limb walking

[jeffrockhall]

i been doing part time tree work for many years, most of what i learned has been on my own. so far i havent hurt anything or got killed, probably thank god for that. before my luck ran out i decided to go get some real training. i went to arbormaster training took climbing 1 and 2. i must say if anyone needs help in climbing or lookin for a new technique it was most informative. those instructors made it look so easy and effortless to get around in a tree. i use a sport jack ascendor and decendor, im sorrry i got used to it because there was no need for me to learn any friction hitches for climbing. the sport jack device is not worth a *#@$ for limb walking, is there a hitch better than the next hitch for limb walking? my limb walking needs some serous help. any help would be greatly apprecaited.....

 

[Jim1NZ]

You will be surprised how much you can learn if your willing a. Yea i found the only bad thing about the lock jacks, is controlling them on decent and limb walks.

When limb walking, keep your weight in your harness so your climbing line is always tight. Let the rope do the work. Look at your tutors technique if hes good.

Check out other posts on prussics, its all there. To be smooth, you should have a friction device, at least a cambium saver.

 

[Lumberjack]

Check out my thread called: Tuning advanced friction hitches. For my climbing line I cant beat a VT.

Whats your height/weight? I use a 4/3 VT with 44" of 5/16" sta set. For a lanyard I am liking my 4/1 distel using 40" of 5/16" but I am going to try it with 42" of 3/8" Tennex. Should make it easier on the uptake.

Welcome to AS!

High TIP are always important! 40' limbwalks are not uncommon for me, a high TIP and/or a second TIP makes limbwalks ALOT easier!

 

[rwilk]

I wish my limb walking was half as good as some of those instructors. I seem to be an OK limb walker going out, but more of a limb crawler coming back in. But like everthing else in this business. Practice, Practice, Practice

Be safe
rwilk

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Like Jim says, you really must have a false crotch of some kind in order to get the best performance from the LockJack.

I'll bet that you'll find that a friction hitch will seem to have the same working characteristics as the LJ. Since you're a new climber you don't have a large stock of experiences to measure from. After climbing for a while you'll be able to recognize more subtleties.

Weclome to tree climbing!

 

[clearance]

Lumberjack is right about a high tie in, get as high as you can, tie in with a tautline come on down and walk out. I like it when I can put my lanyard around a higher branch, but if I can't I just lean sideways, make a wrap with my lanyard and spur out.

 

[Jim1NZ]

Limb waling is probably the hardiest thing to try to explain how to do.
I thought of a few extra things you could try...
1. Keep a low center of gravity to keep you balance easier.
2. Try having one arm guiding you on the branch your walking on, and the other sliding the prussic. I think this is only any good if the branch is at a steep angle or you are way away from were your tied into.
3. if your really warred, have your lanyard around the branch as well

See how it goes, hope i made a bit of sense.

 

[jeffrockhall]

another thing i need to get over is that i have this need to want to hold on to something when im trying to limbwalk, it seems i cant keep my balance, its probally learning to trust my rope, its a hard thing to get over...

 

[Jim1NZ]

That is just time int the tree mate, YOU MUST TRUST YOUR GEAR!

But get a shop or tutors etc to check its safe and to an excellent standard.

Dont climb with spurs until your confident at climbing with out them, or you will just cheat yourself.
Dont mean to offend anyone by that.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Balance is a big thing and muscle development is a big part of that.

Look into Thai Chi or Yoga for some good excercizes to build up the leg muscles

 

[jason j ladue]

great call, john. i have been considering the study of martial arts to help w/ climbing. the movements of each discipline seem to be compatible w/ eachother. also range of motion and being limber are key in limb walking/climbing.

 

[pantheraba]

great call, john. i have been considering the study of martial arts to help w/ climbing. the movements of each discipline seem to be compatible w/ eachother. also range of motion and being limber are key in limb walking/climbing.

I sent you a pvt. email that addresses some of this.

 

[Jim1NZ]

Dont forget flexibility as well

 

[clearance]

How about wearing caulk boots with new caulks?

 

[MasterBlaster]

No.

 

[vharrison2]

lol

 

[treeseer]

What the heck is a caulk boot? Never mind. On a few trees--hickores, red oaks-- heavy boots may be useful; on others I'd rather be barefoot, for grip and balance. Only with a sympatico audience, of course.

In wide trees I always carry a 2nd rope; I like 10mm for flippability. That or use your tail for a double tie-in.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Caulk boots are spiked boots for loggers.

Not limb walking.

 

[clearance]

Guys lighten up. Caulks are like mini spikes, I have thought about taking out the two caulks nearest the heel out of my caulks so I could put my spurs on. When I am falling or slashing in the bush I always wear my caulks. When I am climbing on a r.o.w. it sucks to walk in my climbing boots over logs, branches etc.. Treeseer, I guess you have never worked in the bush before, caulk boots are like magnets on steel. You can run around on wet logs, you hardly ever fall down, once you wear them you always want them.

 

[MasterBlaster]

For sure. But if we're talking about limbwalking, we're usually talking about trims. So, no "mini-spikes."