Thank you for the complement treetop. Hope brick does join us here.
@Mark Chisholm @oldoakman @Treetopflyer @BooRad
Hi all! Finally made it in here!
Thanks for the shout outs and kind words. It’s much appreciated.
I’ll get right into it. Basal anchor aerial rescues.
Right off the bat, I want to say this. As with every other tool and technique we use, there is no one size fits all approach.
The set up that I posted about brought on some agreements, disagreements and most importantly, new ideas to chew on.
The key point i would like to drive home is this. Every job, my co worker and I make sure we have an aerial rescue plan, and set up for that. From first aid kit, his climbing set up and down to the details of what access set up we are going to use.
In the scenario I set up, it was a sweet gum tree with a huge ascent before the first limb, about 30 feet. Nothing daunting for most of us, but the mindset was “what if.” What if there is a problem? What if I faint, hornets nest, pull my arm out of socket?
I was still going to be on the SRS line, and my co workers skill level isn’t where he can ascend underneath and perform an aerial rescue.
Thus lower-able anchor came into play.
Two things that stuck out for me in discussions that transpired.
One being, “what if when you are lowering injured or unconscious climber and they get stuck in a crotch or gear is snagged up on something? Answer was that the ground personnel HAS to be smart and know if the lower able is the best solution for a rescue! Just because it is set up, doesn’t mean that it is to be used.
In the case of Rachel, the women who fell and shattered her spine, it was a perfect situation to use. And she did, but from what I understand, it wasn’t the smoothest set up AND the coworker had a I know it all attitude. A knife was used to cut the climbing line that was anchored to tree, but the prussic (attaches to another line but just held by co worker) that was supposed to hold her now cut line, didn’t have a chance to tighten onto the line as it recoiled through it and she fell.
The second spurred on an idea to work on, to then ascend the anchored side and then put in second climbing system. That second system would be taken out of lower able pulley system and brought up with rescue climber. Problem is that the TIP will now see quadruple the body weight. Thoughts are always welcomed!
So, to wrap it up, the set up is always used (tree dependent) in the form of alpine butterflies at the base anchor. One to hook up line and the other to use for the same purpose, to attach a second line and perform the exact same thing.
It’s kind of like dressing for colder weather. If you don’t have layers, you get colder. If you have layers and get warm, you can take some off and be comfortable.
If the lower able anchor is the best answer, use it. If not, go to plan B and on to Z until the person is rescued.
Sorry for loooooong response!
