Review of Mr. Pez's solution

[Burnham_Chamberlain]

Review of Mr. Pez\'s solution

Some of you might remember my query regarding difficulties with placing a climbing line in second growth conifer stands back last fall. The issue was how to deal with the lack of sufficiently substantial limbs to trust for SRT, and the challenge of line placement in the dense crowns of these stands. I was resorting to spurs, and of course got my expected chewing out. Mr. Pez suggested a system of belayed climbing using a static line for SRT and a dynamic line for backup belay that I have recently been able to experiment with, and I can report a degree of success. Thank you, Mr. Pez! I still have trouble getting line placement up against the branch collar...the profusion of small and dead branches lower in the crown really makes this tough. And I'll admit to feeling pretty shaky about SRT climbing, however well belayed, on one 2 inch (or less) doug fir branch. BUT, it did work out OK a few times this spring, so when I can see a halfway decent target branch I will continue with this technique. If anyone wants to review the description of this technique, search "wildland tree climbing" back in the latter part of 2002. Thanks again.

 

[MrPez]

Re: Review of Mr. Pez\'s solution

Glad to hear it worked for you BC. If the stands are that dense and branches so small, forget the SRT and just climb the branches in a fall arrest system: Fall arrest harness with sternum or dorsal attachment. Connect an energy absorber to the harness and clip the high stretch or low stretch line to this. Then place runners every 6 feet around the trunk as you climb naturally with the 3 points of contact technique. Don't forget to have someone belay you at all times and take a lanyard for rests/securing the work position. If you fall the normal dangers are striking strong branches - doesn't sound like you're going to have that problem though!

 

[Burnham_Chamberlain]

Re: Review of Mr. Pez\'s solution

That is my practice once I can make the crown, but these stands are generally naturally pruned, leaving 40 to 80 feet of either clean bole or dead limbs or a mixture of both until green is attained. It's a challenge. Actually, I commonly use a self-belay technique by anchoring my safety line to the bole of the tree and advancing a prusik loop attached to my harness as I climb, placing basket hitched sling loops as protection points every 3 feet or so. Do you see anything wrong with this way of doing it? I use a dynamic type rope and run it through the carabiner at each runner. I take care to use a long enough webbing sling to avoid cross-loading the 'biner if I fall on it.