First time rope and harness tree climber shows the best attitude

[moss]

Through the month of July I ran two weekends of guided climbs at a retreat center in the White Mountains near Conway, New Hampshire. This climber is not "sighted" but was amazing to coach from the ground up to a high anchor in a big white pine.

The climber is an impressive person in her own right, a lifetime activist on behalf of environmental and human rights issues. Last time she was on rope was in 1972 top roping on goldline with a "harness" tied from the rope. That configuration on rock was my same introduction to high-angle activities in 1968 as an early teen.

She's climbing on a modified 3:1 MA "Super System" which was designed as a more accessible Blake's setup by rec climbing instructors and perhaps their original teacher Peter "Treeman" Jenkins out of Atlanta, GA. @Tom Dunlap may know that history more precisely. The original Super System can be installed entirely from the ground. It uses quite a bit of rope but works well enough. For this Super system variant the line is anchored at height and uses less rope than the original system design.

-AJ

 

[Analog]

This is such a cool thing you're doing! And what a rad drawing!

 

[moss]

Glad you dig it! I watched that fine human navigate around the retreat center grounds below me as I guided climbers for two days and started up a conversation with her at dinner. I proposed that she climb and she was more than on board. Opportunities like that can't be anticipated but I'm glad when it happens.

Her ability to interpret and understand every part of the climbing system on the ground before she climbed was revelation to me. It shows the power of relaxed focus solving problems and getting things done.

For the instructor the experience teaches how not to over explain and over control the student. Learn how to let them find their way to understanding concepts and practices. Tricky balance but worth aspiring to for any teacher.
-AJ

 

[DanHouse]

Good job You!! so happy to you both having a high time. I wish to send you a gadget of mine to self-advance the Blake's Hitch. I will email you for your current address. YEAH

 

[moss]

Good job You!! so happy to you both having a high time. I wish to send you a gadget of mine to self-advance the Blake's Hitch. I will email you for your current address. YEAH

"Dan House Rope Sleeve" is a critical component of the OG Super System, thx Dan!

 

[Tom Dunlap]

@moss

I. Can’t add anything

 

[Bart_]

For DRT a trick was to use a small prussic a foot or two up the line you're tied to dragging up a micropulley under the hitch to advance it. You had to pull the rope tail underneath the tending micropulley. This was instead of tending the slack leg/tail upwards to motivate the tending pulley. I could see a similar rig off the climber pulley above to tend the hitch.

 

[moss]

@moss

I. Can’t add anything

I should remember who came up with the "Super System" ;-)