removing sap from climbing lines

[russelltree]

Hello All, Does anyone have any ideas on how to remove sap from climbing lines? The other day I was climbing a young Stone pine and before I got my friction saver set up, my line, lanyard hands and clothes were completely sticky with sap. never had a tree do this to me before, not such a young one anyway! My friction hitch was completely jammed and I could not move the hitch on my lanyard either. I had to completely untie my friction hitch and retie it.

Anyway, let me know it you have any ideas. Thanks, Russell.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Cleaning ropes has been discussed and it seems to come down to a few options.

Fast Orange
Pine Sol
Mayonnaise or peanut butter, seriously

Washing machine with all the usual precautions

Have a climbing rope just for pitchy trees is a good option too.

http://www.bealropes.com/english.dir/care.html


Tom

 

[joe]

A friction saver or false crotch is a gauranteed solution to avoiding pine pitch on ropes. This comment is for any1 not aware of the versatility of false crotches.

Joe

 

[NickfromWI]

Tom, I like the image in the middle on the very bottom of the page!!!!

love
nick

 

[Tom Dunlap]

It's interesting that the point is obvious even to people who don't climb trees.

Using a long FC would reduce a lot of pitch build up. The more the FC wraps around the tree the less contact the rope will have with leaky pitch pockets.

Tom