Are there limits to the new paradigm?

[moss]

Reading through Kevin's double rope thread I saw hints that Kevin and others have been asking themselves the question I've been thinking of: what is the new "outer limit" for climbers accessing what used to be very difficult to reach parts of broad crowned trees? Climbers working off SRT friction systems are experiencing the "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" effect, floating in what used to be outrageous parts of trees, dancing through the delicate tops of crowns on multiple redirects attached to very light branches. It's more like free climbing, except with distributed support anchors. The other day it hit me as I looked back at a series of redirects choked on 2" diameter verticals, that I was doing a kind of horizontal rock climbing. My feet balanced on two different light branches, the rope nearly horizontal. Conventional ideas about staying below your tie-in start to dissolve. No wonder Kevin is exploring double rope SRT. So what are your limits, are there limits? Are we running into them yet?

 

[familytree]

Couldn't agree more. The ability to have consistent friction while climbing SRT has made us more capable to run multiple redirects without fear. Also, the lanyard and its uses have evolved considerably just over the past 10 years, offering another "mini" climbing system which enables me to get even further while still feeling comfortable with my safety.

 

[oceans]

The ability to install static redirects has created some unbelievable opportunities, that combined with the 1:1 ascent to access or retrieve, the 3:1 haulback, French prusik options for creating lanyard attachment points, midline knot options for tying in other lines...I hope to say that we're all just getting started and be correct!

 

[goodaking]

Moss I love the analogy I always thought of my self as a tree Ninja! lol
It is unbelievable where we can go in the canopy now with all the innovative tools coming out. I am amazed every day when i look at a tree from the ground and think i cant access that part of the tree until i get up into the canopy and find myself on teeny branches.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Now that it is so easy to get to and work from very specific XYZ coordinates using srt work positioning techniques climbers will find climbing even more interesting and exciting. Since I've used SRT I break down the tree into much different shapes and workspaces. I find myself seeing the tree in all of its dimensions much more interesting. I ask the tree to help me solve the access and positioning puzzles more than every before.

 

[oceans]

Tree structures that once seemed like obstacles can become your allies.

 

[Paul Hedderly]

The key is that the climbing friction/control point has moved - It's no longer at the Tip and at the redirects and now with the climber.
Its the rope being "static" that makes this all possible.

(As a mostly rec/hobby-arb - I'm really enjoying SRT in the trees too!)

 

[ontheropes]

I like when you redirect once or several Times you have the redundancy of back up tie In points and of course the consistent friction of your hitch. I find it the most beneficial in pin oaks (with tight unpruned canopy's) and wide spreading silver maples but run the wrench every chance I get.

 

[oceans]

I like when you redirect once or several Times you have the redundancy of back up tie In points and of course the consistent friction of your hitch. I find it the most beneficial in pin oaks (with tight unpruned canopy's) and wide spreading silver maples but run the wrench every chance I get.

I'm getting to the point that a single canopy anchor point in the crown feels weird. I love to thread things up with redi's, especially when you can create that ideal TIP from a spot that you could never hang from on its own. I should probably start going back to single anchors from time to time just to get my head back in it.

 

[treewill]

Some great points on this thread. The ability to have multiple redirects and create static redirects totally changes the game, IMO as much or more than the consistent friction aspect.

Two of my biggest light-bulb moments with SRT work positioning have come in wild, tropical trees; once in Madagascar, climbing trees completely overgrown with tough Liana vines which I was able to utilize as redirects rather than avoid as obstacles. The second time I was working a week-long job in Indonesia on huge albizia trees with crowns over 150' wide. Tying into one anchor and then trying to work those trees would have been unimaginable. I am finding the same thing to be true with Banyan trees, which are usually very wide with no central tie-in. Often getting out on long limb walks is similar to leading a pitch of rock climbing.

My point is that some of the most difficult trees to work with the old systems can now be worked just as easily as any other.

Are there limits to the new paradigm? Probably, there always are. But I for one think we are just beginning to exploit all of the new doors that have been opened by having non-moving climb line. It's an exciting time to be a tree climber, for sure.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Once I started to incorporate redis into my skill set the tree became fluidly three dimensional to me. Seeing so many solutions for support made me feel more like a puppet instead of a plumb bob.

If there are limits to this three dimensional access to trees they'll be solved.

In less than a generation I've seen the move take place and be accepted as normal. What a treat!

Climb on!