Canopy anchors v Climbing skills

[ctree]

Reg you have good points. I am an in between climber. I have worked with a gentleman, who is now my friend, for several years who is what I would call "old school", like what Reg is talking about. When I first started working with him he terrified me. He seemed to have no cares at all about some aspects of safety that I care about. As the years have passed I have come to appreciate his seemingly natural climbing abilities and his oneness with the tree he is climbing. I don't always agree with his methods but Ive never seen him make a mistake, break anything or anyone. He learned by being yelled at and not using a "sissy strap"(lanyard). His balance and core strength are amazing. He has inspired me to relax and feel the climb and I have inspired him to wear chaps, helmet, and try some new friction hitches. All good stuff, all valuable. Like Oceans said its all about balance both figuratively and literally.

 

[TimBr]

This was a spikeless solo removal Jan of this year. I brushed it out first and then went back up and dropped the wood(It was just easier that way, working solo). The double crotch was set for work positioning after I'd limb walked and finger tip gripped out the leader. None of the stubs were pointing my way in case of a swing. It's hard to see in the photo but this piece was caught by two loops and biners then cut into smaller pieces which were free dropped..

View attachment 36255

Hey, TreeCo!
I'm re-reading this thread, and came across this post again, near the beginning of the thread. I intend to read through the whole thread again, but can't yet recall having commented on this post. So, at the risk of repeating myself, I just wanted to say wow, what a great photograph!

If you were working solo, I imagine that the photograph was taken by the homeowner? Really great composition, whoever took it.

It strikes me that you seem to be depending almost entirely on your short lanyard and your own fine sense of balance to hold you in position while you operate a running chainsaw. The main climb line and its double crotch appears to have a lot of slack in it, and that it is therefore not lending any support as far as balancing yourself is concerned. It appears to be there mostly to catch you in the event of a fall, am I correct in this supposition?

I just also wanted to say that this photo would make a fine avatar photo; but the one you already have is beautiful, too. That is all.

Tim

 

[TimberJack]

There's no difference in how I ascend, descend, tend slack, or move in the tree DdRT or SRT. What's different is 1:1 vs. 2:1 motion while moving up the rope and multiple redirects available SRT to increase horizontal range and load sharing on the anchor.

I'm stating the obvious but I don't believe that SRT with the new devices inherently makes a person a more "natural" climber on the tree. However if you're already good on the tree, SRT is going to open things up quite a bit. Gear has never made the climber and it never will. Smart gear use can make a climber more efficient and safer, no guarantees though.

Speaking of which a climber who mentored me when I was starting out taught me something he learned from an old-timer, maybe this is common knowledge, don't know, works well SRT or DdRT ;-)

The arm lanyard. There are four ways to deploy your arm as a lanyard, from strongest to weakest:
1. Arm over branch up to your shoulder, resting on your armpit, very strong, very stable, hands free
2. Crook of your elbow around a spar or branch, what I use most often besides a hand grab, very stable position, hands free
3. Crook of your wrist, a strong hold, leaves your fingers free for a task
4. Hand grab on a branch, most useful, very effective for quick moves but weakest of the four
Disclaimer: this assumes all your arm parts are working pretty well ;-)
-AJ

Hey Moss, could you please include illustrations for us newbies...