will show up on the side.

The Secret Weapon ! - YouTube


The first thing I think to do with the dual system is to shoot the SRT tail over a second crotch, and then slide out to the middle between the two SRT TIPs to lower down DRT wise.

 

[Iustinian]

Ok, so I am sold on the idea, I have ordered the secret weapon, going to go up to the Active Endeavors to look at some acsenders and a pantin, this should be interesting. I will give it a whirl. I can, for the most part, hand over hand 25-30ft straight up, before taking a break, before I was hurt, I wouldn't stop, but to grab slack. Now, I can still go pretty good, but my shoulders wear out real fast. Thinking the pantin will help alot with the way I go now, if I am going straight into space. Dont know that I would work SRT, but I like the SRT to DRT thing, that makes sense to me. I agree with LXT about dressing the weapon tho,but feel the alpine would keep it in place and if it is dressed right from the beginning, I would think it would be ok, unless you are doing some serous bangin around
Still want a vidoe from you guys, the ones on U-tube are dudes in caves, wanna see it with atree ninja

Ever hear this?: "your like a monkey up there!" ma'am, we prefer "ninja" hahahaha. One of my neighbors is cuban, he referred some work my way, and when they were asking how I'm going to get a lift to their tree he says, "my friend, he's a lika the spider, he going up, up, up." hahahahahahaha

 

[Iustinian]

There is a treeman's demo on youtube. It's three videos all called secret weapon and secret weapon 1 and 2. Click this vid, and the second two vids will show up on the side.

The Secret Weapon ! - YouTube


The first thing I think to do with the dual system is to shoot the SRT tail over a second crotch, and then slide out to the middle between the two SRT TIPs to lower down DRT wise.

If you do it as shown in the video, its important to realize that your TIP has to support double your weight. it takes equal pressure on the opposite side of the rope (thats secured to the tree) to hold you, as the side that you are hanging on, so if you weight 175lbs , you're putting 350lbs total on the branch that's holding you. Just wanted to point that out.

 

[beastmaster]

The bottom line is after you get conferrable with it, it physicality makes climbing easier in 80% of situations. I cliimb trees. Its all I know how to. I am getting older, I have no retirement plan. These techniques will keep me working for another 10 years longer then I could of otherwise. They work. and after 60? I'll buy a wraptor.:smile2:

 

[Blakesmaster]

There is a treeman's demo on youtube. It's three videos all called secret weapon and secret weapon 1 and 2. Click this vid, and the second two vids will show up on the side.

The Secret Weapon ! - YouTube


The first thing I think to do with the dual system is to shoot the SRT tail over a second crotch, and then slide out to the middle between the two SRT TIPs to lower down DRT wise.

I just don't get it. Why not find a crotch to tie into like a normal person when you reach your TIP and forget all the BS? If I ever saw a need for something like this it could easily be achieved with a prussik cord and a ####ing biner. Honestly, who in their right mind would spend money on this ####?

 

[ForTheArborist]

I just don't get it. Why not find a crotch to tie into like a normal person when you reach your TIP and forget all the BS? If I ever saw a need for something like this it could easily be achieved with a prussik cord and a ####ing biner. Honestly, who in their right mind would spend money on this ####?

Who cares who, Blake. Who cares. I'd encourage any climber to invest in some creative athleticism like that. Who the hick is going to get kick out of it? The climber. Who doesn't need to get bit about it? The spectator.

Climbers are in a league of there own, so get up there, try something new, and see if it gives you any good ideas. The last thing anyone needs is a dull climber

As long as a guy has a complete head on him, by all means get out there and do the danm thing. Then again, you could just stand around and point fingers like a mall baby.


First Ascent Extreme Freeclimbing DVD-Trailer - YouTube

Spiderjackery HD - YouTube

 

[beastmaster]

I just don't get it. Why not find a crotch to tie into like a normal person when you reach your TIP and forget all the BS? If I ever saw a need for something like this it could easily be achieved with a prussik cord and a ####ing biner. Honestly, who in their right mind would spend money on this ####?

Blake's that is assuming there is a convenient crotch. Off the SRT line you can pick the perfect place to place your prussic. It's easy to readjust it higher or lower.
But to be fair I only experimented a few times with this. So the jury's still out in my mind, but I think it has possibility. The times I tried it all I used was an old retired bee-line prussic and a biner.
Also you can redirect the end of the srt line off the end of a branch lets say and run your prussic there so there is access to the outer canopy of an otherwise difficult tree.
As I am getting more comfortable with working off the single rope I see less need for using another line off it, but I am sure there are situations where it would come in handy. No two jobs are ever alike. I like to think one of the things that make me a professional is when I look at a job I have the knowledge and tools to use the most efficient, safest, quickest ways of doing that job.
We have to stay informed to be on top of the game. New techniques or old techniques all have a place some where some time. If we limit our self to one or another were cheating our selfs. I say learn it all, use what works, and put the rest in inventory for when you may need it.

 

[ForTheArborist]

BM, you think like a scientist or a technician. That basically means you're money. :msp_wink:

Here, think about this one.

I've been out on branches that bow too much to work on when I'm getting way out there on them. Then to reach the rest that I can't get to, I get the pole saw out to hack at it. I can't get the right angle with it because the BRANCH IS BOWING.

So I think I take the SRT line from the TIP up high, then I put it over the far out fork on the branch. I then recover the end of the rope, and I tie it down low on the trunk. So I would have a full 270 degrees with the line.

Now don't put the bottom stretch tight. Leave it nice and loss, so you can just swing out on it when you're ready.

Once you swing out to the end, I get the right angle on the branch/s, you pull yourself back with the bottom stretch of the rope.

That's not all. BM, can you see what I can do out of that? :msp_rolleyes:

 

[derwoodii]

I was just thinking how radical my approach to climbing has changed in the last year and a half. This is due to the ''big shot", my throw ball practice, and SRT. I use SRT as often as I can to get into the trees. Its really has come in handy on some big leaners. I just go straight up. On big trims I set my line and either trim as I go up or as I go down, but with the line set out on the end of the canopy I can get to a lot of tree fast. Its so easy to come back up, I often will come down trimming as I go, Then ascend back up and reposition my line and do it in another section of the tree.
I actually don't climb as much as I did, preferring to just go straight up the rope though space to where I want to be in the tree.
I use to be the sorriest throw line thrower in the world. Now When I come up to a tree, besides my saddle and saw, I carry. my throw line bag.
My silky saw has changed the way I work too. So many innovations over the years. I owe a lot to this site for teaching and informing me of whats out there and happening in the tree world. Now if they would just come out with a lazer gun pruner Ied be set. Beastmaster

Ha my 1st job 1981 we free climbed everything no rope not even a belt to hold the saw worked off ladders a lot and just swung around on the lowering rope when it suited but then in 1983 I was shown a basic harness a rope prussik and bowline wow wee. I been using the same old technique hand throw line, hip thrust up & hack the tree on the way down since. I left that crew sayin, if ya don't evolve in business you will die out.

All the good gear n ideas that came after this, a lot in the last decade has been great energy n time savers. I see blokes at climbin comps with tons of pimped up gear and I regret not havin the chance to use and enjoy it. But I gotta say a lot of gear may have reach its zenith and I see way to much on harness hooks to my mind worthy for use or it opens up holes in gear safety.


And yes I been dreaming of that lazer trimmer as you, while I fear they could genetic splice a better monkey and put us outta a job.:monkey: