First big climb with a wrench

I

iriggins

I finally bought a wrench... 15 yrs climbing drt. I had to clean out a large white oak. Have been in this tree a number of times. I always access big trees srt but have not worked any srt. It was definetly a little strange at first but after a few minutes the reality had set in. I could not believe how well it went. Wow. I love it! Still not sold on full time use but I will enjoy it when in use. In time it may play a larger role in daily operations but seems a bit timely to setup for many applications. Thanks to all who sold me on working srt. Progress is inevitable.
Thanks
Ian
 
First things first. Beautiful job on an amazing tree! What a beauty.

Secondly I felt the same way. I dabbled couldn't ever get the flow down and set up took longer for me than just isolating a damn limb and humping up there. I saw no practical use for removals. I always skipped it because the boss though it was taking me too long getting into the tree.

I messed around some more when he wasn't there and gave it a steady 2 weeks of "that's what I'm gonna use on every tree no matter what". Now to be totally honest, the time it takes to set up, which isn't long by any stretch, I make up for in ascent and momentum even on removals. It's crazy. I'm sold. Just give it a solid week and make yourself use it. You see the difference. Now I've gone off the srt deep end and am buying a set of spikes with an ascender on them.
 
With any deviation from our normal work processes, there will be a slowing of production until we become familiar and secure in the new methods. This has been proven over and over again in multiple situations. Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. I am 61 and still tweaking this stuff, and having a ball. A week ago at a rec climb/fundraiser I smoked some firefighters who are on the high angle team. Tom D will back me on this too.
 
When the wrench first came out, myself and my buddy went all in 100% SRT no matter what the tree was. You feel dumb going to the top of a ladder to make a couple quick pruner clips and descending SRT but you find out every single nuance to the system by doing so.

We did this for pretty much 1 year exactly. Then the time came to go to a climbing comp so I decided to start climbing Ddrt again... What a joke! If you want to look stupid, try devolving. Its not fun and it surely isn't efficient.

That tree looks stellar to climb and deadwood SRT. The redirects for some limb walks would be great too. I think planning is one of the greatest things about SRT climbing. Plan that entire tree out with redirects and what not and you'll look like a god in no time!
 
Really diggin the wrench. Have not yet dialed in a direct access/work system but very satisfied with all else. I have experienced some phenomenal results.
Thanks
Ian
 
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