climbing on a spar

trees4life

trees4life

Location
Longmont, Colorado
So while climbing on a spar, utilizing a lanyard plus choking your climbing line to the trunk of the tree, could you use a Gri-Gri to decend the spar on your climbing line? If so, would you need a back up in conjunction with the Gri-Gri(fig8,splittail)?
 
Yes, descending on a Gri Gri is an acceptable practice for repelling. And, no, a back-up is not required, but if this is something that would make you feel more comfortable, then go for it.

Mike
 
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Yes, descending on a Gri Gri is an acceptable practice for repelling. And, no, a back-up is not required, but if this is something that would make you feel more comfortable, then go for it.Mike

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Acceptable for treework?? or rappin off a cliff??
 
It is not accepted at the ITCC as a repelling device. There is no mention of it's breaking strength in the instructions and as I recall, it starts slipping around 1,500 pounds. It is also labeled for 10-11mm ropes, not 1/2". It was also designed as a belay device for lead climbers.
It has been used as a 'tie off' for SRT lines in the ITCC Master's Challenge. There is no back up required at the ITCC for this application, but in Illinois, I require a back up tie off. As far as a spar repel device, why not use a friction hitch backed up with an 8 or Munter. Then you can use 1 hand on the hitch. Gri-gri recommends 2 hands for use.
 
Im looking for a technique that would require less gear than a split-tail and a figure 8 and would snug up closely to the trunk. With a Gri-Gri you could do that. With a split tail and a fig 8 you have to off set the bowline to the side to set weight in your harness and preload the knot. If your to take a fall you would swing to the side instead of straight down with the Gri-Gri. How about a Petzl Stop, would that device be better well suited?
 
A petzl Stop would be a better choice. It's much smoother in descent and wont jerk and kink your line like a Gri Gri will. You could also use a Petzl ID it has a smooth descent as well with more options than the Stop does. If you pull to hard it will stop if you let go it will stop. So there is a sweet spot with this device.

I gues my question here is, are you going to be doing more work on this spar? , or are you just repelling out of the tree..

Thanks
Greg
 
I have used the Gri Gri. I have used the Cinch. I have used a Vt backed with a Munter or Fig 8. I have used the method described by Lazarus 2(somewhere in these threads). After many experiments and lots of pondering I settled on an adjustable ring/ring friction saver for work on a spar. Adjust the device so that the rings are spread according to what the diameter of the spar requires. Simple. No extra gear (I've already got the FC with me). No need to do anything different with your climbing line.
 
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I have used the Gri Gri. I have used the Cinch. I have used a Vt backed with a Munter or Fig 8. I have used the method described by Lazarus 2(somewhere in these threads). After many experiments and lots of pondering I settled on an adjustable ring/ring friction saver for work on a spar. Adjust the device so that the rings are spread according to what the diameter of the spar requires. Simple. No extra gear (I've already got the FC with me). No need to do anything different with your climbing line.

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That's the route I take, except with the Rope Guide. No reason to carry another piece of gear when I can use what I already have with me.

love
nick
 
I'll actually be splicing up an adjustable ring/ring FC as soon as I get the rings in the mail from Wesspur. It may end up replacing the Cinch for me.
 
Ooooo...the Petzl I'd looks nice, small and compact with an anti panic function. I'm not familiar with the Trango Cinch or the adjustable ring/ring friction saver. To answer Klimbinfool- I use the system on the spar to rapell below the next piece to be removed, then set in with my spikes and laynard then pull the choked bowline down to me.
 
Personally I like the friction saver. You don't have to go buy the ART one for $250, you could just get the buckingham one and either get the adjustabe strap from them or get a piece of tenex and a ring to make your own.
There are times when you don't always have to work the whole tree but with the friction saver you don't have to leave any stubs for your line and you can retrieve everything from the ground.
They don't take very long to get use to and after messing with it for a few minutes you could figure it out.
 
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Don't forget the Trango Cinch! (Do I sound like a broken record about this thing, or what?)

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That's right! I love my Trango Cinch. However, I have used it with all of my weight on it and I don't like it.

I use it with my lanyard and love it there only.
wink.gif
 
Hi Klimbinfool,

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A petzl Stop would be a better choice.Thanks
Greg

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The Stop heats up and has a lot of drag when used with 1/2" arborist rope, too. Fly or Poison Ivy are slightly skinnier, and better with the Stop.

A real good way to handle single-lining off a spar is to tie a running bowline with a real long tail. This tail can be used to retrieve the line after reaching the ground.

It requires the descender to get down with, but has less moving parts than the adjustable false crotch.

Less gear, less steps = a safer climb, too.
 
Adjustable ring/ring FS, or Rope Guide, whichever I'm using as a FC. (I usually prefer the AFS, Tod K prefers the RG. Tod is in Fla., so I thought I would throw in his preference since we always disagree about this
fight.gif
).

No extra gear, easy to retrieve, the climber can descend or ascend, no need to leave a 'tail' for retreival.

If you use an AFS use a small ring, rather than a screw link, for retrieval.
 
I have used the I'D as well as a Gri Gri. If I think I might be wanting to come out of a tree SRT and go back up I will stick a Gri Gri on my saddle. I like it because it rappels nice, it locks when released, and it is easy to put on and take off the rope. It is also nice to use as a second climbing line rappel device because I don't have to keep a whole second climbing hitch setup on my saddle.

The I'D is a nice device but it is heavy, bulky, and a bit finicky at times. Especially if there is pitch on your rope.

One application that I really like using the Gri Gri for is when I am blocking down a spar. It was a technique shown in a Sherril catalog a few years ago. I tie a running bowline around the trunk with my climbing line and leave a ten foot tail hanging down. Then I put the Gri Gri on the main part of the climbing line so I can rappel down that but then release the bowline by pulling the tail. The Gri Gri never leaves the rope and the bowline never leaves the trunk it just slides down to your next cutting point. Works great on our big douglas fir trunks around here.
 
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