Rope bridge...

tommyh

tommyh

Location
Newburgh, New York
So I read somewhere a discussion about adding a backup bridge to a treemotion or similar rope bridge saddle and I was looking for some help on this theory. Specifically the treemotion, because that's the harness I use, I haven't tried yet but I can't see any more line fitting into the holes in the "D's" where the stock bridge is tied in. I heard of putting 5mm cord I think? So my question is would it go through the same holes as the origional bridge or is there some other place??
 
I double fishermans it to the top of the lower D's. Whenever I use the lower D's its for suspension or spar work and the " second bridge " is not in the way. Obviously the 5mm cord should be a little longer than the main and not bearing the load. The cord you see is 5mm vectran which is the same material used for the core of HRC only slightly smaller. Here are two pics of the recent set-up.
 

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Matdand my only concern using the second bridge is for a backup to the main. I have never even used one in the past this is a new idea I am trying out, don't even know if I shall be sticking to it especially if it is a PITA. The ring failure is a good point but really cant see how you would get around this except adding another one ( connecting to both ) or using none and just connect the biner. Someone might shed light on this.
 
Casey I hate clutter so I will ride this for the next couple of weeks and see how it fares. If I don't like it off it comes because I know that globe 3000 is some tough stuff and once changed regularly ( got me three new bridges laying around ) I have nothing to fear.
 
In another thread Norm Hall had described his setup with 5mm NE Tech cord going all the way around his belt in a continuous loop. This seems like a great idea since even if your bridge and both rings failed you would still have that tech cord all the way around your waist.
 
I love the way you all think.

I've been climbing with a extra bridge for about 7 years now. I use a 6 mm GLOBE.

The only reason I do this is because the handsaw is positioned left and I'm a right hand climber. Every time the saw gets around and sometimes close to the rope bridge. Never ever hit it but if I do I have an extra backup ;-)

It's better to think it's just one bridge that'll make you work with more precision, but the second doesn't cost a thing and isn't in the way. It's also perfect for clipping in a chest harness for SRT purpose and have the normal brigde available right away ;-)

If you add an extra bridge cause of not trusting the original one....please climb with 2 saddles and 3 ropes and a matrass underneeth the tree....for the rest just climb as safe as you possibly can.

Never to late to add some safety or think about your climbing style, methods and some improvements.

-Climb safe-
 
Treestyler, What kind of handsaw do you use. Would you consider a leg scabbard? I ask because you could maybe reduce the amount of trips across the legs of line and lanyard if it were secured to your right leg. At least that's what it's meant for me.
 
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maybe we should all just start wear two saddles and using four ropes to back up the two going to each saddle.

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Maybe you should start worrying about yourself and stop reading this kind of stuff if you don't like it.
 
ABL it isn't worth the hassle bud. I let others be and I just ignore when negativity enters the fray. Some want to learn, and I personally am only responsible for what I say and do. It's how I keep sane. I keep having to tell myself it's a forum and freedom of speech is a good thing.
 
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ABL it isn't worth the hassle bud. I let others be and I just ignore when negativity enters the fray. Some want to learn, and I personally am only responsible for what I say and do. It's how I keep sane. I keep having to tell myself it's a forum and freedom of speech is a good thing.

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[ QUOTE ]
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maybe we should all just start wear two saddles and using four ropes to back up the two going to each saddle.

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Maybe you should start worrying about yourself and stop reading this kind of stuff if you don't like it.

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Its called free speach man....you sound like you live in CA..lol
 
I should have added more to my post. This feels like the cold war arms race of redundant back ups. Some questioning of our gear is a very good thing, but it can become a detriment. We can ask ourselves what if this fails and then the ring fails and then the rope fails at some point we are going to have to trust our equipment and just climb on it. I dont want to get to a place in tree climbing where we have to suit up in a bomb disposal suit just in case of terrorist attacks.
 
See, now that was a positive post. Well said and I agree 100%

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About the freedom of speech comment I agree with you as well and that is why I also voiced my opinion.
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Edit* We could do all that or we could just rock the warp speed bridges and replace them every so often. :)
 
I agree waldo and glad to see you clarifying your post, very cool. I hate stuff on my harness, I like effective simplicity. As I said earlier I am not sure about the extra bridge just testing the waters and I will say I don't think it suits me. But it certainly is worth a try and some others like it. Reason I posted the set up is I know it can work and it does, however it busies up the bridge set up which I don't care for.
 
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What if your ring fails......

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FWIW, I have a backup bridge of 8mm polyester cordage (rated 5K lbs.) tied with double fishermans to each of the gold rings on my Sequoia, but that doesn't run through my center DMM attachment ring. When I clip the biner from my climbing system into the attachment ring, I also clip it directly to the 2nd bridge so that both the bridge and the ring are backed up. A little bit of slack in the 2nd bridge keeps it all moving smoothly across the main bridge.

I get it that all the redundancies can spin out of control and be distracting, maybe even detrimental. But I think it was treestyler a while back who put up a youtube showing how easily a handsaw could swipe through any bridge loaded with a climbers' weight, webbing or rope, with almost zero effort. There's a good chance the 2nd bridge would get caught in the swipe as well, but you're still a little safer. Same reason I climb in chainsaw pants. Even in the Tennessee summer.

Last comment is that all the buzz about ring and bridge failures over the last couple of years can't help but create a nagging anxiety in the back of a fellow's head. Yes, a climber needs to be able to trust her/his gear in order to work effectively, and regular inspection is an absolute must, but we all know that $hit most certainly still happens, even to the most watchful and careful among us. We're only human after all...
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I have a backup bridge of tech cord and two rings. It's not like that takes up lots of space and weighs a ton, I hardly notice it.

A heat treated aluminum ring is not going to break under body weight or even several times body weight. Jay Butcher's ring was defective. Had Kong proof loaded the ring, which is standard for the other manufacturers, it would have failed the test and never gone to market. I don't run two because i think one will break... two rings is damn handy.

I agree that we go overboard with backups some times, but when you climb daily, the odds stack against you. A little extra security is a good thing. I think it causes problems when you see a guy do something like go up and stay on two TIPs the whole time because he feels insecure.
 
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