- Location
- Bloomington
I do most of my work solo, and I need a better way to manage my climbing rope to keep it from getting tangled up in the brush pile that I cut out of the tree. What works best for you?
Solo climber tangled
- Thread starter Childers
- Start date
evo
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- My Island, WA
Take it with you.
Run the tail out along the ground
Or take a wrap around the stem below you
Deal with it
Don't work solo
AIM better
Run the tail out along the ground
Or take a wrap around the stem below you
Deal with it
Don't work solo
AIM better
Climbing is not a solo job. Your rope will eventually be too "tangled" and you'll be stuck in a tree and have to risk coming down without a proper climbing system. Hopefully you climb with lanyards. If you're SRT you could still descend so I guess that's my answer to your actual question - learn single rope climbing techniques.
flyingsquirrel25
Carpal tunnel level member
- Location
- South East, PA
Yes solo work can be dangerous. But it is really only more dangerous because there is no one to call 9-1-1. We have all done it at one point or another in our career. SRT helped me significantly when I was running my business by myself. Between that and an understanding of when it was time to stop, go down and clean up before finishing the tree, I normally did pretty well. Sure once in a while I still climb solo but I realized that even 1 ground worker can save huge amounts of time over the duration of a job. Between brush being cleared before landing, not having to deal with the "tangle" and being able to rig large pieces rather than free fall (handle) smaller stuff the time savings can be amazing.
I have noticed more lawn damage while working with others, only because the protective layer of brush is removed as it comes down, so every piece has an impact. But that's just something that needs to be managed.
Good luck and be safe
I have noticed more lawn damage while working with others, only because the protective layer of brush is removed as it comes down, so every piece has an impact. But that's just something that needs to be managed.
Good luck and be safe
cthompson22
New member
- Location
- NY
Don't use any more rope than you need, I have several different lengths so I do t have so much to manage and be mindful of where it is. Don't just keep sawing away, pick the rope up and keep in on your saddle or move it to a better spot...easy as that.
- Location
- Bloomington
I have been moving the rope around and laying it on the limbs around me, I was thinking about how to carry it on the saddle and if others did so? Most days moving it around works but some days..... I think about taking the chainsaw to it!
Most of the trees I work are 70' or shorter so I use a 80' DRT with the set up tied on both ends so I can use either end when needed. I have a 300' SRT set up but I rarely use it. The DRT just feels better.
I have a ground guy to help when needed but I find I am much more relaxed and methodical when working solo. I take more time to think through the cut. Yeah the ground clean up is tougher but I do this because I enjoy the work.
Most of the trees I work are 70' or shorter so I use a 80' DRT with the set up tied on both ends so I can use either end when needed. I have a 300' SRT set up but I rarely use it. The DRT just feels better.
I have a ground guy to help when needed but I find I am much more relaxed and methodical when working solo. I take more time to think through the cut. Yeah the ground clean up is tougher but I do this because I enjoy the work.
southsoundtree
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Olympia, WA
Hang the rope bag on your harness if going DdRT. You will not get down when you want to DdRT with all that brush on your tail. SRT will be better for going down periodically.
You can solo zip-line stuff. anchor the bottom end, adjust the tension on the top end.
This self-zipping, along with self-lowering can help sometimes with a groundie, too, as you have less down time waiting in the tree, and the groundie has tasks to do, and less rope to manage.
You can solo zip-line stuff. anchor the bottom end, adjust the tension on the top end.
This self-zipping, along with self-lowering can help sometimes with a groundie, too, as you have less down time waiting in the tree, and the groundie has tasks to do, and less rope to manage.
JeffGu
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Osceola, Nebraska
Bingo. That's what I do... I use shorter ropes. I also attach another climbing setup (SRT with RW) to a light haul line and pull it up in the tree after the initial ascent. I attach it where it will be close to the stem and out of the way, so I always have another descent line. It's on a 75' hank of rope. Comes in handy when I need two climb lines for positioning, too.
TreeCo
Carpal tunnel level member
I often hang my climbing rope with a webbing loop on my saddle. You have to take and add climbing rope fairly often but it beats having your climbing line tangled in brush you have dropped.
I worked on a farm with a really cool guy named theo. I was an arborist apprentice at the time just on that farm (private estate) this guy borrowed his neighbors climbing gear, went out and was raised one of his trees far in his backyard. He happenes to do it when his family was away for a weekend and endes up stuck in a tree for almost 2 days. He said he raised it too high to jump out without breaking both his legs. His neighbor came and saved him on monday when he didnt bring the gear back and the guy couldnt go to work.
Sent from my SM-G935P using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-G935P using Tapatalk
CutHighnLetFly
Been here a while
- Location
- Cape Cod, MA
I work trees around the same size or smaller. I use a 120'er most of the time. Sometimes I'll coil it up and leave free the amount from my tie in point down to my lowest working point. I'll keep it on me or leave it somewhere close by.
It works well enough and is pretty easy, but I don't do it to avoid tangles on the ground. More for when my rope tail will inevitably be in the way of rigging lines and tree material I rig out.
It works well enough and is pretty easy, but I don't do it to avoid tangles on the ground. More for when my rope tail will inevitably be in the way of rigging lines and tree material I rig out.
flyingsquirrel25
Carpal tunnel level member
- Location
- South East, PA
I'm always Leary of letting any length rope loop hang from my system. They tend to catch brush and at worse a piece of wood falling from the tree. Had a real bad situation occur when I double tied taking a Norway maple tree down. The loop between the two tips didn't reach the ground and a rigged piece of wood landed right on it. Luckily the rope man began stopping the piece as soon as he saw things unfold, scary and hurt a bit but didn't take the entire shock and was super lucky.
Only reason I mention it is every time I've carried a rope bag, at some point a loop hangs down. Just be super careful with the loops.
Only reason I mention it is every time I've carried a rope bag, at some point a loop hangs down. Just be super careful with the loops.
evo
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- My Island, WA
Yup, no fun when that happens..
SomethingWitty
Arkansawyer
- Location
- LR
@Reg does some solo work and makes it look good on film. He was just wearing it on his back and stomping away on spurs.
Johnnypro made a giant backpack spool sidewinder type thing. Everybody gave him flack for making a 100 foot auto-retracting 11mm lanyard. I can't remember where the video was.
Johnnypro made a giant backpack spool sidewinder type thing. Everybody gave him flack for making a 100 foot auto-retracting 11mm lanyard. I can't remember where the video was.
- Location
- Bloomington
Thanks fellas! I'll try hanging it off the saddle and let you know how it turns out.
