Rope runner pro

[DSMc]

... This means when your mechanical device fails, falls apart,..

I'm curious, has either of these things actually happened to you or is this just a hypothetical question?

 

[moss]

A munter hitch will get you down.

Or an F8. I knew someone would get me on that ;-)

 

[moss]

I'm curious, has either of these things actually happened to you or is this just a hypothetical question?

My Rope Runner has become stuck in pine pitch during a takedown.

 

[moss]

This has turned into a great thread. You guys have convinced me to expand my climbing skills. I just wish there was someone I could learn from in person. I'm a little old to join a crew (69).

Join my crew (virtually) I’m 65. There are rec climbing teachers in different places in the U.S. who can reach you all the basics of MRS.

 

[DSMc]

My Rope Runner has become stuck in pine pitch during a takedown.

If you're working on pines it's worth carrying a rag. A small splash of gas from your chainsaw onto the rag will clean the pitch of a mechanical super fast.

 

[Reach]

I'm curious, has either of these things actually happened to you or is this just a hypothetical question?

Neither has happened to me, but mechanical things can break, because they are mechanical. And I’ve heard enough stories about people taking apart their mechanicals and dropping a piece out of a tree. That presents a problem, especially if you’re working alone.

 

[moss]

If you're working on pines it's worth carrying a rag. A small splash of gas from your chainsaw onto the rag will clean the pitch of a mechanical super fast.

True, problem was more the rope had too much pitch. I freed up the Runner a couple times then called for a fresh rope for the finish. I guess my hypothetical need for MRS is becoming more bogus by the second but... I really do value my MRS knowledge/skills.

 

[moss]

True, but descending on a Blake’s could be/is brutal too.... why I always keep a fig. 8 on my saddle, or a munter would work also...

Yep. But descending MRS on a Blake’s is brutal? ;-)

 

[Cereal_Killer]

I always have a F8,yes it serves as an [almost never needed] emergency decent option but much more often I'll use it on the tail of my rope to facilitate a swing back to my main TIP when my short lanyard won't quite get me there and I don't want to free swing it all JonnyPro style.

 

[Quintanana]

I'd say Im a young gun...so to all the other young guns out there...wise up. Listen to the OGs. Learn it all. Be humble. Be open minded. Mouth shut and nose to the ground. I appreciate all techniques and find pride in being able to use them when most appropriate. If I gotta ascend spikeless any great amount or redirect central then you know Im SRT all day. Shorty tree removal? Throw a monkeys fist and advance up natty crotch. Get that wood on the ground! So
many different scenarios, don't limit yourself.

 

[arborandearth]

I've dropped many devices or pieces of a device redirecting, moving TIP, trying to clean sap off a hitch cord or in the device - HH, RR, etc. Knowing a closed old-school MRS has come in handy a handful of times.

But, I'm not going to hammer the OP. I remember the first time I used a foot and hand ascender MRS without and didn't have a pulley for the hitch. I bet I looked like a fly in a black widow's web.

 

[DSMc]

I've dropped many devices or pieces of a device redirecting, moving TIP, trying to clean sap off a hitch cord or in the device - HH, RR, etc...

Your example highlights the point I've been working towards: Bad judgment and a flat learning curve, should not be confused with a tool or system's lack of reliability or an inherent weakness.

Sap has been giving tree climbers fits since the beginning and an MRS is not immune to it. Being accurate with why something happens will lead us to a better solution to prevent it from happening again.

 

[Stumpsprouts]

Does applying gasoline to a rope runner and subsequently a rope feel sketchy to anyone else? Like, I would do on a work bench to a device, but would keep that away from my rope if I could.

Recently used my tail as a Blake’s hitch for a quick closed system, that was handy.

Frequently munter a tag line to swing back into adjacent TIP tree, or come to the ground on it (keeping lanyard on the spar). Not sure how a figure 8 would work better.

This discussion is great. But. I won’t be MRS ascending a tree anytime soon

 

[Thatonedude]

I did start off wrong getting very defense and that’s my bad my intentions on the post was like all you said was for people not reading and looking into it. My intentions were to just make it known to someone who does read the manual but is on here reading or for general conversations. I’m sorry for coming off arrogant. I’m wanting to learn everything I can. I started on MRS a year ago. My story is I started in February last year 2nd day started climbing on a hitch and took to it. Started buying gear to climb outside of work and to test the things I was seeing on YouTube and reading. Learned SRT a few months back with someone who knew it and read and watched a lot on it bought the gear to try it and been working on it ever since.
Not questioning anyone’s teaching was just aggravated being called a newb even though I am.
but thanks for the positive and negative feedback put a lot in perspective for me.

