climbing styles

roachy

roachy

Location
turnersville nj
I have been climbing for some time now and have often been asked why I will often climb a similar trees in different styles ,or system if you prefer.My response is that I like to keep fresh and also have a good time.I have found that bordum for me can be dangerous so I like to switch things up from time to time.For example my friction hitch,for the most part I use a variation of the French prussik but I will still go back to the Blake .I really enjoy learning new things and different ways to do my job.
I just wanted to know if anybody else does this or am I just strange.
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hi Roachy,

Yes i do change variation in climbing my self, but not necessarely out of keeping myself fresh. The variety of trees we have in this area are many.Depending on the type of tree and complexity will depend on the style I'll use to climb.I'll use everything from a leather cabium saver to setting rings. One of my favorite is setting a static with a pulley. I use other techniques as well, but they get a little more complex and the cituation has to arise.Each one of these techniques has its place an i never seem to really run short of using them. The same goes when using friction hitches. I primarliy use the Machard Tresse, but hardly ever in a conifir. I switch over to a Blake. I dont like to ruien a two $ a foot line with pitch.

Greg
 
Hey Greg,
I also like the static with a pulley and pitch can be a tail killer.I enjoy making it fun ,if I'm having a good time my mood is better and it shows in my work .I have been told that I get a little out of hand at times,setting up a traveling false crotch or complicated removable re-directs,but I always bring the work in ahead of time so I like to play a little.give me something new Greg.
 
Hi Roachy

Hmmm, sounds a though you keep on top of the latest and thats good. My kind of guy.When a person gets a little stumped on something or has difficulty with some aspect of climbing or rigging is when the new ideas appear.
One thing I do from time to time is traverse from tree to tree on a static line set from the ground.I mainly do this if the trees are close and I know that I'm going to have to reset a line again after the first one.It works well if your doing trees in session. Your ground man can be stetting the static line after you've made the tranfer.This can also work on long cants that you know your going to be flat out on.So you basicly speed line yourself out on the limb. Yet, still using your main line as a safty. I'm not sure if you have used this or not or even get what I'm talking about. If you dont I can explain it a little better next time.It is safe. I usually dont do something without thinking of the saftey facter.There are some other neat things you can do with this, but I wont go into detail tonite.
I have another technique rthat I use for going back up to your tie in without having to crawl back in on the limb and then scamble back up the tree to your tie in.
Also , do you ever use a two to one while prunning conifirs? sometime fisable sometimes not. A little trick I learned from Robert Phillips. However, instaed of using it to enter, use it in trees as well.

Have a good day,
Greg
 
thanks Greg,
yes I do know what you are describing and have done it on occasion ,can be a cool ride.I will sometimes use an ascender on the static line and work my way across if there are alot of things in my way,like to ride dont like crashing.
As for the two to one I have done this also in many trees and in several differnt ways ,its fun but can get complicated.You have caught my attention with getting back to the tie in without going back in ,tell me more.
I had been working on a re-direct that you could remove without losing your main tie -in,but at last yeras internationals Strasser showed up with a very similar idea he used rope I was using webbing but oh well.
 
There are so many us out there using different variations and techniques. Does anyone know if any of this has been documented. If so where can we get our hands on the books. I think it would be a really cool idea to write a bood illustrating all these techniques. I just think it would be a great idea to go and gather as much info as we can and put it all in one place. There are some good books and videos on the market but they only show very basic ideas and concepts. Anyone have any ideas?
 
