How should I use a rope bucket with my 3:1 system?

[Winchman]

I'm planning to cut some large (4" diameter) limbs on a pine tree. I'm concerned the limbs may snag my climbing rope as they fall, damage the rope on the ground, or fall on the rope pile, and keep me from being able to descend. I need some way to keep the climbing rope hanging below me or already on the ground out of harm's way. The limb is forty feet up, so I'll have a bunch of rope to deal with.

Using a rope bucket to store the rope in the tree as I cut makes sense, but what's the best way to do that? I'm considering two ideas:

1. Carry the bucket empty, secure it to the tree, and gather the rope after I'm tied in for making the cut. The rope just below me would go in first and come out last to avoid dropping a bunch of rope at one time. This will probably take several minutes before and after making the cut.

2. Put the rope in the bucket as I climb, tie it off while I'm working, and let it feed out as I come down. This might save some time, but it adds some extra weight to lift as I'm climbing.

Which option do you think would work better? Are there other options to consider?

 

[Crimsonking]

A backpack style rope bag does the trick, and doesn’t tug on your saddle the whole time.

Otherwise, a look into your approach to the work might illuminate other solutions. It seems that you are planning to use ddrt for the job. Are you familiar with srt? That in itself can eliminate your problem by allowing you to redirect your tail away from your dz, and even if it got pinned on the ground you’d be able to descend.

 

[Burrapeg]

Agree with Crimson on SRT. Foot ascender and SAKA-mini and I have never looked back! Twice the rope available suddenly and twice the climb speed. So much easier on the arms. And solves your issue with descent if the rope is pinned on the ground or snagged by fallen limb.