SRT Aerial Rescue

[moss]

Clearly, this is a skill you have avoided learning. Kind of my point, that there seems to be a negative associated with spur work.

Being competent in the use of spurs is a tremendous asset.

I'm joking, I'm not fond of spurs, but I use them on takedowns most of the time, always for conifers.

I think your point is clear, use the ascent technique that is the most efficient and effective for the situation at hand.
-AJ

 

[southsoundtree]

@moss, that seems counterintuitive to me. Conifers are mostly ladders, and 2" stubs in just the right places, with due care, makes them easy without spurs, IMO.


A customer told me his neighbor, who grew up in the 3rd world, used a bed sheet, tied in a loop for his climbing lanyard/ harness in one, and left stubs. Turned his western redcedar into a 'palm tree' and nicely pruned all the stubs on the way down. Good collar cuts.

 

[moss]

@moss, that seems counterintuitive to me. Conifers are mostly ladders, and 2" stubs in just the right places, with due care, makes them easy without spurs, IMO.


A customer told me his neighbor, who grew up in the 3rd world, used a bed sheet, tied in a loop for his climbing lanyard/ harness in one, and left stubs. Turned his western redcedar into a 'palm tree' and nicely pruned all the stubs on the way down. Good collar cuts.

The taller white pines, Pinus strobus where I work, on the edges of woods near houses or next to houses are in the 115'-120+' height range. The crowns are often the upper third or less of the tree, deadwood/stub zone could be 10-20' then the rest of the trunk is just bark or no stub you could depend on. Spurs are the way to go.
-AJ

 

[MSmith]

Clearly, this is a skill you have avoided learning. Kind of my point, that there seems to be a negative associated with spur work.

Being competent in the use of spurs is a tremendous asset.

Spurs would be a great option if the victim is on a spar. Could you imagine spurring up a large oak and having to pass over every limb on the way up? That would take forever!! There is no answer to all scenarios.

 

[MSmith]

If the scenario deems fit for going up the retrieval side then absolutely. Once you reach the victim you can make a hard connect to them and come down on the working end together or take a line with you, ascend beyond the victim set your line and descend to them. If you can go up the line their on you can package them, place a pulley above their hitch, return to the ground break the hitch free and use your system to lower them. Literally a ton of way's to achieve the goal.

 

[JeffGu]

Some are just faster than others.

 

[DSMc]

Spurs would be a great option if the victim is on a spar. Could you imagine spurring up a large oak and having to pass over every limb on the way up? That would take forever!! There is no answer to all scenarios.

Yeah, my commenting on spurs was not meant to infer that they would be the best tool or technique in all rescue situations. Just that it is often overlooked, at least in discussion, when it may indeed be the best option for that particular situation.

 

[Rob Stafari]

Short answer... yes it is feasible. Assuming they have their system loaded, just as feasible as ascending the working end beneath them, but without some of the worry of blood or them thrashing around and kicking you in the head.

Is it the best option... no as there are far too many potential unknowns and variables.

Would I do it if I had solid knowledge of condition of the rope and tie in point, felt I needed to at the time, that it was safe, and that I was going not become another victim... 100%. Chances of that being the case are very low.

Better option... Have a preset rescue access line set in tree before it is needed. If you have another line to perform rescue already, it is far easier and faster to have the climber install it after they ascend on a known solid TIP than any other option. Even then you still need to worry about and monitor the safety of that line with work being in the tree.

 

[COtreerat]

Short answer... yes it is feasible. Assuming they have their system loaded, just as feasible as ascending the working end beneath them, but without some of the worry of blood or them thrashing around and kicking you in the head.

Is it the best option... no as there are far too many potential unknowns and variables.

Would I do it if I had solid knowledge of condition of the rope and tie in point, felt I needed to at the time, that it was safe, and that I was going not become another victim... 100%. Chances of that being the case are very low.

Better option... Have a preset rescue access line set in tree before it is needed. If you have another line to perform rescue already, it is far easier and faster to have the climber install it after they ascend on a known solid TIP than any other option. Even then you still need to worry about and monitor the safety of that line with work being in the tree.

Awesome insight! A secondary access line is definitely a major advantage for a safe, more efficient aerial rescue.