Do you ever free climb in the canopy, disconnected from primary life support?

Brocky said:
View attachment 96163
Click to expand...
In a world where so many people are cross pollinating the different disciplines it does seem like a higher degree of universality would be good to aim for. I guess it's up to the end user to learn A LOT before moving forward. I find aforementioned definition of dynamic to be very worrisome. I would hate for a rock climber to think that you can take a whipper on some 16 strand arbormaster, and find out that "dynamic" is being used differently than how they use it.

Caveat emptor.
 
Last edited:
Matias said:
In a world where so many people are cross pollinating the different disciplines it does seem like a higher degree of universality would be good to aim for. I guess it's up to the end user to learn A LOT before moving forward. I find aforementioned definition of dynamic to be very worrisome. I eould hate for a rock climber to thinj that you can take a whipper on some 16 strand arbormaster, and find out that "dynamic" is being used differently than how they use it.

Caveat emptor.
Click to expand...
I agree. That definition of dynamic is not even close to being acceptable in any industry. I have been trying to get the word "dynamic" out of the arborist lexicon for rope descriptions for some time...

Tony
 
Yes I sometimes work without the primary line connected but I always use two good lanyards and make sure I am secure at every step. With enough experience and planning you can work more freely but caution is key. Confidence builds over time and testing closer to the ground is always wise :)
 
See how it always comes back to your wife/MRS in the end? Just don't get her sisters (SRS) involved.

And don't bring up the unfortunate coincidence of last name Ddirt, that's MRS Ddirt to you, spoken with a stutter:)
 
Strictly speaking “free climbing” trees means no life support gear attached to the tree. Which makes no sense in tree work. I like free climbing recreationally, I start from the ground. Can be much more challenging than getting into trees on rope.
-AJ
 
Quite a few times I can think of that I had a nice solid TIP but had to do some tip weight reduction and boldly go... upwards. Just slack out the RR a heck ton and scramble up, lanyard in when I can. But just to get another 5-10'.
Bart_ said:
...saving all the hassle by girth hitching a loop runner with appropriate biner as a new SRT tip above the crotch which is still in position...
Click to expand...
Yes, a hell of a lot of this. But then you're stuck in the biner. If you're on a basal tie, after lanyarding in, you can find a good stout union to pass your device and entire climb line through - seldom did that but occasionally it's the move.. And sometimes even traveling with the tail of a canopy tie (just loose in a caritool) so I can get to another side of the tree, like a Silver maple with no central leader, and reset a canopy anchor a long horizontal distance from the first. Of course it's easier to set a second climb line, but sometimes your climb just ends up a certain way.
 
Maybe an interpretation of the OP question is akin to not tending slack during movement, except including climbing above the tip as an added "fall factor" type of aspect(?) both frowned upon in "work positioning". EN358 only proofs saddles with a dummy:) in them to 1m hard stop fall
 
Webfoot said:
According to whom or by what tradition? Did the term arise independently of mountaineering and rock climbing?
Click to expand...
The term as it applies to tree climbing has nothing to do with other high angle disciplines. It's a simple and clear term as far as tree climbing goes.

There is no "governing body" of tree climbing terminology, terms and definitions are arrived at collectively. There is never 100% agreement on any terminology but there is general consensus for most of it per region and tree climber "culture".
-AJ
 
Last edited:
When I’m unsure about a tree requiring high and out work on the ends of the crown i’ll bring that second “primary” line and simply advance it where I’m going to work keeping the original lower on my bridge and redirecting second line around another union with the secondary line in a not so trustable tip sometimes a wrap around the trunk with the focus on compression forces eases the mind. I can climb like an orangutan with no ropes just fine, just choose to pretty up the tree with colorful ropes
 
Using a secondary climbing system is a great idea, been doing this myself for a few years now. I primarily climb DdRT and if I had to I am comfortable working with my line at odd angles, near horizontal, or even slightly below me at times depending on the situation, but will often choose to utilize a secondary system to improve work position.

As far as climbing without being tied in…generally not something I do. Aside from the potential risks if a branch you were holding onto or standing on breaks and you slipped, there’s also the psychological aspect of potentially thinking you’re tied in when you’re not and leaning back or letting go of the tree and not having any kind of support system to hold you. Although I will be honest and say that over the course of my career I’m sure there may have been a few rare instances where I was briefly not tied in while repositioning a lanyard or climb line. Definitely not saying that’s safe or okay to do either. I aim to always maintain at least one point of attachment. I did however do a lot of ‘free climbing’ (as in no gear or ropes) growing up. Climbing trees was one of my favorite things to do and I could easily spend hours up in the canopy reading or watching the neighborhood.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

New threads New posts

Kask Stihl NORTHEASTERN Arborists Wesspur TreeStuff.com Teufelberger Westminster X-Rigging Teufelberger
Back
Top Bottom