Rope Walking 101: Tree Ascent for Arborists

It's easier to rope walk with toes against the tree. Why not use your arms? If your going a long distance chest harness with sternal ascender is more effecient and safer.
 
Hmmmmm.....no way is rope walking faster or more efficient near the trunk. Open space with no obstruction. That is why at comps it is open ascent not trunk ascent. Ever watch a masters, no one is setting their access lines near the trunk. Anyway whatever floats one's boat.
 
swingdude said:
Hmmmmm.....no way is rope walking faster or more efficient near the trunk. Open space with no obstruction. That is why at comps it is open ascent not trunk ascent. Ever watch a masters, no one is setting their access lines near the trunk. Anyway whatever floats one's boat.
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I agree, if only going to the TIP.. I never do that. Work my way up, then work my way down... If it were a race to the top sure..
 
Toes against the tree keeps one more vertical therefore more effecient. Race to the top or doing a work/inspect/progress and plan climb are different goals. Pic your technique for your goal.
Either way sternal attachment is something else to consider for arbclimbers who maybe pushing the limits of their TIP/sudden drop.
Here is me roperunning before the RopeRunner. You can see body position differences between the two techniques. Last clip is with two handle ascenders/cumbersome.
You all decide for yourself
 
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What system do you climb on RopeShield? Wrench, Runner, HH, BDB, Uni, etc?
Always curious whats other folks are using.
 
Most every ascent is handle to sternum to foot loop with foot ascender and sternal ascender, bring up secondary line with lockjack to work or progress on the way up to TIP, ascent line switches to SpiderJack. I hop scotch from lead to lead, leave a rope and switch tips some times come back to centre and walk back up. Most trees and the work we do Ddrt is easier for me. One hand holds position/tree, one hand to manage device, one or two feet climbing the tree or with ft ascender. I push ropes around the tree with tele pole alot and srt to work position. Gri Gri gets a lot of use on the hooks with SRT. rack for long descents
I have a homemade hook I drag around on big prunes with ISC Rocker to hold position. ART positioner is my lanyard for prunes.
ISC rope grab and cobra. 5" steel core lanyard on removals
I am a tentative climber and rarely hang from one line, almost always two and many times three. Mostly because of being out on tips of hazard trees. Several times in my career I have pushed it far enough to be injured but never enough to stop working. love to jump and swing and whip around when it makes sense.
Pruning is most of my work, so when I get on spurs for a removal it is really a big cheat and becomes a calculated race to how soon can I hear high RPMs into wood and watching time stand still and feel the ground thump.
Mechanicals are superior to rope on rope for me and haven't tried the few you have mentioned mostly due to the fact that they require one to push away as opposed to a pull to. Slack tending/progressing is most important to me smooth as possible
 
Thanks RopeSield. Sounds like you have your system down pat!
Of all the Ddrt mechanicals I have tried I have to say i enjoyed the ART stuff the most. Especially the Lockjack. Once I got it dialed in it was so fluid, and the slack fell through it like water. Kick-ass tool for sure.
 
Great video, For ease toes on the tree for sure. Even better with arms. so much better on the core and standing up straight. For speed away from the tree. For lightning speed a clunky uncomfortable chest roller is the deal. Only worn one once and it made a huge difference in my speed. I'd never do production with it though.
 
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