Limbwalking!!!

[treeguy347]

I limbwalked for my first time last week! I did some pruning at my aunt's house, and could afford to take a bit more time, so I tried it. Having rock climbed since age 10, I found it to be much easier than I thought. Some of the best climbing I've ever done. I had a good high TIP and used a Petzl Gri-gri for handling the rope while moving. When I stopped to cut or went to take my hands off rope, I backed the gri-gri up with an ascender I had clipped to my saddle. Just like to be safe in case anything snags that cam. I think the gri-gri or any products like it are the solution to ropehandling troubles for this.

 

[rahtreelimbs]

I am glad someone brought this up. I hope this thread gets a lot of replies. Limbwalking and the methods used always piques my interest.

 

[treeguy347]

Now that I've done it once, I'm hooked, just waiting on a calm day to go practice some in the trees by the house. I'm very interested to find out more about the techniques also, especially in dealing with the rope.

 

[rahtreelimbs]

You members that are using a friction saver with a pulley: do you ever find that the lack of friction causes the whole rope/hitch assembly to react to fast? In other words, does the rope pay out to fast when walking out a limb?

I hope I said that right!

 

[TheTreeSpyder]

i like the bufferring stability of a little frictional drag on natural limb.

 

[Tim Gardner]

Originally posted by rich hoffman
You members that are using a friction saver with a pulley: do you ever find that the lack of friction causes the whole rope/hitch assembly to react to fast? In other words, does the rope pay out to fast when walking out a limb?

I hope I said that right!

Hi Rich,

Your question is a very good one and I think it has been addressed here before but here goes my try at it. I feel like it has to do with how much time you have put into your tress cord or whatever your hitch set up is. A well made V.T. will will work smooth as silk. The lenght and type of cord as well as the type of climbing line make a lot of difference. After climbing with your choice of hitch for a while you will get a "feel" for it. In other words you will not have to think about it and will adjust it according to the current situation. At least that is how it works for me. The lack of all that friction helps make it easier for me to make my way out and most importantly my way back.

If you have your doubts about it try it on the ground first and then in the tree. I have rings and hooks in the rafters to try my gears and new techniques out first before climbing. Don't do it barefooted on carpet tho, you will bust your a$$ when your rope gets to about 45*.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Originally posted by Tim Gardner
Don't do it barefooted on carpet tho, you will bust your a$$ when your rope gets to about 45*. [/B]

That sounds like experiance talking

 

[Greg]

Waiting for a calm day? Nothing better than a fun climb on a nice windy day, I love swaying up in the sticks. For me the best set up for limb walking is a high TIP, a distal on a micropulley tied very close. Using that set up on my climbing line, and lanyard works very well for one handed adjustment. Also keep you butt on the rope, don't try to run out the limb standing straight up like tarzan.
Greg

 

[mikecross23]

I'm with Greg about the wind. It feels great to be in a tree and have the wind just rippin' past!

Treeguy347,
You should try a friction hitch and pulley for your rope adjustment. When I first started climbing on rope, I thought a mechanical device would be the best method for regulating my ropes length or ascending/descending. Then I learned that my distel hitch works so much better and I don't have to worry about backing it up when I take my hands off of it. It's also a one handed operation where slack can be removed with a pull on the tail of the rope.

I've never used a gri-gri but have tried climbing using a petzl stop as my rope grabbing device and also a petzl basic rope grab. Neither were comparable to the good old distel or even a blakes hitch for that matter. The advanced hitches just open up a world of options while climbing trees.

-Mike-

 

[mikecross23]

Rich,
I have never used a pulley @ my tip. I want to try it but haven't had any time lately for experimenting/play climbing. I like the added friction created from a natural crotch better than the lack of friction when using a friction saver. That's why I don't use mine anymore. Maybe not the right way, but that's my way.

-Mike-

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Natural crotch climbing is not wrong, unless you have a thin barked tree and "burn the crotch out of your TIP.

 

[treeclimber165]

I've started using friction savers a lot lately, probably 75% of the time. I have a few I made, the shortest is about 20" and the longest is 32" (I like tying in high on small forks). I use a steel biner on one end and a rated screw link on the other end (The Petzl 'Go' screw link is rated for 500lbs working load). The reduction in friction is nice but not critical to me. It is very helpful on pine removals and keeps a lot of the sap off my rope. Also, the amount of friction is the same on every climb regardless of where I'm tied in.

Never used a mechanical hitch. I like the Distel tied short. Currently my 8mm tres cords are 23" eye to eye.

 

[Tim Kasulinous]

there is nothing like a really long limb walk. I also have been finding it much easier than before to access the tips of long limbs by using a second TIP and stuff like that.

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

Brian's using a FC, what next?

When I do a limb walk, it is always easier if there is consistant friction on my line. Less friction is also smoother to move with. This is why I prefer the hitch systems that incude a pulley, unlike the knut hitch or those the use a cheap clip to advance the hitch.
I have not sprung for the mechanical type devices that replace hitches, because I feel they are still evolving, but this type system is ideal for ease of moving away from the TIP.

 

[treeguy347]

From my limited experience, I prefer the friction of a natural crotch as opposed to a false crotch. It has a nicer feel to it, seems to be a bit more control.

 

[tjk]

Tim I agree with you 100 %. Once you have you friction hitch all worked out nothing compares. I climb on an adjustable ring- pulley friction saver or a rope guide. You made the comment about how it is easier to get out and easier to get back in. Now lets think about that. We are FIGHTING gravity all day long. With natrual crotch climbing you have added friction so you have to pull out added weight, you have to pull out more than you weight, using extra energy. Now getting back in same thing applies, you must pull in extra weight to get in and pull extra weight to advance your hitch, reduce the friction you reduce fatiuge and you can climb more pruductivly and more efficiantly. and with that less stress comes a safer day. All of our top climbers climb in this fashion. If I took away thier friction saver, they will not climb. They would say I can do it but I will not get as much done. Leta keep this going I would like to hear some benefits of increasing the friction.