Beech Blocking

R

Reg

Branched out member
Location
Victoria, BC
This was today’s job. Another climber had spent a couple of days removing all the branches but for some reason was no longer available thereafter to finish the remainder. I knew it would involve heavy rigging so I brought ace grounds-man Gary Vaughn to work the ropes.

Obviously there was no crane access.

Had to cut away lots of half finished logs and stubs all over the thing befor I could really get into things....

The owner of the company was a guy called Ben (cant remember his second name), met him for the first time today, nice young fella who is carving out a good business for himself.
BTW, the yellow line is Yale Polydyne, excellent!

26 photos to come
226962-DSC03611.JPG
226962-DSC03614.JPG
226962-DSC03619.JPG
226962-DSC03626.JPG
226962-DSC03629.JPG
226962-DSC03631.JPG
226962-DSC03632.JPG
226962-DSC03634.JPG
226962-DSC03638.JPG
226962-DSC03640.JPG
226962-DSC03649.JPG
226962-DSC03663.JPG
226962-DSC03664.JPG
226962-DSC03666.JPG
226962-DSC03668.JPG
226962-DSC03671.JPG
226962-DSC03679.JPG
226962-DSC03680.JPG
226962-DSC03681.JPG
226962-DSC03689.JPG
226962-DSC03693.JPG
226962-DSC03694.JPG
226962-DSC03695.JPG
226962-DSC03703.JPG
226962-DSC03704.JPG
226962-DSC03705.JPG
226962-DSC03709.JPG
226962-DSC03710.JPG
226962-DSC03713.JPG


Thats all, thankyou
 

Attachments

  • 226962-DSC03713.webp
    226962-DSC03713.webp
    95.5 KB · Views: 100
That's the serious chunkin your doing there. How did that polydyne hold up to the abuse you just gave it? Can you feel the difference, being the climber in between that and say a stable braid rope of the same size?
 
Great work.

I would like my groundmen to see it, so they aren't as intimidated by the stuff we catch.

Thanks for taking the time to share, Reg.
 
[ QUOTE ]
That's the serious chunkin your doing there. How did that polydyne hold up to the abuse you just gave it? Can you feel the difference, being the climber in between that and say a stable braid rope of the same size?

[/ QUOTE ]

Ecellent job Reg! Thanks for sharing the pics with us.

I too am very curious about this new double braid. Seeing the size of the pieces, I can see where energy absorbtion is very important.

Did you notice a big difference from conventional double braid lines?
 
Chris, the Yale rope is nothing new. It's been out for years. Sheril just put a fancy name on it.....or something like that.

It is definitely better to have a line with double the dynamic properties---when there's room to work with, as there was on this tree.

Reg, your set-up is surely very nice....and with the double lines, it reduces the possibilities of a catastrophic failure to near zero, but it surely adds a lot of time.

I'd be using a Hobbs, which, due to its ability to employ rapid slack removal, the free fall moment is reduced considerably..before braking is applied, that is.

That, plus, I like to set the block's sling within mere inches of the cut to be made, further reducing the free fall.

All that said, I still always try to find a way to avoid negative blocking...as it is one of my least favorite things to do.

Again, great work, and don't mind the criticism....it ain't nothin', friend!

We did a compromised pine tree today, so we worked off two HWMPE tight lines, strung between two perfectly placed 110 footers. Lowering line rigged to one tight line, and lifeline to the other. Piece of cake, and no risk to the climber, Cowboy Dave.
 
Nice work, as always, Reg. Looks like it was a long, hard day. I know I enjoy jobs like that from time to time.

Did you walk away from that job without a single crack in the driveway? I'm just wondering if you dropped the stob on the pile of wood you had there, or what. After all of the careful rigging, I hope there was no ding from the big fat trunk, but curious to your strategy.

Roger, had to google HWMPE (high-molecular weight polyethylene? the acronym doesn't quite line up). I as well love to use tip-ties any time possible, and will search for top-rigging solutions rather than negative blocking. But without crane access, are you saying you wouldn't have taken this job?

Just curious. I may love tip-tying, but also enjoy the workout that these kind of jobs present.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Chris, the Yale rope is nothing new. It's been out for years. Sheril just put a fancy name on it.....or something like that.

[/ QUOTE ]

Rog, what has Sherril got to do with Yale Polydyne?

[ QUOTE ]
It is definitely better to have a line with double the dynamic properties---when there's room to work with, as there was on this tree.

Reg, your set-up is surely very nice....and with the double lines, it reduces the possibilities of a catastrophic failure to near zero, but it surely adds a lot of time.


[/ QUOTE ]

Just like traditional rigging with a single line adds takes more time than free-falling, but still no reason not to do it when its the best means of control. I come across lots of this kind of work and although the double line system is not always necessary, there is always one thing that is never far from my mind....’cycles to failure’....hence the techniques and hardware used on this occasion.
Price in the extra time or don’t do the job....time and $ doesn’t outweigh safety. Treework is just a job.

[ QUOTE ]
I'd be using a Hobbs, which, due to its ability to employ rapid slack removal, the free fall moment is reduced considerably...before braking is applied, that is.

