Newbie newb

[Grendel]

Hello, I've been Lurking here for a few weeks now, and I'm new to climbing. Thank you to everyone who contributes here!

A little backstory.

Work has been using the same tree service for years. Limbing up and blocking down big leaners that were close to our buildings. The climber that company used was excellent. More recently we used a different tree service, and watching their climber, I started to think that if I had that equipment and a little knowledge, I could do that job. . . I started looking at the trees differently after that.

I've been working behind a chainsaw for about ten years now, felling open timber, clearing roads and trails, dismantling deadfalls, and collecting firewood. I feel confident in my ability to adapt what I have learned about the chainsaw to work in the tree itself. However the climbing part is totally new to me.

So now that I have saved, spent, and learned a few knots, I have some very basic questions.

Climbing without spikes, advancing my friction hitch with a micro-pulley, once I make it up the stem, past the first few branches, and secure my lanyard, what is the best way to advance up to your final tie in?

I know the Tree Climbers Companion talks about a few different options, but I wanted to hear what you guys actually do. I'm finding it difficult to constantly adjust the lanyard through the prusik when I'm leapfroging the branches. Should I just start using my main climbing line and one of my prusiks as a second lanyard?

I am not afraid to admit I don't know anything. How do you guys do it?

ETA: Next spring I'm going to attend some training courses, for now I'm just getting used to the equipment and trying to learn as much as I can. Thanks again =)

 

[minifly3]

Your climbing using a main line correct? Why are you putting your lanyard on after the first few branches? Advancing to your final tie in is as easy as climbing up the branches and tending your knot on the main line, if there is no branches you have to either footlock or hip thrust to get higher

 

[Grendel]

I'm climbing a doubled rope with a looped hitchclimber system until I get to the big branches, which is where my initial tie in usually is. I've been looping my lanyard around the trunk once I find a good standing branch, and taking the loop out of the hitchclimber, attaching it directly to my rope bridge. I'm wondering if I should just take all that off once I get to the bigger branches, and just use a simple prusik to turn my climbing line into a second lanyard, instead of alternating ends of the same lanyard? Does this kill the end of your climbing line? seems like it will get all pitchy. . . Thanks again

 

[minifly3]

Once you reach your initial tie in why wouldn't you advance your climb line? alternating your 2 in 1 lanyard is way too much effort when you can just advance your climb line or throw it higher to begin with.