Climbing in the rain

Luke Haas said:
I'm a few years late to the party, but what do you guys do to dry out your ropes when they do get wet? I put mine on saw horses and just string them out, is there a better method?
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I have hooks hanging from the rafters of my basement that I hang them across, then point a fan in their direction. I've seen guys with racks that lower from the ceiling with a pulley system, drape their ropes over, than hoist 'em back up into the air.
 
Drying things quickly is the same on all fronts: good airflow with low humidity.
I close the bathroom with a box fan and wall heater cranked and ropes draped over the curtain rod.
Nothing takes more than overnight like that.
 
I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one on the planet that's about to be served with divorce papers for turning the house into a maintenance/storage facility for climbing and rigging crap.

I need to go wash some ropes in the new washing machine while the wife's asleep. Later.
 
JeffGu said:
I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one on the planet that's about to be served with divorce papers for turning the house into a maintenance/storage facility for climbing and rigging crap.

I need to go wash some ropes in the new washing machine while the wife's asleep. Later.
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Dude, I built a boat in her living room.
She thinks it is my purpose in life to find hobbies that make her house dirty... I don't think she's far from the truth.
 
Oh, we better keep them from ever getting each other's phone numbers. They'd be swapping horror stories and plotting to kill us.

I set up a ground blind that I bought a few days ago... in the living room. Had to put a few things out on the porch, to make room. Like, the furniture.
It is entirely possible that I have a death wish.
 
I don't mind getting wet but if the tree is soaked to begin with climbing is a pain in the ass because you can't get any foot traction (at least from my experience). This is especially dangerous if you're climbing without spurs or have to do any limb walking. If the tree is dry and it starts raining I'll keep working. But often if we had a rainstorm I'll wait for the tree to dry up.
 
JontreeHI said:
This is my fifth winter in the PNW. I would suggest that the difficult climbing conditions of rain can Greatly improve your technical climbing ability.
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Is climbing a wet tree easy? Hell no. But living in the PNW if you don’t well you only can work 3 months out of the year. Now I’m not sure about that white stuff, or anything over 90 degrees man that is just crazy
 
That's where CoolVests rule!

Pnw natives melt above 80*.

If rain sketches you out out, go to an indoor 'rock' gym, and use the tiny footholds than that are attached with wood screws, as they are too small for bolts. Trees will not seen as bad.

A positioning hook in addition to your climbing line may help. A grapnel may help to advance a second climbing line toward the tips for limb walks.
 
I've dicked around with every way known to man for advancing climb lines in a tree. You simply can't beat the consistency of a nice light basswood polesaw to set lines in tree as long as ground support is available to send and receive upon the completion of climbers use. If the tree dictates Setting multiple climb lines from the ground makes sense Useing the two lines to vector out And increase our balance points or move through the "air" while skipping the wet tree altogher if you understand what I'm saying.. Basically bottom line once you understand 2 lines beat one and can utilize when the tree provides the good anchor points to use them well, you'll look at the tree and say this ain't nuthin..even if it's wet as a beavers back side. Spurless or course , working wet trees on the irons is what it your spiking into the tree.. Either way plan ahead, take your sweet time when weather isnt best and you know it's going to be one of them days.
 
Treetopflyer said:
...once you understand 2 lines beat one...
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Amen. At my age, this is what keeps me going. So much more you can do, without constantly fumbling around with gymnastics that can hurt you or are risky. Plus, that added knowledge that if something goes funky with one line, the other will one will keep you aloft. Setup is more time consuming, but I'm so slow to get going that I need that extra time setting up, anyway. Gives me more time to think about what I'm planning to do, and I spend less time trying to accomplish stuff on one line that would be so much faster and easier on two.
 
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