Roachy, As far are the static goes, I still use a main tie in point. I use that as a safety and control while going out on the static.Also,before going back up the static line, I tie off a blake with a fairlead to the static line.This allows me to hand over hand right back up the static and yet be saftied in. Remember,your still tied off to your main line.when you decide to stop, you can than pull up the slack in the main. line.
Ok #2. Simple technique for not having to loose elevation on return. I'm sure everyone has double tied in once in there climbing carrier.I use a quick release micro ascender for this, because it's easy to put on and take off.Also it slides on the rope, unlike some of the other ascenders.You'll find the use for this if you use tis technique often enough. Ok, here it is. Take the tail of your rope and run it through a crotch at the point your at .Pull it allthe way through. When you've done this, the tail of your rope should be hanging down.Take your assender and hook it up to the tail side right of the rope.Now hook this to your saddle with onoter binner.You've just created a complete circut from your main tie off to the the crotch in front of you.Basicly a second tie off, but without tieing off.Pull evrything up tite and your ready to head back up without loosing elevation.as you hand over hand your Blake or Machard is being fairleaded back up for you as a safty. If you dont want to go all they way back up to your tie in point, than just brake the ascender loose and let yourself slide in. If you havn't ever done this, try it you'll figure it out. Sounds as though your all savy climbers.Well this was lengnthy enough so I'll quit for tonite.However, I will leave you with one more thought. Came up with this couple of years ago for competition.Do you ever do a self belay wwith the Machrd ? or the Blake for that matter ?
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Nite folks and have a good one.

Greg
 
yes I've used a self belay with a Machard in a few differnt ways but you've got me curious.
done a few things similiar to what you are describing but going to look at it in action,Thanks! Anyone else care to add something new,or something that you do to make things easier on yourself?

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Hey Roachy here's one although you probably thought of it already, I call it the lunch move. Situation: Lunch, you've gotta come down for that killer meatloaf sandwich. At the point of you maximum return ascent(prefabaly a few feet higher) you attatch to the tree a small pulley. Run the tail of your climbing line through it, then descend. After that excellent meal, simply pull on the slack end of your line and up you go a 3:1. Of course a slack tender-fair lead is necessary. Also not a bad technique for pulling an injured climber out of a tight area during an areial rescue.
 
I have seen the redirect system that your talking about was shown to me by a fella, but I forgot how it worked and would like to know. Does anyone have a picture or can you describe it well enough in writting .

Thanks
 
Guys,

Here's a site that has a picture of a retrievable re-direct, that allows you to keep your primary tie-in! I like the 2/1 (Double Whip Tackle) for climbing, but it really kicks ass in rigging. When you split the anchors it allows you to disperse the load between two anchors instead of one. There are a few pictures of it as well. I will add a few more cents to this discussion next time, got to go rig some trees down! Enjoy!
Hope this helps,
X-manAdvanced & Progressive Tree Climbing and Rigging
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by BigJon:
There are so many us out there using different variations and techniques. Does anyone know if any of this has been documented. If so where can we get our hands on the books. I think it would be a really cool idea to write a bood illustrating all these techniques. I just think it would be a great idea to go and gather as much info as we can and put it all in one place. There are some good books and videos on the market but they only show very basic ideas and concepts. Anyone have any ideas?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Have you seen the Tree Climbers' Companion? It stays pretty basic, but contains many of the techniques used by climbers in our industry.A great resource for beginning climbers, but maybe not quite what you are looking for.

K
 
Hey Greg,


Glad you liked my Hobby site, it was something I wish I had seen many years ago, and decided to do my part to promote new advanced techniques for free. No more competition for me, I'm going to do a little traveling around the world for a while and enjoy the many different Trees and climbing! Hope to see a few new things down my path and pass them on to encourage progressive climbing and rigging techniques. I will try to stay in touch with all my fellow Arbos via laptop and share anything new to the masses!
Ready to Rig!
X-man ~Advanced & Progressive Tree Climbing and Rigging~
 
Xian really great web site!
Greg one way I self belay is when I'm installing my false crothch and climbing line I leave a throw line in as well using it to set a second false crotch,I tie my hitch and send the tail of my rope through the second false crotch then I ascend footlocking this tail and the hitch is belayed by my micro pulley.thats one is yours similar?I'll try to explain the re-direct as I have no pictures,from your main tie in you set in the position you wish to re-direct from a tail,on one end you have a double pulley on the other you use another tail and tie a blake hitchwith a biner conected to the double pulleyon top of the blake place a micro pulley and a link biner whatever and tie arope to it and drop it down place the ends of your climbing line through the double pulley now go to work when you want to retrieve the re-direct pull down on the rope attached above the blake and it will work off and slide to you,you need to hollow oyt the core of the re-direct alittle so it will allow the blake to drop off.I hope you can follow this let me know and I'll give you a twist to this.
 
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