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R

rico

Been here much more than a while
Location
redwoods
I've been running a Hitch Hiker 2 and a Rope Wrench for a few weeks and I am really enjoying them both. As most of you know 99% of my work are conifer removals, so Im looking for the best SRT ascending set up when wearing spurs. The Haas system look promising, but figured I would ask the experts. Any insight would be much appreciated.
 
The powerscender works well for me. I have the other side attachment for my saka as well. Honestly I hardly ever hike up alot of my removals anymore.
For conifers, shoot a line, base tie, fly up and set a choked anchor with just enough rope to reach the ground (coil the rest at the TIP), descend and work the tree back up.
 
I do the same, but whe I get to my TIP I just pulled the tail of my rope up and switch to that end for the canopy anchor. with a short tail to pull down as I chunk the trunk. leave the base anchor in place usually.
 
rico said:
I've been running a Hitch Hiker 2 and a Rope Wrench for a few weeks and I am really enjoying them both. As most of you know 99% of my work are conifer removals, so Im looking for the best SRT ascending set up when wearing spurs. The Haas system look promising, but figured I would ask the experts. Any insight would be much appreciated.
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Hey RICO -
I'm in Humboldt... Ive got a brand new Haas (older style - still in the package) I'll sell you for $50 if you're interested, PM me.
-Matt
 
Something to pull up on the HH or RW, like a neck tether or over the shoulder lanyard, will advance the positioner on the rope when there is enough rope weight below, as you climb. A throw-weight or bundled up coils of rope ( like a closed-form of the rope throwing knot) hung below you will allow the rope to have enough weight.
 
I just use my trim saw tied on my tail. Most the time I’m have a little ways to go before I need it.
Certainly something to self tend the hitch is the way to go. Personally the laynard over the shoulder worked well, until there is a quick thing to cut or finding myself wanting to snap into the tree. It was a extra step I didn’t care for. Never liked the idea of something around my neck either (always have taken the pull cord out of hooded jackets too). I bough a decent chest harness on eBay and took the extra gear loops off, love it and call it my bra
It’s like this one only with some padding
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00L...36_SY340_QL65&keywords=chest+harness+climbing
 
@rico; I'm no veteran, but I saw a video recently by August Hunicke in which I think he said that the combination of the Petzl Zig-Zag with the Rope Wrench was the smoothest thing going for SRT. I don't think the Zig-Zag is mid-line attachable, though, and use of it in SRT might violate Petzl's recommendations for its use. August and some others have these really cool looking mechanical tethers for the Rope Wrench/Zig Zag combination.

All of this is just something for you to ponder for the future, maybe. The Hitch Hiker works all by itself.

My own setup for SRT tending is to use one of those small SRT tending harnesses, but to add another piece of webbing that runs from the back of the tending harness up & over my shoulder on a diagonal, which helps to keep it from slipping off my shoulder. It actually has two heads on it, now that I think of it. One for a spring loaded clevis for tending, and a 2nd head for a small pulley attached to the climbing rope, which helps to keep me in a vertical orientation. Probably too busy a setup for an experienced climber like yourself, but it works for me.

Tim
 
Try getting a pair of geckos with an ascender on one and a hook eye on the other. The hook eye you can incorporate a SAKA or HAAS for simply walking up the rope with gaffs. Add a chest harness or neckie for tending your system. On your conifers you can still spike up but have the system fairleaded by the rope in the ascender....no kneeascender needed but you have to set your line obviously....hope this makes sense...I only work in large spreading hardwoods and mostly use gaffs doing crane removals which are a few a year for harvesting old large mahogany trees or on a stick to be roped....or chunked.
 
Another alternative is a footloop kneeascender and the foot ascender under the gaff if you do not want to switch gaff set types...a cheaper but yet still effective solution...2018-04-11 12.56.09.webp
 
swingdude said:
Another alternative is a footloop kneeascender and the foot ascender under the gaff if you do not want to switch gaff set types...a cheaper but yet still effective solution...View attachment 50827
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I've had a hard time justifying buying a knee-type ascender. The southeastern canopy isn't all that tall (~50-100 feet in most cases) and I usually ascend 3 times per week, staying aloft through lunch hour when necessary. When I weigh buying a knee ascenders against, say, buying another bracing drill bit, I buy the bit, you know? Then I just ascend at modest speed on my pantin. I regain some of the time by not having to attach all the bells and whistles of my ascent system - no chest harness, no knee ascender, no tending tether... That's a lot of time lost attaching and detaching all of that. You ever feel like that, @swingdude , or do you just buy everything, or... what do you think? I know you have a modest canopy height too.
 
I only ever use a knee ascender for initial ascent to TIP....that is it. I do this because it is a great warm up and ergonomic. I have only bought 1 knee ascender. Michael gave me 4 HAAS's and Richard gave me 2 SAKA's. But used them at comps for Ascent event and loaned to folk I get in the canopy. Once I am working a tree I will just use a footie to go up when necessary.
 
southsoundtree said:
Rico, did you get a HH2 tether/ tender?

Did you get a RW stiffy tether, with tender loop?
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Yes on both accounts.
I am looking for a simple, effective way to ascend single line with gaffs on, get to my tip, and get to work. Most of my ascends will be from 125 ft--180 ft so it needs to be physically efficient and easy, and not involve to much gear or I'm just gonna grab a flip-line and head on up.
Who makes a good ascender that attaches to Bucks?
Thanks for all the insights and help fella's. This old knuckle dragger appreciates it!
 
rico said:
Yes on both accounts.
I am looking for a simple, effective way to ascend single line with gaffs on, get to my tip, and get to work. Most of my ascends will be from 125 ft--180 ft so it needs to be physically efficient and easy, and not involve to much gear or I'm just gonna grab a flip-line and head on up.
Who makes a good ascender that attaches to Bucks?
Thanks for all the insights and help fella's. This old knuckle dragger appreciates it!
Click to expand...
David Coker but he is not on FB. I can post you his number. Give him a call he should be able to Hook you up..
No pun intended....
 
rico said:
Yes on both accounts.
I am looking for a simple, effective way to ascend single line with gaffs on, get to my tip, and get to work. Most of my ascends will be from 125 ft--180 ft so it needs to be physically efficient and easy, and not involve to much gear or I'm just gonna grab a flip-line and head on up.
Who makes a good ascender that attaches to Bucks?
Thanks for all the insights and help fella's. This old knuckle dragger appreciates it!
Click to expand...
Powerscender! @MikePowers321
 
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