[/ QUOTE ]

High up a spar I think it’s not only less critical but also with so much line in the system – not as easy. Sometimes just pre-loading the line is the safer bet, but it’s an option for sure.

[ QUOTE ]
That, plus, I like to set the block's sling within mere inches of the cut to be made, further reducing the free fall.

[/ QUOTE ]


If you’re setting your life-lines above the block then putting ones life in but a couple of inches after the log tips is too dangerous for this climber. I’ll pass on that one.

[ QUOTE ]
All that said, I still always try to find a way to avoid negative blocking...as it is one of my least favourite things to do.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah I don’t look for these jobs Rog but they still find me somehow. This one was a little more trying because it was a leaner which makes everything but tipping the log more awkward....plus beech is heavy as you know.

[ QUOTE ]

and don't mind the criticism....it ain't nothin', friend!


[/ QUOTE ]

Hey, no explanation needed, you’re always welcome. The video will show it better.
 
Guys, thanks, glad you liked the photos.

The 5/8 polydyne, really feels and weighs no different to the double esterlon equivlent....but reassuring to know you have that extra margin in your favour. The slings were DE 3/4 by-the-way.

Winch, trunk was being left at 8 ft for a carving, so just another half a dozen cookies and job done, by which point there was no lean so quite easy to manage. No there was not a scratch on the driveway or anything else. Thanks again
 
Will we be able to see the carving when it's done? Keep us updated! I sure hope it's not a bear. That's all anyone does around here.

But I've no right to complain, I haven't ever carved a thing, not even a bear.
 
Hi Reg, it looks like in photo 11 that you're using a rescue pulley to descend on your climbing line? Nothing wrong with this, I was just curious.

When I climb SRT I have a 4" cmi pulley rigged with my doubled climbing line secured to the single line by a Petzl ascender. I use this as a TFC (Traveling False Crotch)

I was just wondering what kind of climbing system that you used on this tree.

Can't wait to see the video!

Thanks
Chris
 
nice work, nice rigging with dual cords and dual block's

i realy wonder why you didn't use a mobile crane or telescope crane to finish off the job the other guy started. There's a big truck on the driveway and a tractor, seems to me that a crane will also be able to get there ;-)

I really like heavy rigging but allways prefer a mobile crane or telescope crane when access is good. This will make the work go easier and with less stress to climber, rigging material and surrounding.

Great work !

wouter
 
[ QUOTE ]
nice work, nice rigging with dual cords and dual block's

i realy wonder why you didn't use a mobile crane or telescope crane to finish off the job the other guy started. There's a big truck on the driveway and a tractor, seems to me that a crane will also be able to get there ;-)

I really like heavy rigging but allways prefer a mobile crane or telescope crane when access is good. This will make the work go easier and with less stress to climber, rigging material and surrounding.

Great work !

wouter

[/ QUOTE ]

wouter, thankyou, but when I said at the begining of the thread there was no crane access I was telling the truth. Trust me, I have done this job before.

The tractor in the photos is more of a toy, and the truck was just a delivery van. The driveway leading up to the parking area in the photo's was far too narrow for the width of even a 25t crane....and even if it were wide enough, there still wasn't enough turning circle on the adjoining road to swing the crane in; But I agree with everything else you said. Thanks again
 
[ QUOTE ]
Hi Reg, it looks like in photo 11 that you're using a rescue pulley to descend on your climbing line? Nothing wrong with this, I was just curious.

When I climb SRT I have a 4" cmi pulley rigged with my doubled climbing line secured to the single line by a Petzl ascender. I use this as a TFC (Traveling False Crotch)

I was just wondering what kind of climbing system that you used on this tree.

Can't wait to see the video!

Thanks
Chris

[/ QUOTE ] Chris it was nothing fancy, just a standard 3t swing cheek, what I had to hand on the day. I only used it to hang in while I set up the rigging for each chunk. Thanks
 
[ QUOTE ]
Chris, can you post a pic of your system you are describing?

[/ QUOTE ]

Sure, I 'd love to, but my digital camera just crapped out this week, so I don't know when I can upload them.

I'm actually giving a climbing demonstration on this technique next weekend at Mayer's Arborday party, so I hope to get some pictures there and post them.

It's a very efficient system. Perfect for long ascents where you actually want to work while ascending using a doubled line, but still having the benefit of SRT.

Sorry Reg, not trying to derail the thread. I'll actually start a new thread under the climbing forum when I get some pics.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Some footage from the headcam. I had better on the other (ground) camera but I think the rain must have got in it on the day because its totally dead tonight and I cant even get the tape out. Sorry about that guys, I’d hoped to do a better job but its just not worked out this time.

[/ QUOTE ]

Don't have to apologize Reg. Thanks for posting the video for us to watch. I think it's fine.

I can see what you mean by not having any room for a crane. That driveway is pretty narrow.
 
Hey Reg, another quick question. Did you preload the Yale Polydyne line to take a lot of the slack out first or did you just take wraps on the bollards and use the elastic properties of the nylon inner core?

Fantastic rigging as usual!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New threads New posts

Back
Top Bottom