Rope Runner

Steve Connally said:
I sort of work for myself. I am sort of a like a sub but exclusively for one company at the moment. For DdRT i'm on a zigzag. I also use half of the Anchor Bridge climbing system for ascent. It extends my zz so I can footlock or body thrust with complete capture and maximum advancement with each thrust. I have been using the ABR system for a long long time and body thrusting seems super natural for me and I have dialed in my system for the best results. I can haul up a tall tree really quickly and without much practice I can do it almost as fast as I can with ascenders on srt. Really that only shows im not proficient in SRT. The main drawback is that I have to be against the trunk for it to work. For SRT I have foot ascender, and a rope walker system I built myself. Same principals but I tied the bungee chord instead of the $$$$$$ splicer. Typical trees are 80 to 120'. Sweet gum, Loblolly Pine, Maples and Oaks. Typically smaller lots and narrower canopies. occasionally a big sprawling Oak in a big back yard but those are all pruning's. Mostly removals now as one of the other climbers got canned. Before that was all pruning with an occasional removal. Much more tree killing than tree care. Not my choice of work. Id rather prune 5 than take down 1. Takedowns are a pain. I've not seen the advantage of SRT for a removal. I can see ascending to set the block on srt and then change over to DdRT but theres usually a bunch of branches to assist in the ascent. I just have to get the delta link and give it a whirl. I feel like I am pretty proficient at isolating my tip. The canopy of these trees lends itself for easy isolation. Mainly for what I do I'd need a changeover system anyway so I'd either have to base tie or isolate the tip anyway. There was a period of time I was working where I kept getting these crown clean on these monster pines where the first limb was around 100' up. 6 or 7 of those a day really took a toll on me. Wasn't set up for SRT so I just humped up those. That's a situation where a SRT or a wraptor would have helped. Usually it's not that bad.

The other issue with SRT and removals is how can you work a foot ascender with spikes on? Doesn't seem like it would work so I just just get up there old school. Often i'll set a tip first and that helps me navigate the canopy quicker. No friction saver at first but when I get to the top I set one and a block and then drop back down and get to cutting. I can see the benefit for sure but there never seems to be the time to tinker and I don't know another person around me who climbs srt so I can't watch a pro do it. I guess it comes down to being comfortable with my current set up. The next thing with a small gasoline motor I but will be a Harley LOL
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A foot ascender works ok with spikes I've done it, what are you usinging for your second ascender? Have you looked at the Haus system I use that with a rope wrench and a hitch climber pully also make sure you use a chest harness it changes things emensly
 
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