Richard Mumford-yoyoman
Been here a while
- Location
- Atlanta GA
A redirect that has been discussed before is back in discussion. I will avoid giving it a name or speak to its origin, as that is not what's important.
So, if one take a bight of rope and puts it above their climbing apparatus it can be used as a very handy retrievable redirect. There is a 3:1 MA built into it but it is different that the 3:1 orientation one may be familiar with. It can be used on a limb, ring, pulley type carabiner, Quickie, Ring and Ring and other configurations. In a way, I hate to hear it referred to as a 3:1 as it makes it sound the same as a popular technique but retrievable.
So when using this technique please be aware of these cautions.
1. You will be using 3x the rope. Most climbers in trees are not using stopper knots on the end of the climbing line. It is easy to use all of the line one may have before getting to the ground or next station. If that tail goes thru the climbing device it is not a good day.
2. Also import with anchor considerations is if that redirect is chosen without proper considerations and it breaks, you are mid-air, with 3 legs of slack climbing line above. How that connection is made can mitigate the failing limb or tree connection.
3. Depending on the activity being performed, chainsaw vs camera etc., one may not be able to get to the ground like you can from a regular 3:1. A climber can't just stop and release it. Although there are things that can be done without having to go back up, but if you are bleeding or hurt it would be difficult to perform those tasks.
4. Friction considerations. Some devices have difficulty releasing all friction without making undesirable configuration changes.
5. Some devices can be negatively impacted by the close proximity of 3 legs of line being next to the friction control.
Again, great technique and retrievable clean up as I go redirect, I use it often but it needs to be understood before implemented.
So, if one take a bight of rope and puts it above their climbing apparatus it can be used as a very handy retrievable redirect. There is a 3:1 MA built into it but it is different that the 3:1 orientation one may be familiar with. It can be used on a limb, ring, pulley type carabiner, Quickie, Ring and Ring and other configurations. In a way, I hate to hear it referred to as a 3:1 as it makes it sound the same as a popular technique but retrievable.
So when using this technique please be aware of these cautions.
1. You will be using 3x the rope. Most climbers in trees are not using stopper knots on the end of the climbing line. It is easy to use all of the line one may have before getting to the ground or next station. If that tail goes thru the climbing device it is not a good day.
2. Also import with anchor considerations is if that redirect is chosen without proper considerations and it breaks, you are mid-air, with 3 legs of slack climbing line above. How that connection is made can mitigate the failing limb or tree connection.
3. Depending on the activity being performed, chainsaw vs camera etc., one may not be able to get to the ground like you can from a regular 3:1. A climber can't just stop and release it. Although there are things that can be done without having to go back up, but if you are bleeding or hurt it would be difficult to perform those tasks.
4. Friction considerations. Some devices have difficulty releasing all friction without making undesirable configuration changes.
5. Some devices can be negatively impacted by the close proximity of 3 legs of line being next to the friction control.
Again, great technique and retrievable clean up as I go redirect, I use it often but it needs to be understood before implemented.
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