Hey John,
I had the same discussion with Ken Palmer. 95% of westcoast conifer climbers would be naked without their fliplines. Personally, I once nicked the steel core, some 25 years ago. I was fairly green at the time. The line got caught on a stub or bark behind the tree. I felt the steel and stopped. Only a few strands were cut.
However, I fully understand that the steel core can be cut clean through. About five years ago, two of us were in an ivy covered tri-dominant previously topped maple. one trunk was already fallen across a fence. But that's not the story. We heard sirens. Next day, when we returned to finish the job, the customer told us what had happened. A nearby homeowner, an unemployed logger, was removing several doug firs. He cut through his flip line and fell 40 feet to a roof, and was killed. Later, we heard that he was using a steel core flip line. Most likely this info was correct, as everyone uses them out here.
So while most climbers out here do not use two tie ins when blocking, limbing, or lowering wood, and I include myself in those statistics (about half the time anyhow), I know of no other resultant accidents. I'm sure there have been some instances though. I would far rather just use one steel flip line, than have two floppy lanyards, which are much easier to cut, as they dont hold as straight a line around the tree. And just a light nick could send one or both of them flying, which would leave the climber where? So, if anyone want to lecture me about not always following to the letter the ANSI two tie in requirements, I don't mind. We're working on it. But old habits die slowly.
However, a more important issue, I think, is the simple skill of knot tying. In our new climbing techniques, simple has gone out the window. What used to be one rope, tied to saddle, then a tautline hitch, and a backup, is now a deadend, split tail, double locking carabiners, and a backup. More places to fail! I know of four locals who have fallen from improper knot tying. The latest caualty was a certified arborist who fell, breaking his neck. Another broke his leg, a third was not hurt much at all. The fourth fellow was standing delicately on an orchard ladder, attempting to tie a double fisherman's to dead end his lifeline. The line was preset by another climber, and he just had a minor heated discussion with another worker. So his attention was not focused enough. He jumped onto the line off the 12 foot ladder, and was footlocking the tail into a giant atlas cedar. Some 20-30 feet later, he was kicking air, then landed on a slight slope and rolled onto asphalt. He climbed back up into the tree and worked for an hour until the pain got too intense. Ended up with a pin in his ankle. This fourth accident, was the first, and it was yours truly. This was about seven years ago, shortly after the new climbing wave started. Should have been no problem for me, as I have years of technical rock and mountain climbing experience.
Anyhow, it is never too late to learn , change, grow, build new skills, refine safety techniques.....I'm sure many of us, myself certainly, need to add more safe procedures, even if at the expense of slowing down the work.
I had the same discussion with Ken Palmer. 95% of westcoast conifer climbers would be naked without their fliplines. Personally, I once nicked the steel core, some 25 years ago. I was fairly green at the time. The line got caught on a stub or bark behind the tree. I felt the steel and stopped. Only a few strands were cut.
However, I fully understand that the steel core can be cut clean through. About five years ago, two of us were in an ivy covered tri-dominant previously topped maple. one trunk was already fallen across a fence. But that's not the story. We heard sirens. Next day, when we returned to finish the job, the customer told us what had happened. A nearby homeowner, an unemployed logger, was removing several doug firs. He cut through his flip line and fell 40 feet to a roof, and was killed. Later, we heard that he was using a steel core flip line. Most likely this info was correct, as everyone uses them out here.
So while most climbers out here do not use two tie ins when blocking, limbing, or lowering wood, and I include myself in those statistics (about half the time anyhow), I know of no other resultant accidents. I'm sure there have been some instances though. I would far rather just use one steel flip line, than have two floppy lanyards, which are much easier to cut, as they dont hold as straight a line around the tree. And just a light nick could send one or both of them flying, which would leave the climber where? So, if anyone want to lecture me about not always following to the letter the ANSI two tie in requirements, I don't mind. We're working on it. But old habits die slowly.
However, a more important issue, I think, is the simple skill of knot tying. In our new climbing techniques, simple has gone out the window. What used to be one rope, tied to saddle, then a tautline hitch, and a backup, is now a deadend, split tail, double locking carabiners, and a backup. More places to fail! I know of four locals who have fallen from improper knot tying. The latest caualty was a certified arborist who fell, breaking his neck. Another broke his leg, a third was not hurt much at all. The fourth fellow was standing delicately on an orchard ladder, attempting to tie a double fisherman's to dead end his lifeline. The line was preset by another climber, and he just had a minor heated discussion with another worker. So his attention was not focused enough. He jumped onto the line off the 12 foot ladder, and was footlocking the tail into a giant atlas cedar. Some 20-30 feet later, he was kicking air, then landed on a slight slope and rolled onto asphalt. He climbed back up into the tree and worked for an hour until the pain got too intense. Ended up with a pin in his ankle. This fourth accident, was the first, and it was yours truly. This was about seven years ago, shortly after the new climbing wave started. Should have been no problem for me, as I have years of technical rock and mountain climbing experience.
Anyhow, it is never too late to learn , change, grow, build new skills, refine safety techniques.....I'm sure many of us, myself certainly, need to add more safe procedures, even if at the expense of slowing down the work.
