rope walking trial

[shooterschafer]

I tried out a rope walker system yesterday on a 60 ft locust tree. I had a pantin on my left foot and a handled ascender at my knee on my right leg tied to a bungee to advance it . I used a VT for my friction hitch. This system is awesome to say the least. It makes ascending almost effortless compared to the ol hip thrusting. I cant believe I didnt try this out a long time ago !The only thing I didnt like is dealing with the extra few pieces of gear once I was up in the canopy , but no big deal.

 

[husabud]

Tie a length of small diam cord to the bottom of that handled ascender that goes from your foot to about mid chest. Wala a frog system. Even easier.

 

[newsawtooth]

Tie a length of small diam cord to the bottom of that handled ascender that goes from your foot to about mid chest. Wala a frog system. Even easier.

If you get a chance try SRT, a Rope Wrench and the over the shoulder lanyard and the system is even better. All the benefits of the frog system, no need to switch over to work. Undo the pantin, stow the ascender, undo the lanyard and you're ready to cut. If you need to return to the ground in hurry on the way up, leave the ascender, kick out the pantin and descend like the rope walker. The rope wrench has made the traditional frog walker or split foot frog walker obsolete for working trees.

 

[husabud]

I do. Not sure if the OP is using SRT though. The Wrench Rocks!

 

[newsawtooth]

I do. Not sure if the OP is using SRT though. The Wrench Rocks!

Sorry Husabud, I meant to quote the OP. I'd read that you had been using one. The Wrench has certainly changed my climbing for the better. Are you using yours removals as well as trimming?

 

[husabud]

Yeah. I just got the Slic pin and that has stopped the issues I was having while ascending. Trees here are not like those there. I miss climbing out there!

 

[shooterschafer]

I am using drt, what part of front strange Colorado are you from?

 

[beastmaster]

Iv'e been using the RADs, but when I have a really high ascend I switch to the frog. Its 1 to 1 and gets you up the tree pretty fast, but it is equipment intensive. I recently started experimentation with the rope wrench and a pantin but am am having trouble ascending on it. Guess like anything else it takes getting use to. How would you use a wrench off of a chest harness? Would it replace the croll?

 

[husabud]

No it is only used to maintain constant friction on your hitch. Like Newsawtooth said, with your lanyard around your back and over your shoulder, clip it to the wrench and tighten it up.this will now advance your hitch as you climb. I'd attach a vid but the ole iPad won't let me so look up frog walker on the rope wrench on YouTube or search for Kevin Bingham.

 

[newsawtooth]

Iv'e been using the RADs, but when I have a really high ascend I switch to the frog. Its 1 to 1 and gets you up the tree pretty fast, but it is equipment intensive. I recently started experimentation with the rope wrench and a pantin but am am having trouble ascending on it. Guess like anything else it takes getting use to. How would you use a wrench off of a chest harness? Would it replace the croll?

Beast, the Wrench system does replace the croll. It can be attached to a chest harness or by way of the over the shoulder lanyard method to keep it close to the chest. Some attach the harness or lanyard to the wrench itself which tends the hitch and others to the micro pulley tending the hitch. Either way, it has to be suspended somehow around your sternum or it doesn't work very well at all. It has more friction than just ascenders or foot locking, but it is also safer and more work efficient in that it is reversible. On a short ascent to a suitable work site or branches, just one pantin works fine. I will intitially climb with one pantin and no hand ascenders about as far as I'll ascend using a RADs. After about 30' it pays to throw everything else on and just walk up like a normal person.

 

[husabud]

How does the Wrench replace a croll? Really, I have never used one so I am not sure. I thought the croll was for back up life support while tending your hitch. The Rope Wrench is not for life support, only to lighten the load on your hitch and prevent it from "locking up".

 

[newsawtooth]

How does the Wrench replace a croll? Really, I have never used one so I am not sure. I thought the croll was for back up life support while tending your hitch. The Rope Wrench is not for life support, only to lighten the load on your hitch and prevent it from "locking up".

The Rope Wrench and a suitable hitch replaces the croll when suspended from a chest harness or over the shoulder lanyard.

 

[husabud]

Gotcha. I have never used a chest harness so that is what threw me off. Being used like that, I see how it works.

 

[beastmaster]

How does the Wrench replace a croll? Really, I have never used one so I am not sure. I thought the croll was for back up life support while tending your hitch. The Rope Wrench is not for life support, only to lighten the load on your hitch and prevent it from "locking up".

Sorry for the confusion. When I said will the wrench replace the croll, I mean the whole set up, pulley, hitch and rope wrench. Of course the rope wrench by its self is not for life support. I should of been more clear. Sorry.

 

[husabud]

No worries here. You just confused the hell out of me.