Trouble using flip rope on larger trees

[FSburt]

hey fellas need some advice on how to flip lanyard on larger trees 25" to 50" dbh. I was working up one the other day and I could not get the thing to advance for nothing. I was using my climb line as my lanyard since my wire core flip rope was too short so I was thinking maybe the climb line was too limb and light to flip easily. I have GB's book and he talks about not using enough rope to form a loop that works around the tree to your other hand so maybe thats it too. I usually have no trouble on the smaller trees but anything over 24" starts giving me fits. I was told that when you draw up slack and throw the rope you roll you wrist down and and up in a outward circular motion I sure you guys had this problem early on any tips. Thanks

 

[treeclimber165]

I usually don't have a problem until the trees get over 5' diameter. I simply lean in as I step up on my gaff, reaching my hands halfway around the trunk or more as I flip up the lanyard.

When I have to climb something over 5' diameter I just use a different method of ascending. I'll either set a rope to ascend or else grab a ladder if I can get up past a fork to where the trunk isn't as fat.

 

[ORclimber]

yea, sounds like you've got the idea. I usually flip from the right and than left working the line up the tree. Also, I walk to the right or left to flip the line over knobs or bumpy bark, sometimes have to walk all the way around to the backside of the tree to get the line unstuck. Probably easier to climb a rope, even hip thrust on the 50" stuff if you can hang a rope.

 

[ORclimber]

You beat me to the submit button 165.

 

[treeclimber165]

Originally posted by ORclimber
You beat me to the submit button 165.

NAA nee nee nah nah

It was a commercial break on the Kilborn show.

 

[kf_tree]

steel core flip lines are the way to go. i climb with an 8ft one on my saddle. the 8ft lanyard will get me up most tree's in my area. i also have a 12ft one set up with its own ascender in my little gear bag. i just leave the 8ft one on and add the longer one when needed.

 

[Graeme]

FSburt

The first thing you need to do, is select a harness suitable for spur climbing. Then flipline selection...

 

[Rob Murphy]

Really Big

On really Big stuff you can have someone else on the other side moving the line up for you. Especially on BIG rough barked EUC's . A friend (Scott) was training some Cable loggers and this was how they went up one big tree to rigg a block. He said they normally had to spike up a down everything.They were blown away by seeing climbing lines , throwlines etc.

 

[FSburt]

Is there an amount of slack that you guys work with when flipping your line up and around. Thanks for the replys. Are the fires dying down, down under. I fight forest fires in the summer time and think that it would be fun to go to Australia for a season and work on some of the fires. The was the Eucs go up around Ca during the summer I could only imagine a whole forest ripping with high winds and dry hot conditions. I have not climbed any Eucs yet kinda look sketchy with all the slick boles. I guess it would not be that bad during trims since your not on the spurs but removals would be fun if you kicked out with the spurs and your flip rope just slides. Maybe just over dramitizing all this in my head as I think about it, probably not that bad at all. Well take care.

 

[Graeme]

FS

When conducting spur climbing workshops, even with experienced climbers, there is no one answer for your question regarding the amount of slack in the flipline. For spur climbers on large trees, correct harness and flipline selection, is a essential starting point, as stated above. Developing sound skills on large tree technique will lead to unaided access on large trees.

I climb with 2, 20' fliplines standard. Larger trees at times reqire fliplines of up to 50' to start at the base.

 

[MidwestTree]

What do you look for in the right harness selection. I work mainly out of a bucket but have completed a few spike removals. I like the harness that I use but want to know what details you look at in a harness.

 

[ramanujan]

a good wide back section in the harness makes spur work much less tiring. side dees that don't flop around are nice too.

crikey graeme can you flip a a 50' lanyard or is that strictly spiral climbing?

 

[Graeme]

MidwestTree,
A harness best suited for spur climbing is quite different to a harness selected for rope and harness climbing. The two different methods have quite different balance and attachment points . A spur climbing harness generally pulls horizontally from the flipline attachment which prevents the climber from falling backwards.
If the flip line shares the load with the feet it is prefered that it is also comfortable with a slight upward pull. As Ramanujan has said a wide back section is good, however this needs to be as low as possible to the pelvis.
The downside to this is that a very low back section lowers the center of gravity of support (inversion for the unconcious) By having the back support down low on the pelvis this allows the lumber region of the spine to bend and twist naturally. Erganomically this is the only way to have the harness set up for long term use. For this to happen it is preferable to have a load share with leg loops or a "buttock" support.

For effiecient spuring Ramanujan has stated you need Dee rings that don't flop around. They also need to be poistioned close to the climbers hips.

Ram. Yes you can flip a 50' lanyard without spiraling.