Canobase / canobasing

[Stumpsprouts]

I’m becoming familiar with this term in some other threads that don’t address the technique directly, and I have lots of basic questions I would like to ask those who are using this technique.

As of now with my limited understanding, it seems like the worst of both worlds, and I don’t understand the appeal, but y’all are smart people and don’t do things just to do em. And I want to understand everything I can. So please would folks mind sharing experiences with this technique?

some basic things I don’t understand-
-What kind of trees/situations do you deploy this in?
-What hardware and methods do you use to set it up and retrieve?
-Do you have to have a basal or canopy anchor first and then set up the canobase anchor mid climb, or do you set it up from the ground?

Thank you!

 

[DSMc]

... As of now with my limited understanding, it seems like the worst of both worlds, and I don’t understand the appeal, but y’all are smart people and don’t do things just to do em...

I'm right there with you in your thoughts and will be following this thread for enlightenment on why climbers find this system
appealing.

 

[moss]

I’m becoming familiar with this term in some other threads that don’t address the technique directly, and I have lots of basic questions I would like to ask those who are using this technique.

As of now with my limited understanding, it seems like the worst of both worlds, and I don’t understand the appeal, but y’all are smart people and don’t do things just to do em. And I want to understand everything I can. So please would folks mind sharing experiences with this technique?

some basic things I don’t understand-
-What kind of trees/situations do you deploy this in?
-What hardware and methods do you use to set it up and retrieve?
-Do you have to have a basal or canopy anchor first and then set up the canobase anchor mid climb, or do you set it up from the ground?

Thank you!

It's a simple answer from my perspective. If you're a climber that likes to take advantage of the positive qualities of a basal anchor beyond simply accessing a tree, but doesn't want rigging or ground operations to endanger their basal anchor, moving the anchor to an out of the way position in the crown or on trunk away from the ground will do it for you.

Many details of course as to how it's set up and configured and different climbers will have different ways of doing installation and removal. On a recent takedown job for example on a multi-leader wide crowned tree I set up MRS with a Rope Runner, climbed up to about 15' in the tree, lanyard in and tied off a Running Bowline canobase anchor, then continued up SRS on the Rope Runner. I removed the canobase when I no longer needed it after the crown was gone. Very simple, no hardware involved.

This could easily devolve into a discussion on basal vs. canopy anchors but that's not the point. If you love canopy anchors and aren't interested in basal anchors beyond a temporary anchor for access, canobase probably isn't for you.
-AJ

 

[DSMc]

...
I set up MRS with a Rope Runner, climbed up to about 15' in the tree, lanyard in and tied off a Running Bowline canobase anchor, then continued up SRS on the Rope Runner. I removed the canobase when I no longer needed it after the crown was gone...

How was that an improvement over either a canopy anchor or a base anchor?

 

[evo]

I do this all the time in taller conifers. Mostly as shooting a line as high as I feel comfortable and base anchoring, ascend then leap frog my tip or psp up with me. When the wood gets really small I’ll take a wrap or canopy anchor with a running bowline, or alpine butterfly and continue to leapfrog up spiraling my climbing line on the stem as I go. It’s a pita coming down to the choke but a must for noodle stems

 

[Stumpsprouts]

psp

Define please?

Many details of course as to how it's set up and configured and different climbers will have different ways of doing installation and removal. On a recent takedown job for example on a multi-leader wide crowned tree I set up MRS with a Rope Runner, climbed up to about 15' in the tree, lanyard in and tied off a Running Bowline canobase anchor, then continued up SRS on the Rope Runner. I removed the canobase when I no longer needed it after the crown was gone. Very simple, no hardware involved.

This is what I was imagining. I was curious as to whether the system could be set up from the ground- also retrieved from the ground. Some of the recent discussions I’ve seen allude to this but I’m missing the diagram/video/description of the mechanics of that.

Moss, is your use of this purely to keep your basal safe from ground activities? I know there’s some benefits physics-wise in opening up the angles of a TIP in a crown as well.

 

[RyTheTreeGuy]

I have used a canobase anchor when I want to take advantage of a higher tie in point or psp (primary suspension point). When the wood gets smaller and I am not 100% comfortable I will choke the spar (or lead) and re-direct above (while keeping force multipliers in mind). There are other ways to accomplish the same effects, such as, deploying a second smaller MRS system, but each tree is different and it can be a valuable tool for the tool box when used correctly. Different strokes for different folks...just be sure to choose the correct stroke so you don't get broke. Be safe and have fun.

 

[moss]

How was that an improvement over either a canopy anchor or a base anchor?

