Climbing on a Pulley

[ QUOTE ]


Like I have said many times, this is of enormous benefit.


[/ QUOTE ]

I have heard many people extolling this virtue of a floating false crotch. I'm sure such information doesn't exist but I would be curious to find out how often, if ever a situation has come up where this scenario was necessary. Barring training situations I would be very uncomfortable lowering a limp or incapasitated person through the canopy of a tree. I know from working I seldom find myself in a situation where I would not hit or get hung up on one, if not many branches on the way down.

I'm not poo poo'ing the idea of floating false crotch. I do use it sometimes and I almost always climb on a pulley (ropeguide) It's just that in the last few years I've seen many inappropriate uses of this technique at competitions. Presumably because this is viewed as 'better' and they will recieve bonus points because it is the latest 'thing'. I think its great if I want that high tie in point but only have to work the lower crown. I don't however like the double loading of your anchor point and that by its very nature it promotes a climber not inspecting his/her primary tie in point. Just my two cents.
 
Murph, Climber rescue scenarios are a reality; stuff happens. So what are your alternatives? In competitions the procedures carried out are done by the most physically capable and talented in our tree profession. If you work with a crew and are fortunate to have more than one of these climbers on the same location at the same time, you are lucky. This is not the case with most tree companies. Even with companies with more than one highly skilled climber, they often get split up to accomplish multiple jobs on the same day.

Then there's the rest of us, who are a primary climber with ground support. Expecting your ground support to be proficient in this complex procedure is not realistic. This is proven in the real world situation of rescue scenarios taking hours to accomplish, not minutes. The simplicity of a device such as the Port-a-Wrap III to facilitate a rescue situation is a boon.

There are many potential rescue situations where you are not dealing with an unconscious person, injured but able to assist in their own rescue. The rescue can proceed immediately. In an unconscious situation, if you have two people on the ground one can ascend the tree and assist the climber while the other does the lowering. This relieves the complexity of rigging for a double weight retrieval.

Your concerns on promoting marginal TIP safety by lack of inspection is a concern with improper safety procedures, not the technique itself.

Dave
 
[ QUOTE ]
I do like the system but there is too much of a risk of the line getting cut.

[/ QUOTE ]

You are 100% right, this is a big concern.

When I teach SRT classes I point this out very often. Using SRT or a FFC system requires that the climber change their awareness. Like any complex system there are more items that have to work in sync or the system will fail.

Using bright colored ropes and having a ground crew that is watching over the climber's shoulder are two ways to reduce the risk of cutting. Be sure to empower groundies to watch the climber and review the work plan.

There are many advantages to using SRT/FFC, the way that I climb, and in a balance sheet I feel that the different set of risks are more than balanced by the advantages.
 
Yes over kill its definatly overkill for most of my work,but sometimes i'll lower pieces30'-40' long out of trees.If i have room,i'll take a big piece.Not trying to cause trouble with you and appreciate your reply,but better to big than to small in rigging.
 
If the Portys are less than 5000# would that make them unavailable by ansi for life support? Would they be allowed at a comp?
 
[ QUOTE ]
If the Portys are less than 5000# would that make them unavailable by ansi for life support? Would they be allowed at a comp?

[/ QUOTE ]

Excellent question!
The Porty's are rated at 2,000 pounds SWL, small and large that is. The mini is rated at 1,000 pounds SWL. The breaking strength of all of them is beyond 5,000 pounds. They all exceed the ANSI Z for life support.
NOTE: They all should be backed up with a prusik, just in case the groundy gets swarmed by stinging insects or ?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New threads New posts

Back
Top Bottom