I became a statistic

[hobby climber]

Newb, glad your still with the living!!! Heal well bro. I recall a post made a year ago or so regarding tie in points(TIPs). It goes on about climbers becoming overconfident with there ropes, saddle and other equipment that they overlook what they tie in to. From the ground, we just can't tell how strong the crotch or branch actually is that we set our ropes. Experience will help us decide if its safe enough or not but remember there are no guaranties in nature so never assume. BTW, binoculars are a great tool to have in the truck! Thanks for sharing this with us! HC

 

[trevmcrev]

Newb, glad your still with the living!!! Heal well bro. I recall a post made a year ago or so regarding tie in points(TIPs). It goes on about climbers becoming overconfident with there ropes, saddle and other equipment that they overlook what they tie in to. From the ground, we just can't tell how strong the crotch or branch actually is that we set our ropes. Experience will help us decide if its safe enough or not but remember there are no guaranties in nature so never assume. BTW, binoculars are a great tool to have in the truck! Thanks for sharing this with us! HC

Good post, and i second that about the binoculars.

 

[xtremetrees]

Excelent post redline it.!
Tip # 5. Looking up as you climb. I do that too, just the other day a small dead limb whizzed just past my eye (pencil size spear that fell 50 feet.) Gotta wear them glasses. At least to get to the top by then there all fogged up.

How you feeling today newb?

 

[Fireaxman]

(Height) Adjustable False Crotch

Binoculars very good idea. Thanks, I'm putting a pair in my kit tonight.

The (Height) Adjustable False Crotch described on page 50 of the second edition of Tree Climber's Companion is also good insurance for questionable tie in points, particularly if there are other, more substantial branches under the primary TIP. If the primary fails, the anchor side of the AFC can catch a lower branch.

This "Trick of the Trade" described by Jepson has become my favorite way to enter the canopy for several reasons I have described in other threads.

 

[gitrdun_climbr]

similar thing happened to me

Tail end of my first year climbing I was raising the declining skirt of a 100' doug fir to about 35'. I learned to climb on ropes and trims and at that point didn't even own a pair of spikes yet. Understanding my lack of experience I opted to not only cut with two tie-ins but to always climb on at least two tie-ins as well. To me, simple mathematics would dictate a drastic decrease in exposure to fall with the addition of a second tie-in, throughout. At an ISA climbing competition I recently checked out in Portland they actually endorse swinging around from leader to leader at 40' from a single tie-in in the small crotches in the top of the tree, just to see who can ring the bell the fastest. I like to put as little shock into my system as possible..but anyhow..

I gunned a bag into the best position I could on the better of the many drooping branches at about 35' and installed a line. Once geared up and off the ground a few feet I slapped my flipline around the trunk and proceeded to thrust up the tree. At about 30 feet, under 10 feet from my tie-in the rope started to slide down the branch despite that I set my line around the trunk and exiting to the opposing side of the tree. At about halfway down the branch the branch snapped and my flipline caught me cleanly and held me against the trunk. As I hung I was nervous to have only THAT tie-in point but I was on trunk wood so I was fine as I quickly pulled a throwbag and reset my climbing line. Below were hardscapes and other unforgiving targets had I fallen. To this day I sacrifice a few extra minutes in the tree to virtually guarantee I won't hit the ground by maintaining more than one tie-in...unless of course the whole tree fails.

newb I wish you luck in your recovery. Very nice of you to share your story with us...hopefully it will shake some of the contentedness from our daily routines to evaluate what we can do to make our hazardous profession more safe. Do you plan to climb again?

 

[newb]

Hey All, Thanks for all the comments and concerns. As of now I do plan to climb again, although watching my tie in break I couldn't tell you what I'd have paid for a pound of feathers! As far as a second tie in, thats what I was getting ready to install when my TIP broke. I have to agree with xtreme, looking at the big picture, I should have thrown to the center of the tree for a TIP and then spiked up the leader I was tied into. The tree is in decline anyhow, and the customer was more concerned about saying money anyhow. Live and learn. I also want to thank the local climbers who have stepped forward and offered their assistance, Thanks Pete