For the situation the canobase location kept the anchor safer from flying wood then a base anchor would. I had an awesome initial upper “redirect” position in a solid high union, didn’t need to climb to it and set a canopy anchor.
-AJ

 

[Mowerr]

Different strokes for different folks...just be sure to choose the correct stroke so you don't get broke. Be safe and have fun.

Never heard it worded quite like that and I like it

 

[moss]

Does anyone know where did the term Canobase originated? This seems similar to the mid-anchor described in this video by Mr. Mufford.

Chris Coates is the first person I heard it from, don’t know if he came up with the name.
-AJ

 

[Tuebor]

Maybe BJ Brock. That crew that does the NAOM comps together. One of them might have developed the idea and another named it.

 

[moss]

Maybe BJ Brock. That crew that does the NAOM comps together. One of them might have developed the idea and another named it.

I’m sure I’m not the only one, I set my first canobase a long time ago, there wasn’t a name for it yet ;-)

 

[Crazy_Jimmy]

I been playing around with a Cano-Base for a couple years now , I am not sure who I picked it up from but its been around the scene for awhile . Its nice to go around a big fat union lower and then equalize it between to higher uprights , seems to dissipate the forces well . I would love to do some load testing and get some data on what forces are being applied to the higher unions .

 

[Crazy_Jimmy]

The name is just a combination of Canopy anchor and base anchor which essentially is what it is, but I'm sure everyone knew that already

 

[Chaplain242]

The name is just a combination of Canopy anchor and base anchor which essentially is what it is, but I'm sure everyone knew that already

Still sounds like something available on the streets of South Central...

 

[DSMc]

I'm still not seeing a significant advantage over a well thought out base tie. Everything mentioned so far can be achieved from the ground, quickly and simply, given a little thought.

The one exception of course is making it tamperproof from ground people. Can't imagine working like that on any kind of regular basis, and if the base tie is in danger, so is any other section of rope left on the ground. I'd be pulling the whole damn rope up into the tree, not just the base tie.

 

[RyTheTreeGuy]

I'm still not seeing a significant advantage over a well thought out base tie. Everything mentioned so far can be achieved from the ground, quickly and simply, given a little thought.

The one exception of course is making it tamperproof from ground people. Can't imagine working like that on any kind of regular basis, and if the base tie is in danger, so is any other section of rope left on the ground. I'd be pulling the whole damn rope up into the tree, not just the base tie.

Very easy to switch over from a base tie ascent to retrivable canobase with the use of a mid line attachable friction saver....lanyard in and have a groundie untie the base anchor. This now becomes the retrieval leg for the knot blocked canopy anchor. With this system I have taken as many as 7 re directs to test and have never had a problem retrieving it from the ground. There have been safety concerns over the use of knot blocking an alpine with a biner for back up so use at your own risk .

 

[Stumpsprouts]

Very easy to switch over from a base tie ascent to retrivable canobase with the use of a mid line attachable friction saver....lanyard in and have a groundie untie the base anchor. This now becomes the retrieval leg for the knot blocked canopy anchor. With this system I have taken as many as 7 re directs to test and have never had a problem retrieving it from the ground. There have been safety concerns over the use of knot blocking an alpine with a biner for back up so use at your own risk .

The picture is coming into focus. I’m guessing at some of the mechanics involved. The retrieval end remains on the ground in this orientation, and that is the end you pull at the end of the climb to retrieve the adjustable friction saver that you install mid climb?

Could someone please confirm that this is (aside from a theoretical possibility) a system that has to be installed mid climb?

 

[DSMc]

Very easy to switch over from a base tie ascent to retrivable canobase with the use of a mid line attachable friction saver....lanyard in and have a groundie untie the base anchor. This now becomes the retrieval leg for the knot blocked canopy anchor. With this system I have taken as many as 7 re directs to test and have never had a problem retrieving it from the ground. There have been safety concerns over the use of knot blocking an alpine with a biner for back up so use at your own risk .

With a base tie you automatically have a retrieval leg and can do as many redirects as you please. Work the tree on the same line you ascend on.

What do you gain by adding a canobase with mid-line attachable friction saver?

 

[RyTheTreeGuy]

With a base tie you automatically have a retrieval leg and can do as many redirects as you please. Work the tree on the same line you ascend on.

What do you gain by adding a mid-line attachable friction saver?

The ability to not die if an irresponsible person cuts your anchor leg of rope...but you already eluded to conceding that point. I believe it was Lawrence Schultz who had his base line knicked when working a tree with multiple climbers. Scary stuff...but again not needed for every climb