Interesting quirck of climbing

Phil

Phil

Carpal tunnel level member
Location
Oak Lawn, IL
So I just today discovered what I believe to be a very wierd thing when it comes to me and tree climbing...or maybe i am just stupid...in either case here it is:
I love climbing trees for recreation, there is alawyas a place to go and after the initial invesment in gear, all it costs is gas to get to the tree you want to climb. My problem is this... nearly every time i go to rec climb i get half of my gear stuck in the fu*#ing tree before i even get off the ground. The throw line and bag gets stuck or it gets stuck with the Cambium saver in a tight/awkward positioned crotch...whatever it is, something simple often seems to go completely wrong. Then I spent the next two hours trying to climb up the tree one branch at a time (without a pole saw to help reset my line higher) just to get my gear back. This happened for the upteenth time today and thats when it dawned on me....I supconciously get my gear stuck so that I actually have something to work towards while i'm getting up the tree. See when I actually climb for work, it goes pretty smooth, I get throw lines set in one or two shots and I find a pretty nice central crotch. But this is because I actually have a mission to accomplish. When I rec climb, there is no real goal other than to get into the tree. Thats easy (most of the time) with a throw line. So other than a cool view, whats the point? It seems to me that I have to have something to do while i'm in the tree, whether its pruning or getting my gear back, I just need something to do. I don't know though, what do you guys/gals think? I might just be crazy but at least this train of thought keeps me from getting enraged and doing a basal area prune to get my gear back. Gear hangups no longer bother me (so long as I can actually get it back before sundown)
 
Tcot,
Well let's see:
I always look at problems as an opportunity. So maybe someone is trying to tell you something like you need to work on your techniques or on your gear that caused the problem or need to improve your gear or consider other gear or consider other methods & techniques, so that you improve your overall skills and that way if you encounter a certain problem on the job you can overcome it more easily, all the while learning and enjoying the rec. climb more and as you improve, things will begin to go easier. I think we can never learn enough, so we have to keep exploring.
Some other great purposes or suggestions for climbing a tree:
You could hang out with some owls--sorry, just kidding.
1)Try new techniques - ascending, descending, advancing, limbwalking, etc.
2)Practice new techniques - perfect your normal method say DRT, then perfect SRT while finding the most efficient SRT you're comfortable with. Rappelling is also a great rec.goal. (i.e.Climb high to rappell further while trying dif.methods)
3)Try and use new gear.
4)Try new knots.
5)Practice something to compete or show in a TCC

That's what these threads are all about and these guys are a wealth of info., to take with you to the tree to try! (i.e. have you tried the new HRC cord with a Knut hitch and micro pulley? --like Mark Chisholm and many other guys suggest.--just a thought, it works Grrreat!).
So anyways try everything you can imagine to get to the top, hang out there a while and maybe even tree sail or find God, then try different ways to get down.
Of course maybe concentrate on one new technique or one new piece of gear every time you go to the tree. That way you'll have years of trips to the trees each with a different purpose.
So there's lots to do if you think about all the discussions in these threads
and so many skills to learn which may take the major part of a lifetime to learn.
Just some thoughts as to why we climb and how I keep myself motivated.
Thanks for prompting this question since I'm sure we all get caught up in certain specific ways at work whereas we could all use a little improvement or benefit from thinking out of the box sometimes and exploring new ideas and methods.
See ya at the top!
CharlieB.
 
Ha! I thought it was just me...

Mr. Murphy has a bunch of applicable-to-this laws attributed to him.

Glen
 
So whatd you do this time? Ive never gotten my gear stuck....wait...crap....nevermind.

you know its true though, one shot for a work climb is all it seems to take to get my line set(especially if you or jarod are going for such said spot), but i can never hit the spot I want when its going to be a rec climb. Of course there are those days where no matter what you do you can't get the line in the stupid tree and your friends make fun of you and Norm is standing right there.
 
Life sucks when stuff gets stuck. If it's just during recreational climbing no one gets mad but you and it's a good practice for your dayjob.

Mind you, If you go for som rec. climbing are you alone or together with a "partner", because if you are not, then skip these lines in Charlie's reply (sorry Charlie:-)).
[ QUOTE ]
1)Try new techniques - ascending, descending, advancing, limbwalking, etc.
2)Practice new techniques - perfect your normal method say DRT, then perfect SRT while finding the most efficient SRT you're comfortable with. Rappelling is also a great rec.goal. (i.e.Climb high to rappell further while trying dif.methods)
3)Try and use new gear.
4)Try new knots.
5)Practice something to compete or show in a TCC

[/ QUOTE ]
New materials and practices should be trained together (with the one you've seen doing/using it).
You don't want to get stuck in a tree on a friday afternoon together with your gear and your coworkers start searching for you on monday /forum/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

One point of advice could be: reposition your footlockline in such a way that you can clip it on your climbingline before pulling it out of the tree.

