Single line ascent...best attatchment method?

[TreeandLand]

I want to try ascending a single leg of climbing rope for long climbs. I've tried it before but am not sure about the best way to tie off the rope.
It seems like the fastest way to go would be to get the rop over a high crotch, tie a caribiner on the end of the line, clip it onto the other end of the line and run it up into the tree. My question is....how safe is it to have a double locking caribiner rubbing against the tree as you make the long climb? Seems like it might stress it in different ways depending on the diameter of the limb it is against. Safe or unsafe?
The big advantage that I see in doing it this way, is that when you reach the tie in point you can just clip the caribiner on your saddle and you are then climbing a doubled line like I usually do.

 

[Treepedo]

It's happen to me once, where the gate was open. Send up a bowline and don't worry about it.
Save your elbow and shoulders for the real work. Foot ascender and handled ascender with adjustable foot loop and the croll at your belly makes rope walkin like rope runnin.

Take your taill prepped with your prefered climbing sytem and once your up there, your all good to go.
Happy New Year!

 

[boo]

I want to try ascending a single leg of climbing rope for long climbs. I've tried it before but am not sure about the best way to tie off the rope.
It seems like the fastest way to go would be to get the rop over a high crotch, tie a caribiner on the end of the line, clip it onto the other end of the line and run it up into the tree. My question is....how safe is it to have a double locking caribiner rubbing against the tree as you make the long climb? Seems like it might stress it in different ways depending on the diameter of the limb it is against. Safe or unsafe?
The big advantage that I see in doing it this way, is that when you reach the tie in point you can just clip the caribiner on your saddle and you are then climbing a doubled line like I usually do.

send up a running bowline... never side load a biner.

 

[the Aerialist]

Why Tie it off at the Limb?

Why not just secure the rope at the base of the tree? You could use a Porta-Wrap or other lowering device so the climber can be brought down by the ground crew if he becomes incapacitated.

I use a large CMI rack with the rope threaded through it and tied off. Even my wife could bring me down slowly and safely. (or fast and safely) with that set-up.

I usually send up an aluminum block on the spliced end of a 200' rope with my climbing line in it. Besides the obvious safety of being able to be lowered by the ground crew (no rescue climber needed) you can also retrieve the ropes from the ground at the end of the day.

For SRT only the rope is needed. (and the lowering device to tie it off)

 

[TreeandLand]

Thanks all for the pointers

It's happen to me once, where the gate was open. Send up a bowline and don't worry about it.
Save your elbow and shoulders for the real work. Foot ascender and handled ascender with adjustable foot loop and the croll at your belly makes rope walkin like rope runnin.

Take your taill prepped with your prefered climbing sytem and once your up there, your all good to go.
Happy New Year!

Treepedo- thanks for this insight. I had a feeling using the carbiner was not a good idea. And side-loading the biner....good point. You don't want your life depending on the strength of the gate. I'll be using a running bowline, then untie and retie it when I get to the tie in point.
AA, thanks for your method.

 

[RacerX]

Yes, forget the carabiner and opt for the knot. One problem with this method is that the rope is up in the canopy until you get all the way up there to retrieve it. If you tie off at the base of the tree you need to take into account the doubling effect on the crotch that you're rope is supported by.

 

[the Aerialist]

You need a crew that likes you ...

For me I very much dislike the thought of a line running back to the ground..... if chainsaw work is being done in the tree. IMO, it presents the climber to far more hazards due to accidental cutting or striking with large wood of the support line.

And I very much like the safety factor of being able to be brought down quickly if incapacitated. For removals I don't bother with this system, I use this is primarily for spikeless pruning and not much big wood is brought down in these cases.

 

[the Aerialist]

... If you tie off at the base of the tree you need to take into account the doubling effect on the crotch that you're rope is supported by.

Could you explain the "doubling effect" for me or provide a link?

 

[the Aerialist]

Who unsnaps your lanyard from the tree when you are incapacitated? ...

In the case of a snapped on lanyard and total incapacitation, as in unconscious, the rescue climber will then have to go up and unsnap incapacitated climber's lanyard. The rescue is faster if the rigging is in place to begin the lowering process.

 

[Treepedo]

Single line ascent

That a good and viable option.Thanks

In the case of a snapped on lanyard and total incapacitation, as in unconscious, the rescue climber will then be able to use the tied at the base end of the rope to ascend and unsnap the lanyard to proceed with lowering the incapacitated climber.

 

[the Aerialist]

You're fast Treepedo !

That a good and viable option.Thanks

You beat my edit Treepedo! Here's why:

Perhaps a better option for the rescue climber would be to use my climbing line to come get me, or even just speed climb with gaffs since at that point the good of the tree becomes secondary to getting me on the ground.

 

[Treepedo]

: Single line ascent...best attatchment method?

I have sent up the whole climb system up to my tie in point instead o the bowline. 200 lbs on the twisted biners and etc to save some time and if the dia. of the limb it is wrapped around isn't large enough the side loading will be great. Major catastrophe! Some new biners out there have the same side load and axis rating, so it would be less of a concern or use a dedicated heavey duty steel biner.
You can also send up the RBL with a long tail with biner on or attach another rope to the bight of RBL to make retreival easier or if you decide part way through the climb you want to start work, you then have access to the rope attached th RBL to connect to your DRT.
What has been the best for me is to pre tie the climb sytem and take it up.
Anchoring to the base of the tree i normally use two wraps and bowline. In the comps they sling on GRI Gri/Porta wrap etc. and anchor to that and back it up.

 

[RacerX]

Here's some info on the SRT with the doubling effect from a trunk tie off:

http://vtio.org.au/Content/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Single-Rope-Technique-i.pdf

 

[Treepedo]

Great big thanks to you RacerX!

Here's some info on the SRT with the doubling effect from a trunk tie off:

http://vtio.org.au/Content/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Single-Rope-Technique-i.pdf

 

[Narcosia]

Bowline Cinch Retrieval Technique

Before you send your bowline up the other side of the rope, tie your throwline (or another small rope) slightly above the bowline knot. Pull the climbing line up to cinch the bowline around the branch and when you want to retrieve it pull on the throwline attatched to the bowline knot to bring back down the rope. This way you wont have to climb up the line in order to retrieve it.
I've attatched a crappy image I made in paint to illustrate this.

 

[treemandan]

In the case of a snapped on lanyard and total incapacitation, as in unconscious, the rescue climber will then have to go up and unsnap incapacitated climber's lanyard. The rescue is faster if the rigging is in place to begin the lowering process.

What's a rescue climber and where can I buy one?

 

[Arbor Vision]

What's a rescue climber and where can I buy one?

Ditto

 

[Nailsbeats]

A couple things on the basal tie off technique to consider.

First, you can usually get a fast throwline set because you don't have to isolate the limb.

Second, you can have "safety" limbs under the target limb so even with double your weight at the target limb you can still have some backups (usually larger due to their lower position on the tree) to catch you if you would break out.

Also, do a 2 man pull test on anything you are going to SRT on.