Two Rope Climbing

D

dtreez

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Location
Bucks County
Has anyone tried climbing on two independent rope systems like (to my understanding) they are "supposed to" in the UK?

I'm not trying to sell anyone on it. I've just been playing around with it recently for my own reasons and am curious if anyone else has. If so I would love to pick your brain about what systems you have been using and the best way you've figured out how to ascend while tending two systems.
 
Tom Dunlap said:
There will be new things brought up. The topic has a few threads already.

When I used Double Rope Technique DRT Unicender is primary and usually a hitch based system for the other.

I would use two ropes for positioning not for safety issues like the Euro model
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I think I agree with that logic. Someone told me recently that if something happens to one of your anchors and you happen to have two, you're still probably going to have a bad day.

Positioning and navigating the tree to me are also where the positives lie.
 
I tried for a while. I was working 2 SRS lines and had a fairly difficult time managing twisting up my lines even when everything was on swivels. I was not very good at it and decided to let it go. Theoretically it made sense but I just struggled with the application of it. I will climb on 2 systems often. Generally the tail of my primary line is my second system when I'm trying to get to the tips of branches for reduction prunes. I haven't needed 2 ropes as yet to do that. I also used my tail as a second system for crane work with a little crane on big trees. As tom said my 2nd system is positioning not "life support" as the EU standard I believe is for life support.
 
Steve Connally said:
I tried for a while. I was working 2 SRS lines and had a fairly difficult time managing twisting up my lines even when everything was on swivels. I was not very good at it and decided to let it go. Theoretically it made sense but I just struggled with the application of it. I will climb on 2 systems often. Generally the tail of my primary line is my second system when I'm trying to get to the tips of branches for reduction prunes. I haven't needed 2 ropes as yet to do that. I also used my tail as a second system for crane work with a little crane on big trees. As tom said my 2nd system is positioning not "life support" as the EU standard I believe is for life support.
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Were you using two separate swivels or connecting both systems to one swivel as a master point on the bridge? I switched to a small DMM Axis which can accomodate 2 carabiners nicely, and I really dig it for running two separate systems in sprawling trees. I will typically have an SRS and an MRS, with the latter being on a ZZ+, so it swivels independently of the master swivel, thus keeping the MRS lines from twisting.

I do wanna start remembering to set a second SRT line before I go up.
 
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IMG_20160719_172916368_Original.jpegIMG_4764.jpeg14163352522610_Original.jpeg1 choice dual bulldog bones
2 choice dual rope wrenches
or a blend of the 2
It’s like anything else we all have our preferences on climbing system but 2 lines with practice is not that cumbersome.
The bulldog bone pic is from 2016 i think we were toying with all sorts a swivels and shit
There can be a lot of twisting ann moiving lines anround and what not , you may have the need to unclip and move stuff around once you’re passing through space in the tree. To start I like walking up two separate lines with two footies on and a good swing dude double chest harness to bring you system up the rope is stellar , atlas gloves on my hands best get up to your primary suspension point and start to make decisions on ropes placements from there. Starting with both line in same union pull both up in throw line . It’s not too bad in my experience but I don’t like the thought of it being a have to use it every climb you say in uk
It’s very unnecessary in many climbs
Very helpful on others!
 
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Muggs said:
I do 2 systems when it makes sense for me, not out of an ideology. I do either 2 SRT or 1 SRT and 1 DdRT, never 2 DdRT. Ascending in 2 systems sounds bonkers to me, I couldn't do it, haven't tried.
View attachment 97433
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Yea, I have only setup a second system after ascending, but I can see how it could be cool to have the second in place from the start. I have imagined that I would still just ascend one "primary" line and only just keep the slack/tension out of the second, at least until the point where I would want to start moving that way.
 
When the situation dictates a second top rope, I’m all about it. I probably do this about 5% of the time.
I’m not too partial on the system though. It’s really dependent on the situation- if I’m climbing a hazard tree that is dead, hence two top ropes it’s pretty common that I have set two lines from the ground into adjacent trees and therefore will be running two base anchored stationary rope systems.

