SRT Resources

[lync]

old school/new school

One of the guys I work with uses srt to ascend and work as he goes up one side of the tree. Then he has someone untie his anchored end from the base of the tree, and works the otherside on the way down using a taut line hitch and a locking snap (won't even consider split tail or blakes)on a traditional system. this guy is about 140lbs of greased lightning. He is the fastest climber I've ever seen. While on srt, he'll throw his tail and double crotch to get out to the tips on very wide trees.
I've since switched from MarBars to 2 handled ascenders, one with a foot loop (texas system) and an I'D. Its been a slow transition, that is still under way.

One drawback, if you can call it that is that you have 2 lines to watch out for. Normally both lines are side by side together(in essence one line) with srt your line is in two places in the tree. I had to deadwood prune a 90' plus white pine. I threw my bag and hit 3 limbs at about 75 feet, tied off to the base of the tree with a running bowline and worked the tree. It wa a snap on srt. Used my legs going up, and repelled on an 8 when I was done. I did have to watch my "2nd line "which came from the crotch to the base of the tree. Pole saw/hand saw had to be careful to watch out for "both" Lines.

My buddy laughed, just tie the bottom off to another tree and your line (the one coming down from the crotch) will be out of the way for most of the climb.

The transition continues

Corey

 

[Rob Murphy]

Rec Climbing Cattledog

Rec climbing catt from Sherrils ( available as pdf) has the basics in pic form. I am liking treefrog setup though i rarley SRT ...any comments

 

[Tree Machine]

By treefrog do you mean a MarBar system, or dual ascenders DbRT with a footloop, or a single ascender DdRT with a footloop, or friction hitch DdRT with a footloop?

One of the guys I work with uses srt to ascend and work as he goes up one side of the tree. Then he has someone untie his anchored end from the base of the tree, and works the otherside on the way down using a taut line hitch and a locking snap (won't even consider split tail or blakes)on a traditional system.

If he would get a set of dual ascenders he could do pretty much the exact same thing, without anchoring to the base of the tree, without having a ground guy to untie things.

The reason I mention this is because on his ascent he enjoys the 1:1, but on the descent he's used to the extra points of friction and is comfortable with it. A little new school mixed with old. Nothing wrong with that. I see a good number of guys gently stepping through the doors of the new school. I say, take it at your own rate and above all else, be safe.

 

[Tree Machine]

TM - I really gotta get down there and take a look at some of your "doings". Just now getting into the recreational side of rope fun and can see a lot of cross applications but don't know where to start.

I think if you saw the way I do things, you would be more than amazed at the simplicity of the rope work. You would go, "That's all?"

Now, the actual tree climbing part can be impressive, but that's mostly because I have hardware that allows me full confidence by provideing complete, 100% control of the friction, at one single point (in front of me) whether on single or doubled rope. When using a doubled rope (DbRT), I ascend using dual ascenders. When I get up there, I flipline in, clip the ascenders to my right hip, apply a friction control device mid line onto both ropes and I work off of those dual lines in exactly the same way as SRT, except both ends are on the ground instead of one end on the ground and one end anchored.

See the simplicity? If I'm in the tree and need to ascend back up, I apply the ascenders, unclip the friction device and go back up. An average switchover takes under 10 seconds because I'm not having to futz with hitches and knots. There's no magic in this. It's just friction control, flipline work, climbing around and work positioning. The rest is rigging and cutting, with full emphasis being on being tied in twice when cutting (the rope you're on and the flipline).

There. I divulged all my secrets.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

I'll be presenting a talk/demo on SRT at Expo in Columbus. There will be about an hour of time at the climbing tree. Depending on the schedule there might be time to get around the tree and see some variations.

 

[Tree Machine]

I'm there! I may ask for an autograph.

I doubt I'll convert back to using friction hitches, but it's really nice to know what techniques are used so that you can choose whichever one suits the need for that particular tree, that particular moment, that particular mood. I like to use friction hitch methods now and then just to stay fresh with what everyone else is doing, and assess what works and how well it works.

Being fluent in all our techniques represents the high level of freedom and autonomy, being able to smoothly transition from one to the other brings me maximum enjoyment. For a lot of guys, maximum enjoyment comes from using one system they know and can depend on and feel safe with. There's nothing wrong with that. Nothing at all. What matters most is your safety.

 

[Redbull]

TM, What friction device do you use for moving about the tree?

 

[DadF]

Jim,
do you use footloops on your ascenders? Just came out of a cave last weekend using a modified frog system-had a croll ascender biner'd in on front with a piece of elastic cord looped around neck to hold it upright and separated ascenders(they were also looped back to tie-in for safety) with footloops for "walking up". Forgot to take my Pantin in or I would have used that instead of the second ascender. Just haven't done this in a tree yet-still using my lockjack...where's that door???

