Passive Rigging Line Retrieval Reel

Thanks RopeShield.

I'm kinda disappointed that no action shots of the rigging line retrieval reel are in any of the hundreds of pics taken on this job.

I certainly recommend all climbers wear helmets as much as humanly possible up top. But when temps climb it's astounding how much heat and vapor leaves the very top of your head! I tried to hang tough, got dizzy, chucked the helmet, and immediately felt much better.

I have every intention of getting a new lightweight vented helmet, and helmetcam.

Helmets have quite literally saved my life on half a dozen occasions while riding and racing motorcycles, particularly full coverage helmets, without which I wouldn't have much of a face!

I believe in helmets guys, only fools don't.

I use more motoX gear than most arborists, like the ergonomic braces that keep my old knees from knocking together when riding the bull.

Vented gear is still in its infancy in my opinion. I've often thought of tossing my hickory shirt and just wearing a motoX chest protectors with elbow and forearm guards, also vented.

Overheating can be a serious problem in this SoCal desert. Which is why the indigenous natives take long siestas between 10 and 2, working only early morning and late afternoon.

They would laugh at the dumb gringo passed out in the tree at high noon!

When in Rome, or China Lake?

jomoco
 
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When in Rome, or China Lake?


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Or...central Texas
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Jomoco,

I wear long sleeve UnderArmour heat gear shirts and Nike running tights under my arborwear every day. Even in the 100degree heat the second skin gets wet and keeps your core temp much lower...Still sweating, still hot, but without the nauseous feeling...

http://www.underarmour.com/shop/us/en/uåa-heatgear-core-ventilated-legging/pid1200125-001

http://www.underarmour.com/shop/us/en/mens-heatgear-longsleeve/pid1201163-600

http://www.underarmour.com/shop/us/en/mens-ua-heatgear-legging/pid1201167-100

It seems crazy...I know, totally non sensical, but it works!
 
I likes me some under armour, dry fit is great too.

The knock off brands are a heck of a lot cheaper, and buying in the off season can save you $$.

I had a phase of the cotton/synthetic collared longsleeves every day in the heat up here. Worked well. But I's pretty danged close to a body of water in almost every direction and I'm not too proud to run hell-for-leather while stripping down to my skivvies to cool off in the nearest lake or river.
 
Makes me wonder when one of these Einstein helmet makers is going to build a cool vented helmet with an integral video cam built into it?

That way I can get a new helmet and cam with one shot!

jomoco
 
Charley Wagner adapted a regular 100 foot tape measure into an in-tree redirect retriever, several years ago. It allowed him to retrieve his redirect while retaining his high tie-in point. He used it in the Rocky Mountain Comp. Masters Challenge in about 2005.
 
For the first time? Where have you been Taylor?... must be pretty busy
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Jo, I've been kicking myself for not having one of these, every time I'm in a tree and need that rope back... I still don't have one! I recently started climbing with a secondary short flipline, one of the main reasons was because I started to use my longer first flipline as a retrieval tool. It worked
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Anyway, save my life, and give me a link to your retrieval reel. Or let me send you a money order and throw yours in the mail?
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Thanks Taylor.

Seeing as I failed to capture any pics or vids of the modified Spencer Reel in action, it gives you guys plenty of time to build your own and post some vids of just how handy they can be during roping operations.

Hopefully my next strategic removal will feature it in action though!

jomoco
 
Great job Jomoco. That was no easy tree and it looks like you handled it in stride which is amazing since you dont have the latest PPE and gear (haha). So when you are using the retreaval tool and the lowering rope is going down does the ring tend to go down with the rope or does it stay roughly at the same level as the climber???
 
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Great job Jomoco. That was no easy tree and it looks like you handled it in stride which is amazing since you dont have the latest PPE and gear (haha). So when you are using the retreaval tool and the lowering rope is going down does the ring tend to go down with the rope or does it stay roughly at the same level as the climber???

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Good question. The plastic shower curtain hangers I use sre so light they consistently find a midpoint COG, generally closer to me, particularly when retrieving a speedline as I did on this job.

If you have an ace rope man, these reels are unnecessary since a good roper can nail you in the nose consistently flicking your lowering line bactk to you when out on a lateral. But there's a real art to rope flicking that's not easily found when you're a sub that works with lots of different companies. That's when the lowering/speedline retrieval reel can be a real timesaver, regardless of the ropeman's ability to flick ropes or tie knots!

As an independent climbing sub, the ability to insulate yourself from the consequences of rookie groundies making mistakes can be vital to your well being up top.

These climbers who can't function without a groundie attending their every need would have a mental breakdown working with a green crew!

I kinda like working alone better than working with rookies. But pride myself on being able to do both relatively safely regardless.

I'll never forget prepping a high dollar strategic euc removal in La Jolla alone by climbing it to apply bee killer to an active hive low in the huge euc.

I had my bee hood on, and the secretary of the company on my cell phone in case things went badly.

A cracker jack ground crew is a wonderful thing, but finding them and building them is hard work that only lasts a few years in my experience. But it sure is grand while it lasts!

jomoco
 
I could have used one of these today. Just ordered a logger tape from treestuff.

We were swinging stuff a good ways and out on the tips there was no way the rope was getting flicked back. Hopefully I'll report back soon with the appropriate praise!
 
Remember Adam, 30 lb test line, zip ties, and round plastic shower curtain hangers.

Just like fishin mate!

jomoco
 
Well I'm off to deal with another strategic removal this morning. A fair size sugar gum euc whose base got buried causing its decline.

I hope to get some footage of my passive rigging line retrieval reel in action today if possible with the time allotted for the job.

jomoco
 
Just found this thread, great pics of the Pine removal Jomo.

Thanks for posting.
 
Happiness is getting home and getting my boots and braces off.

I know I'm going to get in hot water posting pics and vids of this particular job despite the fact that I kept my helmet on throughout my time in the tree.

Why? Because I worked it solo. The client, her son and neighbors kept a pretty good eye on me though.

I'm going to try a solo speedline tomorrow, self tensioned by me in the tree.
Gonna need lots of loops and biners to pull it off though!

IPads suck when it comes to posting or formatting pics and vids though. So you'll have to bear with me while I fire up the old PC and load up things for eventual uploading to Photobucket where I can resize the pics so it doesn't miniaturize this thread's script.

Gotta keep Tom happy!

jomoco
 
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