Small rope swing while climbing a 110' beauty :D

TREEfool

TREEfool

Participating member
Location
Sioux Falls, SD

Hey guys! Last week I hopped on my bike and pedaled out of the city in search for a big tree. I do not have this side of the city mapped out so the act of searching for a big tree was an adventure in itself. I spotted a huge (insert type of tree here) near a small lake and bushwacked to the base. There were three big trees reaching for the sky so my game plan was to climb the biggest tree then traverse into the smaller one to practice my mag throwbag skills. Unfortunately I got one of the magnets stuck on a broken limb and when I tried to pull it free (by aggresively yanking it :rayos:) the magnet shot off the carabiner and into the abyss.

So although I didn't have the proper tools to traverse into the other tree I was able to set up a small rope swing about 70 feet high while on my way to the summit. I could have lowered myself into it but swinging is way more awesome ;)

This climb was also the first test of my new minimalist rope walking system that I have been testing. It is essentially two rope man's with a prusik backup and a foot ascender. It worked great!

-Logan
 
Oh btw, I need to start carrying a pocket-book-tree-identifier-thingy so that I don't have to rely on you guys identifying all of the trees for me :loco:
 
Cottonwood, awesome trees. We have quite a few of them here in eastern Nebraska. Looks like a great time. ..don't mind if I do(y)
 
NorthBranch said:
Logan,

Do you have a video of your rope walking system?
Click to expand...
Not yet. Next time that I go out climbing and the weather isn't too hot I plan to make a short vid.

1- The top ascender is a Rope Man 1 with a foot loop. This is pushed up while simultaneously lifting your left foot (which is in the foot loop).

2- The middle ascender is a Rope Man 2 with a prusik tied above it. It is attached directly to the harness and catches your progress (I will be installing a bungee that pulls it along while climbing so that there is never slack on the progress catch).

3- Petzl pantin on my right foot.


The system isn't as fast as a knee ascender with a foot ascender but it is way faster than my current yoyo system. The only issue is that the Rope Man 2 is not advertised for this type of climbing (especially on my 9mm rope).
 
hey fluffy,

Just thinking out loud for options for the rope man 2.

A prusik on its own that you tend with your bungy and a small pulley would be good. Would probs save some weight.

Getting the prusik to set and release as well as you like will be part of the fun :)

cheers bro
 
WaitakKauri said:
hey fluffy,

Just thinking out loud for options for the rope man 2.

A prusik on its own that you tend with your bungy and a small pulley would be good. Would probs save some weight.

Getting the prusik to set and release as well as you like will be part of the fun :)

cheers bro
Click to expand...

Fantastic! I always think of prusiks as a "backup" but I need to change that. I may indeed have to play with some prusiks. The issue with my 9mm HTP is that I have yet to find any prusik knot that will reliably bite without getting stuck.
 
FluffyFish said:
Fantastic! I always think of prusiks as a "backup" but I need to change that. I may indeed have to play with some prusiks. The issue with my 9mm HTP is that I have yet to find any prusik knot that will reliably bite without getting stuck.
Click to expand...
Try some 8 mil armor prus by donaghys or ocean poly by teufelberger.
Maybe rit from sterling. Think that's 8 mil
 
FluffyFish said:
Fantastic! I always think of prusiks as a "backup" but I need to change that. I may indeed have to play with some prusiks. The issue with my 9mm HTP is that I have yet to find any prusik knot that will reliably bite without getting stuck.
Click to expand...
Try some 8 mil armor prus by donaghys or ocean poly by teufelberger.
Maybe rit from sterling. Think that's 8 mil
 
I second trying 8mm ocean. On 11mm it bites really really well, like too well for my weight on 11mm for SRT. Works good through on my 11mm lanyard. I'm 85kg so I think I'm heavier than fluffy so 8mm might just work.

Otherwise, I'm with Monkeylove. You'll need some 11mm for a big sequoia :rico:
 
God, I've done a long ascent on a 9mm static, was like climbing a cross between a rubber band and pasta. That said climbers I know who like 9mm lines swear by PMI EZ-Bend. If you go with a 10mm you might enjoy say a 130' straight up all air ascent a little more. A Rope Wrench is relatively inexpensive and light weight compared to any other single rope devices out there. With a wrench you don't require a backup, just a hitch cord and the wrench. I've run it fine on 10mm. With an 8mm ArmorPrus hitch cord it should work on 9mm for ascent. For descent you'll probably end up with some sort of core/cover slippage/bunching on a 9mm static but you likely already have a descender that works well with your 9mm.
-AJ
 
Something to consider in the overall equation is the energy loss and potential chronic tendon injuries caused by trying to grip super skinny lines on long ascents. For 9mm I would dedicate a non-toothed cam rope grab to function as a hand grab.
 
FluffyFish said:
I didn't even know this was a thing. Thanks for the heads up moss.
Click to expand...

It was for me anyway, over gripping ropes early in my climbing caused injury to the medial (inside) tendon connections to my elbow. I solved it climbing with Atlas grippy gloves and learned to use a more relaxed grip during ascent. Everyone is different in how their body responds to repetitive strain from tree climbing. I know for sure to be aware when something starts to hurt from my climbing motion, make adjustments to correct. For skinny lines you'll conserve a lot of energy and lower the chance of injuries if you can figure out ways to reduce your grip force.
-AJ
 
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