Wolter
 
Yeah, I'll admit that what I said about rec climbing and "besides the view whats the point" was pretty narrow minded. I do often practice new techniques when I go buecause I'm sure thats not wanted on the job site. All that putsing around and using valuable time trying to figure out an unnecessary technique would irk the crew boss proffusly. But I like to go climb a tree even if i have only a few hours and just use normal DRT ascent with throwline and saver. I consider it valuable practice because I use that technique (almost) every day at work.
I was alone and like treespotter said, new techniques should always be done with a partner. I keep my cell phone in a pouch on my harness just incase i get stuck (haven't had to use it yet thank God)
 
Tcot,
Just wanted to encourage you to keep on expanding your skills even when Murphy's law seems to hit.
I believe safety should be first, but also I believe there are many new ideas and techniques to try that may not directly involve safety. For example, getting the *#$% throwline out of the tree or placed properly. --There are articles written by Mark Adams under the Articles section of this forum, titled Slick Tricks, all dealing with this. I know I'm dying to go try a few. So this gives me more purposes to go climb.
Also I think when you overcome a problem in a new way (i.e.using Mark's techniques etc.) it motivates us and will make the climb even more enjoyable.
Anyway it's great to have all you guys so we can all learn more.
I keep a cell phone handy too!
See ya at the top!
CharlieB.
 
i only use throwlines when rec climbing (well not only but the majority are on rec climbs), and i only really get throwlines stuck on rec climbs, then im dedicated to it as i have to rescue the throwbag.....

i enjoy rec climbs but to be honest dont really see the point. going rock climbing there is the challenge, rec tree climbing i can get up most trees with relative ease....well so far.

as for the phone i keep it handy as it has a 1.3 MP camera on the back

jamie
 
Yes, those throwbags are something. Maybe, just maybe, it might be your selection of the various lines and bags. Some tree species just eat throwbags.

Setting the climbing line is my self-check for being focused. Throwing wild or just near misses, bad picks for setting are cause for a review what's going on in my head. My hand-to-eye isn't so good nor practiced since I spent my youth doing gymnastics instead of hurling small objects. Also, later, leaving a double-fisherman's knot in rather than installing a figure eight in the end of the rope to retrieve the false crotch. Sound familiar anyone? Everyone has their short list of skills to hone.

Practice and master all your resources. Rec climbing allows time to pick out other skills and tool sets-- new ones as well as ones you haven't used in a while. This sort of workout might lead to the grace and ease not just for competition but more for generating wisdom for when you are more tired or older.

Maybe the goal has been overshadowed by the journey. I have climbed with my daughters and have lunch in the trees. I believe that humans are so far out of context in that locale that the birds came in closer. Ever bring along a camera?

Tree to tree transfer is pretty exhilirating. Those skills are great to have when you get the job with a line of trees. Requires an additional small grapple. More good practice for not leaving gear behind.

Jim
 

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my last throw bag rescue climb saw the most perfect throw ever...and i realy mean ever. the bag soared up perfectly, dropped through the 'ideal' crotch which i thought i'd never make, watched the bag curve through the air back round every branch as needed, then the running end got snagged on a bit of a blaeberry bush, stopped the bag dead and 4 wraps around the branch later the bag was stuck..... i then had to try and launch my climbing line for miles up......got the bag and went home sulking as i was a bit miffed

so it wasnt even the tree that was conspiring against me it was the ground flora

jamie
 
Like many good things in life, rec tree climbing is best when shared, especially with a sweetie.

Like Stanley Longstaff wrote:

To some it is the freedom,
For others it's the climb

True, most arbos won't have a hard time climbing trees. Not the unknown challenge like climbing rock. For a challenge, change the style. Try climbing trees like rocks using only natural holds, not aid climbing using the rope.

Spend time just hanging out in the tree. Get a mesh hammock or sky chair. Find a place and spend hours just sitting, contemplating life.
 
Sounds like someone needs to give the throwline a rest when you can reach the lower limbs with a simple monkey's fist. I suggest a few tight wraps of your climbing line tossed to the second lowest limb, then clip your friction saver to your saddle and practice your double-lanyard technique (you would be suprised how easy it becomes). I say if you can get all your throwbags and your friction saver stuck in the tree AND still climb up and retrieve them all, then you probably didn't need to use them in the first place. You don't need more equipment, you just need more practice, just like me.

-Jarod

P.S. Send my love to your mother. /forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Last weekend I was talking with a buddy about learning the basics of throwline. A couple of basic guidelines are:

When you throw, let the line run out as far as possible. Don't grab the line, you will ALWAYS make the bag whip and most of the time it will spin around something leading to a jam.

If the throw isn't what you want, jiggle, whip or strum the throwbag back to the ground. Remove the bag and pull just the line back through the tree. Until you become good at manipulation you'll jam more bags than you'll clear.

Have a bag on both ends of the line. Makes manipulation easier.

If you're using Slickline, consider changing to Fling-It. You'll get higher throws and it is much more slippery than Slickline. You're more likely to have the bag come back to the ground.

If you don't get the perfect, high, line set, after three throws, drop down the tree for an easier set. In the long run you'll have more climbing time if you set lower and advance your rope while you're in the tree.

Lately, when I've been going rec climbing I've taken lower sets and working on rope advancing and tree climbing instead of purely rope access.
 
Tom , thats the fun of the whole climb.Working your waY to the top.You get a lot of overhand practice in . Putting a throw ball on the end of your climb line makes it easier to reset next tie in, unless to far away, then throw line has to come out.
I gennerally I only rec. climb with a 80' foot line with hitches on either end.

Greg
 
Not necessarily.

I can't link directly to the piss-poor site page, but if you'd go to http://www.wtsherrill.com/ and wade your way into the climbing gear / throwbag page (necessitating the enabling of javascript in your browser), you'll see that a throwball is different than a throwbag.

Glen
 
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