 

[moss]

Does applying gasoline to a rope runner and subsequently a rope feel sketchy to anyone else? Like, I would do on a work bench to a device, but would keep that away from my rope if I could.

Recently used my tail as a Blake’s hitch for a quick closed system, that was handy.

Frequently munter a tag line to swing back into adjacent TIP tree, or come to the ground on it (keeping lanyard on the spar). Not sure how a figure 8 would work better.

This discussion is great. But. I won’t be MRS ascending a tree anytime soon

If you were smoking, yes sketchy ;-)

As I recall Teufelberger put some polyester braid arb rope in a drum of gasoline (or diesel fuel not sure) and left it there for a year or more, dried it out and pull tested it. The line was full strength.
-AJ

 

[Thatonedude]

What happened to the OP? He get weak knees or ran out of argumentative bravado.

Nope, my bad. Was the weekend spending time with the family trying not to be on the phone.

 

[DSMc]

Does applying gasoline to a rope runner and subsequently a rope feel sketchy to anyone else? ...

The work we do is fraught with 'sketchy' situations. We need to understand the least dangerous ways of working around those.

What things should I keep away from climbing ropes?

Are sunscreen and insect repellant things to keep away from climbing ropes? This post shows what to keep away from your climbing rope.

mountainknowhow.com

"There have been lab tests that showed that salt water, acetone, benzene, chloroform (why the heck would someone put this on his or her rope?), freon, gasoline, kerosene, motor oil, mineral oil, paints as well as pine oil had had no damaging effect on nylon ropes. It’s still a good idea to keep any chemicals away from your rope. Source: https://www.bluewaterropes.com/faqs/"

 

[Thatonedude]

I will make one brief comment on this thread, and likely only one.

The attitude you are exhibiting here is not that of a person of humility, who wants to learn. Perhaps it is not your intention, but you are coming across as one who is rather arrogant, and knows everything you think you need to know. Unfortunately, the tree industry tends to quickly teach a person how wrong they are, in very dramatic fashion.

This forum is made up of many members, some are a bit loud, or crotchety but highly experienced. Others are opinionated and arrogant, there are a few who are just plain clueless, and some are quiet but brilliant. Spend a bit of time thinking about how you’re speaking and not just what you’re speaking, and you’ll have a better chance of making friends here. There are many here with decades of knowledge in certain areas. @rico may well be the best big-tree climber and feller here, @swingdude probably knows more about gear than the companies who make it, and @JD3000 and @ATH can identify trees I can’t even find in an encyclopedia!

I wish you the best in your career in the tree industry, and sincerely hope you learn to take advice from the old heads before it’s too late.

One note on learning to climb - these fancy modern mechanicals are great, but they’re dangerous if you don’t REALLY know how to climb. I make every new climber I train work with only a rope and a Blake’s Hitch for months before going to a split tail hitch climber setup. After a year or two, when they prove they know what they’re doing, then and only then are they permitted to explore SRT and mechanicals. I’ve never had an employee fall or get hurt due to a gear issue, and I’ve had a lot of employees for quite a few years. There’s something to be said for knowing the basics well first.

One parting thought for you: When - not if, but when - your mechanical device fails/breaks/falls apart 80’ off the ground, do you know how to get back down safely with only one rope and one carabiner?

Yes, taut line as long as I have a 200 ft rope.
or spar tie in with a munter. But that’s just for descent only.

 

[arborandearth]

Does applying gasoline to a rope runner and subsequently a rope feel sketchy to anyone else? Like, I would do on a work bench to a device, but would keep that away from my rope if I could.

Recently used my tail as a Blake’s hitch for a quick closed system, that was handy.

Frequently munter a tag line to swing back into adjacent TIP tree, or come to the ground on it (keeping lanyard on the spar). Not sure how a figure 8 would work better.

This discussion is great. But. I won’t be MRS ascending a tree anytime soon

Yes! I don't get solvents anywhere near my ropes.

 

[arborandearth]

Good to know! I've always assumed it would degrade the rope ...old myth it seems