question on climbing

[adirondackhick]

ok,
I am very new to "proper climbing". I have used gaffs a lot in the past(mostly simple straight forward removals just being able to bomb wood. Maybe just a few ropes on some bigger limbs, nothing real pro or anything). I am now getting ready to go back to school for an arb. degree. I have done tree work and dragged brush and cut loads of wood, but the guy who was going to teach me climbing "retired" due to an accident. For starters, I got climbers comp. and fund of gen tree work. Right now, i am just screwing around on my farm to learn. My question is: just want to make sure i'm reading things correctly. For a drt footlock climb, I use a blakes or prusik, or the like to go up around both ropes. I know that lcoks and cams and pulleys make things easier, but as my old platoon seargent said the more tech, the more to screw up. I like simple. Then when at desired level in the tree, I tie in with lanyard and untie blake etc. from the double rope and then tie one end of the rope to my d ring and on the other rope I then re attach the blakes for a fixed tail method, Correct?? Or, do I continue to keep the knot over both ropes? I am not a pro, but will someday hope to be. So, keep in mind i am somewhat of a cherry in the climbing world. Thanks

 

[Treetom]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUuXv823xBw

Adirondackchick: Follow the link above for a demonstration by one of our members. Looks like an easy way to get up a tree.

 

[pdqdl]

Treetom: posting a link that way in the title doesn't seem to work very well.

Try this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUuXv823xBw

BTW, that is one of the best tree education videos that I have seen. The guy seems to know his stuff, shows it well without any horsing around, and no pretentious nonsense.

 

[adirondackhick]

thanks, one more quest.

thanks fellas......... on another note, do you guys have anything good to say about Nat. Forest Service climbing cert. courses. I saw them on their website. I figured maybe to get some more feedback from you guys, or anyone who might have the already aquired knowledge.

 

[Treetom]

My bad. Hope you got there anyway adirondackchick.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Or, do I continue to keep the knot over both ropes?

This would be a prussic hitch and it is not safe to descend on.

Once you foot lock up, and secure, you need to retie to the doubled rope system as you describe.

KISS is always the best way to learn new things. As you get better at it, then add the fancier stuff.

When I teach newbie climbers, I have them tie off to the saddle center d-ring and use a taughtline hitch. Tie a blakes wrong and you have a su-i-slide hitch.

 

[adirondackhick]

thanks for input

yup,
the video was def. a good one. Well, I appreciate the info guys. I'll keep you posted, about progress once I get out next weekend to play....... I mean learn again. I was thinking, of going up with the prusik, then t/line or the blake in tree. for going down, in the past I have used a munter hitch on the biner that I learned in the service. I do know that I need to go rather slow during descent though to prevent burning up rope Thanks for the help guys.

 

[adirondackhick]

Well,
I got out and played a little on the rope. It is def. different than just climbers. The only thing I had a little problem with was putting the line higher up in another limb/crotch once at the first throw level. (little awkrard to re throw in tree), I think I will get a figure 8 to use with the decent. Took a little while to trust the knot and rope but felt ok. I'll have to get used to it a bit more before cutting. Anyway if any are waiting for the update there it is. thanks for the earlier replies.

 

[Adkpk]

The only thing I had a little problem with was putting the line higher up in another limb/crotch once at the first throw level. (little awkrard to re throw in tree), I think I will get a figure 8 to use with the decent.

You are lanyarded in, right? I find if I lean back and really feel the my on the lanyard it takes away the willys on the "in the tree throws". Figure 8 is my method decent. Saves on the split tail.

 

[adirondackhick]

hey adpk,
yeah, when I go to throw up again I am lanyarded in. When I got to the spot I wanted I hooked in, just will take a while i guess to get used to doing everything efficiantly. It was just a very wierd feeling, because like i said mostly before it was just simple climbs and takedowns on gaffs, so no real heavy movement in the tree, great idea with the lean, I did actually figure that one out by fiddlin' around with it. It was just ALOT different futzin' around on the rope in the trees, usually I do everything of the kids swing I built first, obviously letting out and throwing @ elevation was much different than @ 6 ft. Good to hear from you again. Finally a little warm air too!!

 

[md_tree_dood]

yup,
the video was def. a good one. Well, I appreciate the info guys. I'll keep you posted, about progress once I get out next weekend to play....... I mean learn again. I was thinking, of going up with the prusik, then t/line or the blake in tree. for going down, in the past I have used a munter hitch on the biner that I learned in the service. I do know that I need to go rather slow during descent though to prevent burning up rope Thanks for the help guys.

The video is flawed in the sense that he's not wearing a hard hat/helmet.

I would never teach anyone advanced techniques until they are comfortable tying the most basic knot on the ground. Newbies often get nervous in a tree and won't be able to do many things they are comfortable doing on the ground because if the knot doesn't work on the ground you're not going to get hurt, unlike being up in a tree

 

[adirondackhick]

hello md_tree_dude

The video is flawed in the sense that he's not wearing a hard hat/helmet.

I would never teach anyone advanced techniques until they are comfortable tying the most basic knot on the ground. Newbies often get nervous in a tree and won't be able to do many things they are comfortable doing on the ground because if the knot doesn't work on the ground you're not going to get hurt, unlike being up in a tree

I ALWAYS WEAR A HARD HAT AND SAFETY APPARAL. I learned the hard way by watching a friend almost pass away because of lack of safety a few years back..... anyway, while not a pro, I have spent some time in trees and on the ground. I just have not been a DRT/SRT guy, I am learning the new methods in order to be more proffesional, and proficeint. For most of the things i have been able to get by w/ prussiks, blakes, running/ bowline etc. Like the blake more than the t-line. I do know them, just haven't been exclusivley on rope. that being said, I repeat not a pro with huge rigging jobs etc... just a guy working that way. Have a good one.

 

[md_tree_dood]

Thats good to hear. Look into SRT, its the way to go in my book.

 

[KRP]

Take a look at the book ON ROPE by Smith and Padgett for some good SRT.
Helmet is a must. Did you notice the camera man at the beginning of the video remove his foot from the rope coil on the ground. Never step on a rope.