Basal Anchors

Jem4417 · May 26, 2018

I love saftey and am all about predicting the worst but when your base anchor system costs an arm and leg and takes a half hour to set up every time, i try to take a realistic stand point on the need everytime. Your 20 foot ultra sling with a figure 8 backed up by a 3 wrap 6 coil Prussic with another climbing line attached too lower you “all the way” makes a great picture. But it’s a 60 foot poplar with 7 pieces of deadwood. Let’s get real.

SomethingWitty · May 27, 2018

Jem4417 said:
I love saftey and am all about predicting the worst but when your base anchor system costs an arm and leg and takes a half hour to set up every time, i try to take a realistic stand point on the need everytime. Your 20 foot ultra sling with a figure 8 backed up by a 3 wrap 6 coil Prussic with another climbing line attached too lower you “all the way” makes a great picture. But it’s a 60 foot poplar with 7 pieces of deadwood. Let’s get real.

That example system is both fairly cheap and could easily be pre-rigged so all that it takes is whipping a sling around and clipping that 8/prussic combo biner to it, followed by clipping the two ropes together. The second line never need leave the bag, and it packs up quickly as well.

Efficiency should always be a goal. Bullshitting with things you barely understand on job is always to be frowned upon... But if you know how it works and I can set it as quickly as tying a knot, I think it should be welcome.

Jem4417 · May 27, 2018

SomethingWitty said:
That example system is both fairly cheap and could easily be pre-rigged so all that it takes is whipping a sling around and clipping that 8/prussic combo biner to it, followed by clipping the two ropes together. The second line never need leave the bag, and it packs up quickly as well.

Efficiency should always be a goal. Bullshitting with things you barely understand on job is always to be frowned upon... But if you know how it works and I can set it as quickly as tying a knot, I think it should be welcome.

It’s all welcome don’t get me wrong. Just unnecessary to overkill. i watch newer guys get so caught up in the progressive styles continuing to catch their eye. Base anchors, redirects, retrievable everything’s, harness bridges that way ten pounds, and all the other nuances of arboriculture. Shit i used to do it all to the tenth degree. And now I got thousands of dollars of trinkets in my garage that should of went to hitch cords and handsaw blades. The gear can be a great hobby but simple will keep you just as safe and productive. Plus it will save you an ear full from the old timer foreman who used to free climb 100 feet to tie in with a 20 year old climbing line

AshWilliams · May 27, 2018

Million likes from me ^^^

AshWilliams · May 28, 2018

I still free climb sometimes! Like a cedar with a dense crown and perfect ladder from 6ft off the ground...just climb it like a 10 year old kid and tie in at the top!

SomethingWitty · May 28, 2018

AshWilliams said:
I still free climb sometimes! Like a cedar with a dense crown and perfect ladder from 6ft off the ground...just climb it like a 10 year old kid and tie in at the top!

I'm not saying you can't do it... I believe that you are good. I'm still saying it's not happening on my job.

Jem4417 said:
It’s all welcome don’t get me wrong. Just unnecessary to overkill. i watch newer guys get so caught up in the progressive styles continuing to catch their eye. Base anchors, redirects, retrievable everything’s, harness bridges that way ten pounds, and all the other nuances of arboriculture. Shit i used to do it all to the tenth degree. And now I got thousands of dollars of trinkets in my garage that should of went to hitch cords and handsaw blades. The gear can be a great hobby but simple will keep you just as safe and productive. Plus it will save you an ear full from the old timer foreman who used to free climb 100 feet to tie in with a 20 year old climbing line

I ain't scared of that old foreman. If I'm contracting and the head guy doesn't understand, I run something simpler and try not to rub the fact that I've got thousands of hours of off-the-clock studying and training in his face. Make sawdust.

AshWilliams · May 28, 2018

SomethingWitty said:
I'm not saying you can't do it... I believe that you are good. I'm still saying it's not happening on my job.

I ain't scared of that old foreman. If I'm contracting and the head guy doesn't understand, I run something simpler and try not to rub the fact that I've got thousands of hours of off-the-clock studying and training in his face. Make sawdust.

There's a time and place for everything. I'm definitely not advocating reckless freeclimbing but I see a lot of guys get caught up in the mindset of "everything is dangerous and trees are out to get me" and it can really affect your confidence.

Stuart lorriman · Sep 14, 2018

for my basal anchor i was going to try a medium portawrap tied at the base. the tie into the portawrap and use that so i am in a lower able system

Brocky · Sep 14, 2018

If you tie the top of the port a wrap also, it will keep it from flopping when your line is slacked.

Tom Dunlap · Sep 14, 2018

@Stuart lorriman

There are many much better belay devices for base anchors.

Having a belay that has a 'let go/lock off' function is the best in my opinion. If a rescue lower is ever needed it's too tempting for the rescuer to use both hands.

I've got several different belay tools to sell if you're interested. I'm trying to sell off gear that I don't need.

Stuart lorriman · Sep 17, 2018

Tom Dunlap said:
@Stuart lorriman

There are many much better belay devices for base anchors.

Having a belay that has a 'let go/lock off' function is the best in my opinion. If a rescue lower is ever needed it's too tempting for the rescuer to use both hands.

I've got several different belay tools to sell if you're interested. I'm trying to sell off gear that I don't need.

What kind of stuff do you have?

Tom Dunlap · Sep 17, 2018

i'll put pics up in Treebay...keep your eyes open, I don't know when they
ll go up

Scottyrunner100 · Oct 8, 2018

evo said:
http://www.treebuzz.com/forum/threa...ce-hornets-broken-back-a-few-years-ago.38024/

This is the only one I know of... I am sure there has to be others! Tom's point where a base tie can assist a climber while rescuing a victim is a very good solid point. I'd like to here more stories of any kind of rescue, perhaps from first hand accounts. Been doing this for close to 12 years, and I don't know of any in my area.

Not sure if this link will work, but this was a recent rescue done by the Technical Rescue Team I work with.

https://www.facebook.com/cobbfire/posts/2079477605470532