- Location
- Wichita, KS
this is prollly old news, but i just saw a video of the m system on srt, and i was blown away on how fast he was ascending. has anybody seen it too? makes me wanna go srt!
m -system
- Thread starter CLIMBERJunkieee
- Start date
CutHighnLetFly
Been here a while
- Location
- Cape Cod, MA
you mind posting that video if you can?
Are you referring to the guy with the ascender on an extended pole?
If so, I remember that. I think he climbed past an obstacle on the line at one point. Pretty cool, but gear intense.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgEIJuZLjSg
If so, I remember that. I think he climbed past an obstacle on the line at one point. Pretty cool, but gear intense.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgEIJuZLjSg
- Location
- Netherlands
Only problem with passing that obstacle (branch) is that he clippes out one end of the loop style climbing system and he is on one cammed device only. In case of a misstep or other problem he will have his foot stuck in his mouth and the amount of rope in the system will def make him suffer a high impact when only on the one ascender in the switch over moment.
It seems like a fast but tricky system to me and I think being fast up there is not an option when it is not safe to do....
Better slow and safe then fast and risky ;-)
Climb safe and think twice
It seems like a fast but tricky system to me and I think being fast up there is not an option when it is not safe to do....
Better slow and safe then fast and risky ;-)
Climb safe and think twice
- Location
- England
Hi, I'm the inventor of the M-System. It was interesting to read these comments so I've joined 'the Buzz' to answer some of them.
The M-System enables you to climb in the most effective way possible. It's so easy to climb that a ladder would be hard work by comparison!
Far from being gear intensive, it's actually simpler than other rope walkers and takes only a few seconds to set up. I'm working on another version which is simpler still.
Because one mechanical ascender on the rope is not enough to meet safety requirements, and to make it easier to switch to descend, I have tried it with a Rope Wrench as backup. It works really well.
To descend I moved the lower ascender up, stood up on its stirrup while raising the Wrench up, then sat back on the Wrench and removed the ascenders. That's one option - I'm sure there are others.
(The stepping over obstacles demo would only meet safety requirements if there was a seperate line with a fall arrester, as in Rope Access work.)
I plan to demonstrate the M-System at the Treeclimbers International 30th Anniversary Event in Atlanta in October. Hope to see some of you there.
Any more comments will be really appreciated.
Michael
The M-System enables you to climb in the most effective way possible. It's so easy to climb that a ladder would be hard work by comparison!
Far from being gear intensive, it's actually simpler than other rope walkers and takes only a few seconds to set up. I'm working on another version which is simpler still.
Because one mechanical ascender on the rope is not enough to meet safety requirements, and to make it easier to switch to descend, I have tried it with a Rope Wrench as backup. It works really well.
To descend I moved the lower ascender up, stood up on its stirrup while raising the Wrench up, then sat back on the Wrench and removed the ascenders. That's one option - I'm sure there are others.
(The stepping over obstacles demo would only meet safety requirements if there was a seperate line with a fall arrester, as in Rope Access work.)
I plan to demonstrate the M-System at the Treeclimbers International 30th Anniversary Event in Atlanta in October. Hope to see some of you there.
Any more comments will be really appreciated.
Michael
Michael:
Could you tell us how tall you are and the length of your attachment slings? It looks like 9/16 tubular webbing? I would like give your system a try. You get some push back from this industry because of some unfounded fear of ascenders. I would use my lanyard when passing an obstacle. If I can find the time to rig a set I'd love to give your system a try, but I can see where it would take some experimentation to get the tether lengths dialed in; hence my question. I'm not sure I would use it in production tree work, but can't know without giving it a try.
Could you tell us how tall you are and the length of your attachment slings? It looks like 9/16 tubular webbing? I would like give your system a try. You get some push back from this industry because of some unfounded fear of ascenders. I would use my lanyard when passing an obstacle. If I can find the time to rig a set I'd love to give your system a try, but I can see where it would take some experimentation to get the tether lengths dialed in; hence my question. I'm not sure I would use it in production tree work, but can't know without giving it a try.
- Location
- Salmon Arm British Columbia, Canada
Gear intensive ?
Its two hand ascenders and an extension ?
Saw your video Mike, and was duly impressed witht he speed at which you ascend into the tree.
If you have not watched the video posted above, watch it, this is blazing fast climbing. The first time I saw it I honeslty thought there was something wrong with the video, he could not have gone that fast....lol.
Look forward to seeing you develop and streamline you system Mike, even more so than it is already.
Stay safe bud.
Its two hand ascenders and an extension ?
Saw your video Mike, and was duly impressed witht he speed at which you ascend into the tree.
If you have not watched the video posted above, watch it, this is blazing fast climbing. The first time I saw it I honeslty thought there was something wrong with the video, he could not have gone that fast....lol.
Look forward to seeing you develop and streamline you system Mike, even more so than it is already.
Stay safe bud.
- Location
- England
Mark, I'm 5'11" tall. As far as the climbing action goes, it's the length of the stirrups that matters. I find that with your feet in the stirrups your handles should be roughly by your pectorals so that when one hand reaches up to full height you foot is at the maximum comfortable step height (in my case, about 24" above the other foot).
The length of the floating bridge simply determines your sitting position when you sit back on it.
I use 3/4" polyester webbing because it has less stretch than nylon and so you don't lose a couple of inches with each step.
WARNING: This is at prototype stage without the usual product development as far as safety legislation is concerned. Therefore if you are planning to experiment with your own setup then use a backup, such as a wrench or hitch-climber pulley. There are two reasons:
1) the potential to shock load one ascender if you remove the other one from the rope and let go of the handles.
2) it is still possible to climb without clipping into the floating bridge, which will lead to a nasty shock when you decide to sit back on the bridge high up!
As far as technique goes, you will probably find it strange to start with until you learn to co-ordinate the left and right-hand limbs in turn. When you step up on each foot you need to push downwards with the foot you are standing up on, NOT forwards at all. This will automatically keep your body upright so you don't find yourself having to pull yourself upright with your arm.
Michael
The length of the floating bridge simply determines your sitting position when you sit back on it.
I use 3/4" polyester webbing because it has less stretch than nylon and so you don't lose a couple of inches with each step.
WARNING: This is at prototype stage without the usual product development as far as safety legislation is concerned. Therefore if you are planning to experiment with your own setup then use a backup, such as a wrench or hitch-climber pulley. There are two reasons:
1) the potential to shock load one ascender if you remove the other one from the rope and let go of the handles.
2) it is still possible to climb without clipping into the floating bridge, which will lead to a nasty shock when you decide to sit back on the bridge high up!
As far as technique goes, you will probably find it strange to start with until you learn to co-ordinate the left and right-hand limbs in turn. When you step up on each foot you need to push downwards with the foot you are standing up on, NOT forwards at all. This will automatically keep your body upright so you don't find yourself having to pull yourself upright with your arm.
Michael
- Location
- England
Another way of looking at it is that it is easier climbing at a given speed!
Michael
Michael
- Location
- Bellingham
It might be redundant, but wouldn't a chest ascender attached to either a neck or shoulder tether alleviate some of the concerns over the safety of this system? (I know some people will question the sanity of adding a neck tether to increase safety, but ignore that for now).
- Location
- Minnesaota
Very cool the only thing is its not backed! Flying up aline like that with a wrench on it did you worry at all about knocked some teeth out?
- Location
- England
Yes, I used a chest ascender before I tried a Wrench as backup. The Wrench adds more friction and takes longer to set up but does allow you to switch to descend more easily.
Michael
Michael
- Location
- England
No, but I did hit my knee on a branch one time as I went past it at high speed!!!
Michael
Michael
