Climbing a tall tree with shorter rope(s)…

[evo]

To the point of how to access tall conifers and what rope strategies to use...

In the eastern U.S. white pine offers similar challenges, on a smaller scale but the principals are the same. For this baby hawk renest in spring '23 I tied some extra line to a 150' to give me a basal anchored ascent access. I never advanced that line, it stayed in place with rope wrench in place. Tailed a 85' line, also carried my 15' lanyard and my Captain Hook with a 55' 9mm line. 85' of 7mm (gold-colored) accessory cord is carried in a small bag on the back of my harness, I use that as a pulldown for my 85' line after it is eventually anchored at the top of the tree.

If I was in the PNW old-growth I'd be using a 200' 11mm static as an access line, 120' line for advancing above the initial access TIP and my short lanyard would be 20'. That's solo, in a team climb more lines in the mix but the fundamental setup per climber the same. Multicender would be left at the top of the initial access line after climbers progressed higher. That way it's a quick and easy switchover to get to the ground from the top in an emergency escape scenario. Everybody has their way, this has worked well for me in many tall woods conifer climbs.

Note: tree was more like 115', not 90' ;-) Hilltop tree so quite exposed.

-AJ

That’s pretty much how I roll on the big stuff. 200’ base tied access line, 100’ aux climbing line with a pre tied hitch on each end, and 20’ lanyard.

On the medium stuff 200’ access with a pre tied hitch on the tail. Get a good few limbs but still in clear sight for a base tied tip.
Pull up the access line tail and leap frog Ddrt system between the 20’ lanyard and tail rope.
Doesn’t offer instant bail out but very quick main line transition if needed

 

[Tuebor]

Stetson Road off of Old San Jose Rd in the hills above Soquel Village. Know the area well as I smashed a lot of timber and skidded a lot of logs in that area back in my youth.

I grew up in the Santa Cruz Mountains just down the road from Big basin State Park where some of the biggest timber left on gods green earth resides...Spurred up my first tree, made my first undercut, set my first chocker, blew my first top, drank my first beer, and smoked my first joint in those hills.

They believe that the first redwood tree to be seen by a white man took place in the Santa Cruz Mountains in 1769 near Corralitos Creek

God, that was a beautiful area! I wish i could have stayed more than a day. Definitely need to go back for a longer visit.

The tree was on private property on Long Ridge Road, south of Summit Road and the Summit Store.

 

[moss]

Moss, This was totally cool to watch. The engagement with the parents was fantastic! I’ve tried to connect with our local bird rescue organization, but they haven’t responded. I believe they already have climbers in their “rolodex.”

They'll need you sooner or later. Say hi to them in the early spring, from there through early summer they'll be wanting you in the mix.
-AJ

 

[rico]

God, that was a beautiful area! I wish i could have stayed more than a day. Definitely need to go back for a longer visit.

The tree was on private property on Long Ridge Road, south of Summit Road and the Summit Store.

Just had lunch at the Summit Store a few weeks ago. Their BBQ is really good so me and the boys treated ourselves one day when we were working off of Amaya Ridge Road, which is a little ways down Old San Jose Road from the store. If you ever make it out this way again, hit me up. I live, work, and spend half of the year in what is probably the most beautiful and remote area of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Nothing but peace and quiet, with plenty of 240+ footers to choose from down in the holler behind my place. A rec climbers dream!

 

[islandarb]

Just had lunch at the Summit Store a few weeks ago. Their BBQ is really good so me and the boys treated ourselves one day when we were working off of Amaya Ridge Road, which is a little ways down Old San Jose Road from the store. If you ever make it out this way again, hit me up. I live, work, and spend half of the year in what is probably the most beautiful and remote area of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Nothing but peace and quiet, with plenty of 240+ footers to choose from down in the holler behind my place. A rec climbers dream!

On my bucket list Erik.