Don't let yourself be distracted!

TLHamel

TLHamel

Location
St. Paul, MN
Don\'t let yourself be distracted!

Last Tuesday I was removing a cottonwood with a crane. I positioned myself to set straps in the last piece of brush; which happened to be the central lead that I was tied-in to. The groundies were processing the previous pick and I was waiting for the crane. So I decided to pull my Ropeguide from the original TIP and install it where I was now standing... just to get it a bit closer to me and through a wider crotch so it wouldn't get stuck. With my positioning lanyard secured I pulled the RG and slung it through the crotch in front of me. The chipper is still roaring and the crane is now lowering the straps through the top. The ball is clanking around overhead and straps are flopping into my lap, someone yells up to see if I need a bigger saw. I think, "OK Taylor, don't do anything until you clip back in to your climbing line." So I clip back in, say that I don't need a bigger saw, kick the straps and bundle of climbing line off my feet, and look up to begin making my next move. I was just reaching to unclip my lanyard when I did what I always do... Double Check One Connection Before Removing The Other.

To my shock, I had only passed my climbing line through the retrieval link of the Ropeguide!!! (See attachment for clarification) My climbing line was not secured to the RG! Had I unclipped my lanyard, I would have tumbled backward falling 50 feet with the Ropeguide trailing behind. I was distracted by all the commotion. I recognized this and made myself reconnect my climbing line before doing anything else. I slid the eye of my line back onto the krab, I even verified the closure of the krab. However, the mistake had already been made one step earlier, at the height of the confusion.

Always, ALWAYS VISUALLY double check your new connection before removing the current one.
 

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Re: Don\'t let yourself be distracted!

"I was just reaching to unclip my lanyard when I did what I always do... Double Check One Connection Before Removing The Other."

Having those regimented disciplines is fundamental to being an old climber.

This is a good ending to a potentially tragic story, I'm glad that you posted this Taylor.
 
Re: Don\'t let yourself be distracted!

Thanks for sharing Taylor. We're all glad for your safety behavior of checking before disconnecting.

Now, let me share mine. Although not tree related, it is distraction related......My wife and I were driving in my pick up truck last Sunday doing some shopping after church. Driving down a state hwy in a residential area going about 35 MPH. I was approaching a green stop lite and talking at the time. I looked ahead of me and there was a car stopped at the green lite. I slammed on the brakes and realized there wasn't enough room to stop before impact, so I swerved to the right between the stop lite pole and the car in front of me just missing the car. (That was a pucker factor of 10) The entire incident took about 3 seconds. I pulled over and started beating my wife with a claw hammer I had next to me, and told her never to distract me again.(Not really)
So, I was the distracted driver and have the soiled briefs to prove it.
 
Re: Don\'t let yourself be distracted!

I would definatly call that an awakening.

That's one of them fancy tricks you can only do once.
 
Re: Don\'t let yourself be distracted!

Was the temperature and clothing an issue in this event? I'm glad it wasn't worse, than an awakening scare, something to be said for checking your gear.


I find working in the cold that I tend to rush, and my dexterity is less than optimum. I will be extra cautious to check my knots and attachments, because of this thread!


Thanks for sharing.
 
Re: Don\'t let yourself be distracted!

Yes, I believe that the cold temperature and my bulky clothing contributed to the chain of events that led to this close call. Especially given the position of all the clutter. As we know... an accident is a series of events.
 
Re: Don\'t let yourself be distracted!

I read your post after a day of climbing here in Seattle.
I'm with Tom D...another old dog checking and double checking and checking again....just to make sure!
Scott
 
Re: Don\'t let yourself be distracted!

Good post Taylor, professionalism saved your life.

I try to fully weight my knot before I stow my lanyard. I developed the habit after a period where I was paranoid about my VT not hitching without snugging it first. Now I check it habitually anytime I go onto the rope.

The paranoia was due to making my hitch cords with full length buries so they were thick and slow to break in.
 
Re: Don\'t let yourself be distracted!

Holy cow! That could have been bad. And to think, if you fell and died, no body would know why... Dang!

Thanks for sharing Taylor.

And, for the topic: I hate distractions too.
 
Re: Don\'t let yourself be distracted!

It's realy not much of a big deal if you have taught yourself to always double check before changing your life support. It happens but, if it's in your personal culture then your self awarness is right on. When winter comes your awarness should be at a higher level, part of the biz. I learned alot from other high angle disaplines ( rock/ alpine climbing, professional rescue.) Double checking is a fundamental. Thanks for sharing, I'm sure many have learned a solid lesson.
 
Re: Don\'t let yourself be distracted!

good to see all ended well!
double,triple,quadrouple check is sound advice epecially when changing attachment points!
im old school and seeing your climbing system confused me.all i have is a figure of eight knot and a prusic attached to my harness,old school,yes,simple,yes,a little more physical,yes,but so easy to look at and trust.
 
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