Tom,
I have the On Rope and have been working my way through it. Lot of info that I keep having to go back and check through. Will have to keep at it though because we have traverse line to rig for our Scout Klondike Campout(Jan) that will run their sleds across a deep ravine. Got my main caving gut helping on that one. We just kind of feed off each other-I'm picking up stuff from him and he somehow keeps picking up things from me. Unfortunately I don't think I'm gonna make it to Columbus but things may change. Had fun climbing the Constitutions' rigging with you in Baltimore!!

Gonna be taking a short vacation with the wife and won't have internet for a few days so I'll have to catch up on this later in the week. Hopefully the crappie will be biting though

 

[Rob Murphy]

What red bull said.
TM, What friction device do you use for moving about the tree?
Also are you footlocking for ascent with the duel ascenders or other means.

 

[Tree Machine]

In keeping with the simplicity, I footlock. This involves no footloops, no Pantin. If you get the right set of footwear, footlocking will come along easily with the effort you put in. There are inherent advantages to footlocking. First, your feet are always with you, no need for extra devices. You will increase your ability to move around the tree because you'll be more confident moving up the rope. New moves will naturally become part of your repertoire.

As far as what I use to descend, that's not really important. There's a lot of devices out there that all allow you the same thing; control of the friction.

I try out a lot of different devices. I'm constantly trying out different ones. Rather than asking me what device I use, pose the question this way, "Hey Tree Machine, what is important to you in a desceding device?" I might answer something like this. A descending device should be able to::

* Accomodate both 11 mm and 13 mm lines.
* Be permanently attached to my saddle's sliding D system
* Device goes on rope or off rope in swift, simple motions
* Allows DdRT, DbRT and SRT
* Device handles rope identically whether dry or soaking wet
* Can use it left handed or right
* Allows easy mid-line change-overs (abseil, back to ascend)
* One step soft lock
* One alternative step hard lock
* Light
* Simple
* Easy to learn, intuitive
* Affordable
* Should lock off if the climber lets go / falls

That's most of what I would find important in a descender. Most descenders fall short of this, but still control friction very well.

Here's an eyeful of descenders for those of you who haven't seen this site; http://storrick.cnchost.com/VerticalDevicesPage/VerticalHome.shtml

 

[Rob Murphy]

I thought you would have footlocked ,hows that go with you recovering from injury? Sounds like the ideal decender ( your list) could be covered by a friction hitch. I agree that what can be most important is feeling comfortable and safe with your gear.
The treefrog set up I use is the pantim,handled ascender,croll .Tobe no 1 pref

 

[Tree Machine]

I think you should use all kinds of stuff. How else are you to know what works, and how and what could work better. Good on you Taz-Man.

The friction hitch falls short. First, the friction hitch (using split-tail or tress cord) just seems to not do so well on 1:1 DbRT and SRT. I pose this as the preferred method. Friction hitches wear out, they behave differently as they wear or when wet, differences on 11 mm or 13 mm rope, they can be accidentally cut by a saw and they require a caribiner and often slack tending. Add to that the time to tie the friction hitch and for the noobs learning the difference between all the different friction hitches that are posible in the split tail or tress system, the different diameters of cordage used, different fiber materials and WOW! you have a relatively complicated system, all things considered.

Now please don't assume I'm badmouthing the friction hitch system. I'm not. I have a keen fondness for it, more sentimental than anything and enjoy it's pervasiveness in our industry, how it makes tree climbers unique to other aerial disciplines and how we have modified it so many different ways. If it didn't pose so many limitations on my climbing I would actually use it for more than backup and in rigging scenarios.

An 'ideal descender' should:

* Accomodate both 11 mm and 13 mm lines.
* Be permanently attached to my saddle's sliding D system
* Device goes on rope and off rope in swift, simple motions
* Allows DdRT, DbRT and SRT
* Device handles rope identically whether dry or soaking wet
* Can use it left handed or right
* Allows easy mid-line change-overs (swapping ascender for descender, while hanging on rope)
* One step soft lock
* One alternative step hard lock
* Light
* Simple
* Easy to learn, intuitive
* Affordable
* Should be compact, made of steel and have at least a 40kN rating
* Should lock off automatically if the climber lets go / falls


In addition to the above list, the descender should give predictability, and consistency. It is a good beginners system and an exceptional advanced system. It would be the holy grail of the descending world (Arboreally speaking) and it simply doesn't exist yet. I know if we can set vehicles on Mars we can come up with an ultimate rappelling device.

The device I use covers everything on the list except the very last item, but I can live with that.