I had a double top rope tree the other day, smallish sugar maple that was heavily leaning. Both systems were moving rope with a hitch because that was convenient and easy to setup. One from the ground - it was too easy of a shot and the second I set manually
 
Neill said:
When the situation dictates a second top rope, I’m all about it. I probably do this about 5% of the time.
I’m not too partial on the system though. It’s really dependent on the situation- if I’m climbing a hazard tree that is dead, hence two top ropes it’s pretty common that I have set two lines from the ground into adjacent trees and therefore will be running two base anchored stationary rope systems.

I had a double top rope tree the other day, smallish sugar maple that was heavily leaning. Both systems were moving rope with a hitch because that was convenient and easy to setup. One from the ground - it was too easy of a shot and the second I set manually
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Good point about using it in adjacent trees ! I did this then when I was up in crown used a handy multi sling to work down on the wood 20180318_165931_Original.jpeg
 
I have yet to set a second rope from the ground.

So far my procedure is to set one rope, ascend to my tie in point, get that situated how I like with a soft 8, set a second tie in close by with some sort of canopy anchor, and go to town.

I have 2 bridges if different lengths on my saddle, each with a ring. One system is connected to each ring.

Typically my plan has been to scramble out to my first redirect, throw one system over that, then work off of both systems, transferring more into the redirected one as needed. I try to work the tree in columns, but this allows me (on a good day) to kind of get two columns with one ascent? That's my hope at least.

Those of you that have tried, do you find swivels to be necessary or helpful?

I also LOVE the Rope Runner classic, but have had a hard time working that, and another system at the same time. The best thing I've found so far has been two hitches.

Has anyone tried two Rope Runners, or a Runner and a hitch? What works for you?

Thank you also, to everyone who's responded.
 
I love working 2 SRT setups with bones, quickly taking one off the line, moving the line as necessary, then reattaching. That's wicked on a big spready trim. What I do more often is just work the tree off a base anchor and deploy a DdRT system as a second, helper line as needed. I rip it out when I'm done working one section, and re-anchor it to help with the next area.

The Camp Gyro triple swivel makes a big difference on 2 systems. I got it because Dave @DSMc recommended it so highly.
 
Matias said:
Were you using two separate swivels or connecting both systems to one swivel as a master point on the bridge? I switched to a small DMM Axis which can accomodate 2 carabiners nicely, and I really dig it for running two separate systems in sprawling trees. I will typically have an SRS and an MRS, with the latter being on a ZZ+, so it swivels independently of the master swivel, thus keeping the MRS lines from twisting.

I do wanna start remembering to set a second SRT line before I go up.
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I had a demo piece of gear Nice Guy Dave and I came up with and Rock made a prototype. It was a swivel that had 2 attachment points and the ability to run on 2 bridges so if one bridge failed they system stayed intact. It was as close as we could get to redundant with a single piece of hardware. Double pulley on a double bridge kind of situation.
 
Steve Connally said:
I had a demo piece of gear Nice Guy Dave and I came up with and Rock made a prototype. It was a swivel that had 2 attachment points and the ability to run on 2 bridges so if one bridge failed they system stayed intact. It was as close as we could get to redundant with a single piece of hardware. Double pulley on a double bridge kind of situation.
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the small DMM Axis will accomodate two bridge cords. I run my double bridge as you do, and for the same redundancy you seek.
 
Matias said:
the small DMM Axis will accomodate two bridge cords. I run my double bridge as you do, and for the same redundancy you seek.
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ahhhh yes but this cool device had 2 pulleys independently running, separated by plates and each had its own independent axle all engineered to be 1 unit. It was almost like each bridge had its own pulley. It truly was nearly redundant where the Axis isn't redundant. It just has 2 bridges running through it. You have a bridge and a backup bridge if one fails. What if the Axis or the biner connected to the pulley fails? We were kinda there with the redundancy but it fizzled out for bigger and better mousetraps. I'm not saying your system isn't a great idea. It most certainly is. It's just not truly redundant. But......it's better than just one bridge for sure.
 
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