- Location
- Palos Heights
Thanks for the replies
When did you first hear?
- Thread starter Tom Dunlap
- Start date
- Location
- Retired in Minneapolis
Yes...single-up/double-down worked. I consider the debut of the Uni as Day 1 of true SRT/SRS climbing. Being able to go up and down the rope with:
1-no changeover
2-no additional add-ons like a RADS configuration
Shadowscape
Been here a while
- Location
- far north
You guys are forgetting something. What about us who climbed on a single rope (up & down) before DRT / MRS / or whatever they're calling it today) came along. That is all we had, one rope to climb on up and down.
This reminds me of electric busses. People think electric busses are a new thing. When I was growing up in Chicago, all the busses were electric. Then they changed to diesel busses, and now back to electric busses, and people somehow think it is a new thing.
1968 I was climbing SRT / SRS / or whatever they are calling it today. Foot lock and hand over hand, and up you went.
This reminds me of electric busses. People think electric busses are a new thing. When I was growing up in Chicago, all the busses were electric. Then they changed to diesel busses, and now back to electric busses, and people somehow think it is a new thing.
1968 I was climbing SRT / SRS / or whatever they are calling it today. Foot lock and hand over hand, and up you went.
- Location
- Retired in Minneapolis
Matias
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Butte County
If I understand him correctly Tom, he is talking about the hardest way to climb SRT, which I have done to determine if such a method was physically possible. Footlocking a single fixed rope with a prusik/split tail, you have to get back on the rope with your feet to unload the hitch and release it. I actually used a second long prusik to wrap my foot and make a foot ascender. With two prusiks, the system is slow, but workable. I got my first job climbing after showing an old climber that idea.
Shadowscape
Been here a while
- Location
- far north
Nope. I had an inch or inch and a quarter manilla rope; a lineman's belt and lanyard. I was expected to climb the one leg of rope, not connected to it at all, and then lanyard myself to a limb when I got up there. No hardware, no hitch cord. I worked that way for two summers before I learned about hitch cords that could connected you to the rope you were climbing in a DDRT method. No one on my crew dreamed that being connected to your climb line was going to catch on.
Matias
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Butte County
Holy fuck that's hardball
Shadowscape
Been here a while
- Location
- far north
Nope. No connection. Just a single leg of rope and foot locking and hand over hand. If you slipped, you fell. In those two years I don't recall anyone falling. Maybe we were a tougher breed back then. I can still climb a tree that way, although I don't want to.
Shadowscape
Been here a while
- Location
- far north
With a fat rope it is not as bad as it sounds. I couldn't do it with the ropes we use these days.
Matias
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Butte County
Good point. The difference between 11mm and 12.5mm is astonishing. 30mm does sound easier to hold onto.
- Location
- Retired in Minneapolis
Wow...what years are you talking about.WHere was this?
Shadowscape
Been here a while
- Location
- far north
@Tom Dunlap
Chicago suburbs. 1968-1969. We were hired to take down the elm trees that lined the roads that were all dead or dying. Our crew and about 20 other crews worked for two years doing nothing but that. Just about every street was tunneled in giant elms. Mostly 36-40" diameter trees. Threw you rope over the highest limb you could, which was usually the lowest by tying a three hole brick on the end. Then you tied your climb line off to the bumper of your car, or the chip truck. Lots of jokes about someone driving off on you, but I don't recall that ever happened. I toted a three foot crosscut hand saw and handled limbs smaller than 8" diameter. Larger than that and I left them for the older guys with chainsaws. Remember, this was pre OSHA, and ANSI standards did not cover tree workers at that time. Nobody cared what or how you were operating as long as you got it done.
Chicago suburbs. 1968-1969. We were hired to take down the elm trees that lined the roads that were all dead or dying. Our crew and about 20 other crews worked for two years doing nothing but that. Just about every street was tunneled in giant elms. Mostly 36-40" diameter trees. Threw you rope over the highest limb you could, which was usually the lowest by tying a three hole brick on the end. Then you tied your climb line off to the bumper of your car, or the chip truck. Lots of jokes about someone driving off on you, but I don't recall that ever happened. I toted a three foot crosscut hand saw and handled limbs smaller than 8" diameter. Larger than that and I left them for the older guys with chainsaws. Remember, this was pre OSHA, and ANSI standards did not cover tree workers at that time. Nobody cared what or how you were operating as long as you got it done.
