Minimalist Lowerable Basal Tie Off

countryboypa31 · Feb 11, 2015

Here is my minimalist lowerable basal tie off system. It requires a long rope, but nothing else. I've been using it for a while now, and the guys at work have lowered me in different scenarios (multiple unions, single union smooth bark, etc.) works well.

Key features: It uses the tail of your climbing line, with an alpine butterfly and a blakes hitch. You need enough extra rope to be lowered 3x to your TIP. The blakes hitch is backed up with a slip knot so even if it jams into it, it can still be released. The slip knot is backed up with a half hitch (could be backed up with a biner, i use the half hitch to continue with the minimalist trend.) You can simple take a trunk wrap with the rope beneath the blakes If more friction is needed to allow the blakes to lower smoothly.

Crimsonking · Feb 11, 2015

That's slick!

Tom Dunlap · Feb 11, 2015

Can't get less than that.

JeffGu · Feb 11, 2015

Wait a minute! This is a horrible idea! Clearly, you haven't thought this through. Sure, I took notes. It's a great idea to add to the skill set. But I quickly scanned my notes and encrypted the file with a good password. I made a folder on the PC called pics of fat chicks and put it in there. No way the wife will find it.

Obviously an arborist will love an idea this simple... but my wife has watched every episode of Myth Busters about 17 times each. Apparently Jamie showed how a prusik knot works on an episode, and she can tie one. If she sees these minimalist, low-budget ideas... I'm hosed. How can I repeatedly justify spending large sums of money on non-essential (but really cool) hardware if you guys keep posting this stuff. Come to think of it, I better rename my bookmark for TreeBuzz.com to "animal porn site" so she doesn't see any of this.

Tom Dunlap · Feb 11, 2015

Gear Is Good!

13echo4 · Feb 11, 2015

That's what I use on my 9 year old son. He has times where he can't pull off a weight transfer cause he's to close to the tip and to far from a branch to which he can switch over to descend. What I do different is I use a biner in the tail of the Blake's clipped to the slip knot.

AndrewG · Feb 16, 2015

Thanks for sharing I have incorporated a lot of your ideas into my climbing system. Just recently your knee ascender idea. I like this.

Ragnar · Feb 16, 2015

Can you post some closer up pics of the base part?

countryboypa31 · Feb 17, 2015

Yeah, i'll try and get one.

Mark Chisholm · Feb 20, 2015

countryboypa31 said:
Yeah, i'll try and get one.

Try? There's no try. There's do and do not. :burlas:

macswan · Feb 20, 2015

There's also "noodles, don't noodles"

ARLO · Feb 23, 2015

I am also a gear junkie, but I really like this gearless system! Just don't ever forget the stopper knot below the Blake's Hitch. That way if you drop a limb and it slides down the rope onto the hitch you won't take a ride.

Mangoes · Feb 25, 2015

I too would like to see a close up pic.

Treespotter · Feb 27, 2015

Try it another way.
Before you tie off walk four times around the base of the tree with the rope. Than tie off.
ICE your groundie can untie. Walk around the tree untill you get lowered. Look at the tree as a big portawrap.

JontreeHI · Feb 27, 2015

I bet with 4 wraps around the tree you wouldn't even need a knot.
Not saying you shouldn't tie a knot of course, but that is a ton of friction

Treespotter · Feb 27, 2015

So true.

GregManning · Feb 27, 2015

countryboypa31 said:
Yeah, i'll try and get one.

Bump ? ;-0

JTree · Feb 28, 2015

The 4 walk around, alpine butterfly, and carabiner has been my go to choice recently. I have an easier time trusting my groundie with that setup than any other.