Working from a zip line

[mikecross23]

I put a large badly rotted oak on the ground for my dad's friend today. After climbing the tree for a closer look I deemed it definately unsafe to move around in and piece out. I set a zip line w/ a 3/1 pulley system for tensioning in trees on either side of this dead one. I then put my rope over the speed line and climbed every where I needed. It worked great b/c my life line could slide left and right on the zip line which allowed me to access everything and I was in no way attached to the rotted tree. Cut and bombed a lot, swung the rest, went perfect. Wind blowing the tops of my zip line trees made for a bouncy climb but it was better than being attached to the dead one. Had a coon come out of the big hollow and jump into the tree 5' to the left. CRAZY!!! Got some pics, kind of an after thought but if they come out I'll post 'em.

-Mike-

 

[treeclimber165]

How was your lifeline attached to the overhead line? Biner on the overhead with a pulley for your lifeline?

 

[mikecross23]

Originally posted by treeclimber165
How was your lifeline attached to the overhead line? Biner on the overhead with a pulley for your lifeline?

I didn't use anything but my life line over the line above. A pulley would have been better though b/c the line did twist when I ascended/descended. This dead tree was intertwined w/ branches from the two other trees and I didn't want anything to snag when I retrieved it all from the ground.

Brian,
I set the line above me like you showed me on our fun climb, just a little higher so I could be above the broken off top branches at about 50'.

I liked using the 3/1 better than the massdam rope puller for tensioning. I even set up a zip line on Saturday afternoon with the 3/1 in the tree with me and sent small chunks down to the trailer. Nothing big, just two branches. It could have gone better but it worked with no damage to patio or other breakables below. Took me 30 min. to set everything up and start cutting but the tree was covered in vines making it difficult to set my ropes. Now I know my limitations and next time I get the chance to do this it should go better. I liked not dragging anything though!

-Mike-

 

[Treeman14]

What's wrong with this picture?

I'm sure some others will chime in here, but running a rope on rope is a bad thing. I would carefully check both ropes for damage. One of the first things I learned way back when was NEVER run a rope across another rope.

 

[Rob Murphy]

Chime in

Rope on rope BIG NO NO !!! Oh except for friction hitch.BIner with pulley sounds good!

 

[mikecross23]

Like I said before, It would have been ideal to use a biner and pulley, but my ropes show no sign of damage. I didn't make any fast decents and the over head rope just twisted when my life line ran over it. Both are pretty new ropes too. I'll keep that in mind though next time I might need to use this method.

Thanks,
-Mike-