New Technology=Higher Awareness

T

Treebeard

Location
Charleston, SC
Today I had a very unnerving thing happen. I was removing hazard deadwood from a Southern Red Oak, climbing on RG,Fly, french prussik combo. I was happy that i had the RG because crown of the tree was dead and what was left to tie into was a pole, perfect for the RG. well after a hour or so I had worked my way down to the lower section of the tree. I noticed that I was slipping. I checked my hitch and it was not moving. I looked up at my tie in and the RG was sliding and it had opened about 1-2ft off the pole, not good. After using my tail end and re-tied in, I went to inspect what was happening. There was nothing visibly wrong with it so I lowered it down and would check it later. Come to find out the retrieving strap was not allowing the clutch to pivot so it was not grabbing. the point and the lessoned learned to understand all parts of the equipment used and inspect their function before every ascent. I think it is too easy to just get a shiny new piece of gear and start using it and assume that it will be ok.New technology can make it physically easier but our mental awareness needs to be on a higher level to use them.
 
I dont think the Rope Guide is good for cinching onto a pole/ trunk. It just does not cinch up well.
I use the Buckinham or New Tribe two ring friction saver coupled with a Tenex fair lead for this application.
I have had problems with the R.G. in this way as well so I switch over to the other tools when chunking wood down or climbing on Redwoods with no branches. The other day I was cleaning out a grove of Redwoods. The good branches started out at least 70'-80'and below that it was all small dead stuff. The job was cleaning out this dead wood so I set my line on one trunk and worked out several trees. then re-tie into another to work out the next bunch of trees.
Frans
 
I have had the same problems with my RG. last week I removed a 25" Americam Elm not big but a really small area. I used my rope tool RG for the entire removal.The wood had to be lowered until you could cut it from the ground. The rope tool RG worked very well. I used it like I would if I was single ropeing, but retrieval was super easy. It stayed just where I put it.
 
I've used my RG on spars several times and haven't had a problem. When I set it up, I pull the adjuster snug so that the pulley clevis is snug to the ring. Then I weight the rope to see if any slack is pulled. If so, I pull the adjuster up some more.

You're right, as our systems get more complex, our attention to details is more important. Thanks for bringing this up.
 
I find the RG does work on larger spars. but on smaller limbs it slides down. On some difficult prunning jobs with no good crotches I would use my rope tool RG and place on smaller stuff. On removals I use the original RG. It is much easier to adjust the length. I just find the Original RG to NOT work on smaller material or when you are wieghting and unwieghting the tool.If you always have your wieght in it it stays. But if you are moving around alot it tends to move.I use both of my RG's for different applications.
 
Well today I had my 2nd RG failure which resulted in a 30ft fall down a Palmetto tree. Since the last failure I have been doing exactly like Tom Dunlap had mentioned, to make sure everything is snug and put weight in it to double check. well after doing that and starting my decent the RG opened up, as in loosening from around the Palmetto. By the time I reached the ground it was fully extended. Prior to today I have try to figure out why? the only variable different in my RG than others I've talked to is the line used in the RG. I have the green and gold pro-stripe from Sherrill. Luckly I only lost some skin and broke a chain brake.
 
glad to hear you are OK. The prolbem I feel is that the cam is obviously single directional. With mine I noticed if the rope is not going through at exactly the correct direction the wiehgt of the cam pulls its self down. For this application { choking to a stem especially a smaller one} I use my rope tool RG ,it will not move} for all others I use The original.All I did was replace the can For a tress cord and unbolted the clevis and rebolted it on to the tress cord. I carry the tools in my back pack( rope bag) takes about 2 minutes to switch. I also removed the stiff plastic retrieval piece with some accessory cord. Maybe a bigger clutch or rope might help. I noticed this limitation right away. I like my TIP to be bomber.
 
That doesn't sound like something I would want to fool with if it was set up properly.
That perhaps should be turned over to an agency that tests for safe standards, it might save a life.
 
I have not used a RG before but I have used a friction saver in this manner. I put together an adjustable FS with a hitch as the adjustor. When not taking a full wrap on the spar I noticed that the hitch rests against the spar and the rope pulls through just like you used your hand to adjust the length. Could that be what is happening with the RG? I then started using a fixed length FS and taking a full wrap. It stays put and is easy to shake down and remove. I use this method when climbing poles if I have to drop TV cable.
 
tim are you talking about a pulley-ring AFS, or a RG type of AFS. I have never had a problem with eigher of my hitches ever moving
 
Im with tom here, I havent had this problem happen to me, as a matter of fact Im still crazy in love with my RG. Mine has the same yellow and green prostripe leader installed. I have noticed though with that type of rope the cam slides very easily. I did switch it over temporarily to a shorter lead rope which was green and white XTC. What I noticed was that the XTC did not move thru the cam the same, it was a lot harder to move the cam up and down the lead rope. The XTC had some mileage on it and was not near as smooth as the prostripe. I can maybe suggest to you to try a differnet lead rope which is not as smooth and may provide some resistance to slippage. Another thing you could try ( which i have not) is to wrap the lead rope around the stem twice as pictured in the new sherrill catalog, just be sure to wrap it so it will still retrieve.
Im glad to hear you are OK and didnt get hurt.
On another note maybe the RG should only be used with extreme discrection when placed on a spar which would allow for such a long slide before catching a sucker on the way down. I admit normally it is installed in a crotch or a few feet above a crotch so should slippage occur, the only thing which may happen would be the need to put on fresh drawers. I will remember your incident and practice caution though should i need to place the RG on a spar.
Glad to haer you are OK!!
 
I appreciate the replies and concerns. as I read the posts I am reminded of the topic. It seems that the best remedy is to alter in some way a devices intended use. which tells me that I am not qualified to use this equipment if I have to re-engineer it. dont get me wrong I think the RG is best treeclimbing aide, there is nothing like, but is it worth the price. It seems it is left up to the cosumer to figure out undetermined limitations. that is the higher awareness that comes with higher technology. when I climbed on a line and natural crotch, most I needed to know was if the crotch was strong and my line was ok. soon as you add gear, the are more points of failure to worry about. for what a few extra minutes, maybe more of a workout....it might be worth it if I come home to my 2 boys and wife everynight.....
 
I agree, whenever we add more equipment or employ neew techniques we are adding a critical link to the chain. Think back to the traditional style of of climbing,(not all that long ago), natural crotches,and tying into a tail the end of your climb line, pretty basic setup, then switch to a split tail system with a false crotch, the system has just doubled or tripled in complexity and every componenet is a critical link in that chain. I remember my initial resistance to more advanced systems, it was hard to change styles and yet feel confident and comfortable. However, I dont know that Id say that altering a technique or method means that weve re-engineered its intended use. But made some personal adaptions our improvements.
Now I think I hybridize all of my gear to my personal tastes, (dont we all?), this only means I need to be more aware of limitations and to sometime expect the unexpected.
In short, the title of this thread is as accurate as one can get, new technology does = higher awareness, but this is a good thing right?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New threads New posts

Back
Top Bottom