Simple setup for kids?

Anonymity

Anonymity

Participating member
Location
Ontario, Canada
Could someone help me figure out a great simple setup for kids to climb some tree's? I was thinking...

-Harness
-climbing rope
- 2 carabiners
- Blake's hitch or some eye-to eye friction hitch cordage (ie bee line) or is there a better knot...friction system to use?
-helmet
-looking for something economical, because I might be buying a butch of equipment

Thanks,
Ken

P.S. any recommendations for some cheap (but safe) climbing rope would be great too...

Tony, I checked out your blog...ya that's what I'm talking about...nice!
 
Ken,

I suggest you make a trip to a local Rock Climbing gym and you check out a top rope belay setup. Top-roping safety is controlled by the belayer at the bottom holding the end of the rope which would otherwise be tied into the TIP.

For top roping, all you would need is an additional belay device i.e. Grigri, Black Diamond ATC, or Petzyl Reverso:
http://www.rei.com/category/4500695
http://www.ems.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=3686933

Since they won't be on Rocks with the chance of a taking a long fall, the low-stretch in Tree climbing ropes 'should' be good.

Also, here is a great web site to find local rock gym anywhere in the world:
http://www.indoorclimbing.com

Don't know where you are in Ontario, but there are a lot of locations nearby: http://www.indoorclimbing.com/ontario.html

-Michael
 
Thanks Michael for the quick reply...I've done the belaying system with a GriGri at a high ropes course all summer with children. But, I'm looking for a setup that enables kids to climb on their own (once instructed). And the nearest climbing gym is about a two hour drive (one way) from me, so tree's will be the climbing gym, and maybe some cliffs.

Thanks,
Ken
 
If I had more $ I would have gone with the new tribe, however I bought a rock climbing harness for $30 at REI. It works just fine. My son can't pull him self up the rope yet, so I climb first and assist/belay from above. He just uses a second short line that I have for work. I use a vt with him, and by pulling the tail up from above him give me a 3:1 to hoist him. The VT hold great since he is so light, he has a hard time releasing it. I also tie butterflys in the tail of his rope every 4' or so and descend with him.

Saying all of this I should mention he is 5 and we've been climbing for the past year and a half.
 
Hey thanks Phil & Evo,

VT hey, okay I'll have to try that one...I'm going to start looking for some (safe) but cheap rope. mountain equipment co-op seems to have some good prices. Any other recommendations? I think I'll go for one of their harnesses too...check it out http://www.mec.ca/product/5031-579/edelrid-joker-harness-unisex/?f=10+50270

Ken

P.S. if any of you are looking for work or rec gear, you can fined some good stuff at Mountain equipment co-op (MEC...for short)
 
[ QUOTE ]
I also tie butterflys in the tail of his rope every 4' or so and descend with him.

[/ QUOTE ]

If you use a slip knot instead of a butterfly you can release them from below if you want by tugging the rope.
-AJ
 
[ QUOTE ]
I use a vt with him, and by pulling the tail up from above him give me a 3:1 to hoist him. The VT hold great since he is so light, he has a hard time releasing it.

[/ QUOTE ]

We do a lot of kids climbs where I work and I have toyed with the idea of installing a 5" piece of 1/2" pvc pipe above the VT hitch. The idea being that the kid could hold the pipe and the pipe would compress the knot avoiding blistering the fingers and having more control. Haven't done it yet though, not sure how it would work in practice? Any thoughts?
 
Hey Phil,

When I first thought about your idea I thought it sounded great! And maybe it is. However, here's a thought...and I'm just thinking out loud...but, before I make my points. I'm assuming the kids are getting blisters when their fingers run along the rope when descending? Correct?

-I would be afraid of a kid panicking and really pulling down on the pipe, putting even greater pressure on the friction hitch...I other words I think the pipe idea of yours would work too well if you follow me....


Ken
 
They aren't actually getting blisters, but a few times they do pull too hard and I see them shaking their hand to cool it off. We control the rate of descent by holding the tail of their climb line. Even if they completely compress the knot, they won't descend unless we loosen our grip on their line. It doesn't take much to stop a person under 145 lbs with this method.
 
I placed a 2" round wooden ball with a 5/8" hole on the rope just above the friction hitch that the climbers hand can grasp. Pulling down on the ball releases the hitch but we always belay them. We conducted a climbing event with a group of girls that had severe arthritis, their hands were rigid claws that could not grasp tight but very strong. No problem hooking onto the ball. Worked so well we left the balls on all of our rope stations.

The funny part was this was an accidental discovery. I made the ball first as to use as a "threader" placed before my rope sleeve to see if it made installing the rope sleeve easier. It did, but as soon as I got it pulled over the limb the ball slide all the way down and stopped on top of my friction hitch. OH NO! It is in the way!; but then OH YES! I grabbed it and viola holding the ball was so much easier than grabbing the coil of cord.
 
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