When was the era of cave guys with prussics and jumars? 60's? Isn't that the onset of nylon or polyester ropes for common use? I think they were called jumars.
Answered my own question. 1958 for the jumar. Bingham of his time.
www.verticalmuseum.com
On the original topic, Bingham RW was my start. Skipped the F8.
Answered my own question. 1958 for the jumar. Bingham of his time.
Handled Ecc. Cam: Gray Jumars
On the original topic, Bingham RW was my start. Skipped the F8.
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- Location
- Retired in Minneapolis
I started working evenings and Saturday for Marv @ Kleen Kut Tree Service in about '73. I'd worked for him before that, but irregularly since 1966. Marv was a lineman for NW Bell Telephone. We climbed using pole spikes and a double belt harness with 'scare strap' Monkey fist toss or three pole saw sections to install a rope. I don't know how I found out about DdRT but Marv never climbed it so I just can't figure that out. Half inch hemp, not the 'good stuff' manila for climbing and rigging.
History Lesson Pt. 1 — Wooden Hand
www.thewoodenhand.com
Paul Poynter wrote a good reference that chronologs the historical development of tree climbing in the above link. Most climbers I have talked with are completely ignorant of how far back advanced climbing gear and techniques were actually in use.
I will always be grateful that my entry into our profession exposed me to cutting-edge technology and techniques. The Bry-Dan harness was released in1969 but we were climbing on custom-fit prototypes even before that and using half inch, double braid yachting lines.
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- Location
- Retired in Minneapolis
ARLO
Branched out member
Multicenders opened up a whole new world compared to the SRS techniques that we were using to climb big trees in the 1970's. But I am still teaching beginning climbers how to climb with a handled ascender and changeover to descent on a D4 or RIG in big conifers because it is the method that is least prone to complications when climbing really big trees. Many of the mechanicals do not behave well on small diameter (10-11.5 mm) SRS ropes, and for that reason I think some of them are just not very good tools for beginners when they are 250' up on a really long descent. I am not bad-mouthing mechanicals, because I love them for many applications, I just think people need to realize there are some applications where the old-school methods are still useful and safe.
- Location
- Palos Heights
I just rope walked yesterday for the first time. Yay for me. But curious on your opinions….
Does anyone else get freaked out having all your weight on one leg with a basal anchor?
I haven’t started climbing around srt yet, but I’m wondering if anyone prefers going up traditional foot locking and srt down?
Does anyone else get freaked out having all your weight on one leg with a basal anchor?
I haven’t started climbing around srt yet, but I’m wondering if anyone prefers going up traditional foot locking and srt down?
Shadowscape
Been here a while
- Location
- far north
Not quite sure what you mean by having all your weight on one leg with a basal anchor.
You had best have more than a foot ascender attached to you and the rope. A foot ascender is not a life support piece of equipment. If you mean all your weight on one leg of rope with a basal anchor, don't even give it a second thought as long as you have used the correct gear and it is set correctly. Check each piece of equipment that it is installed correctly and functioning properly. Check your ropes that they are in good shape and not frayed. All carabiners are locked properly. If all is good, trust your equipment. Your rope will not break. Your carabiners will not break. Your anchor will not let go.
The only thing you need to worry about is, did your rope actually get in the crotch you think it is in, or did it actually get hung up on a smaller limb just above the crotch that will let you fall a bit when it breaks and drops you down to where you thought you were. That will hurt.
Check your gear, and check your set up. If all is good, go have fun.
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- Location
- Palos Heights
How about if handsaw teeth somehow accidentally find their way to tied off side of rope, or what about nails in the base missed even if inspected. Is it known, has a rope ever broke on anyone ascending srt in one of these ways? Cuz I feel pretty vulnerable going up like this.
