SRT basal anchor with rescue attachment, not a kit

Richard Mumford-yoyoman

Richard Mumford-yoyoman

Been here a while
Location
Atlanta GA
I know there is a discussion about the basal anchor kit and I did not want to intrude on that thunder as this is not a kit.
The discussion caused me to consider my own scenario that I encounter. Canopy cleaning for a friend or neighbor, removing hazardous hangers or widow makers from a back yard tree. Not enough work to have a ground person or other skilled climber. I wanted something anybody with a brief explanation could do if needed. No body wants to be rescued but I can see with working hard in the heat that we have now, passing out in the tree could be lethal if a climber is not lowered promptly.

Note: I just posted the video and it seems to go dark and not have the sound yet?....think I fixed it.

SRT basal anchor with rescue attachment installed, not as a standby kit.

Basal Anchor with rescue
Easy to use, passes whistle test
Using Petzl Rig and rescue line
Easy to follow directions
Panic proof.
No flop

Stopper knot on recue line

The bungee prevents flop and will break away if forgotten.
 
Nice and clean.
My only addition would be to capture the "fall" of the rope on the marlin spike hitch. I've seen krabs work their way through the hitch. Capturing the fall will help prevent that from happening.
 
Here is my video of the Rig and basil anchor system. The reason i post it is to show the way i terminate the line after it exits the rig. Doing it this way allows it to be released even if the line slipped or something.

Basil anchor with rig

Sorry the sounds stinks. I taped it on a job really quick.
 
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Nice and clean.
My only addition would be to capture the "fall" of the rope on the marlin spike hitch. I've seen krabs work their way through the hitch. Capturing the fall will help prevent that from happening.

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Maybe you can explain to me how you would do that I'm not quite sure if I understand what you mean. I will say that having the bungee cord that can break away, also seems to isolate the system from movement on the climbing line and the biner seems unaffected. A prusik or such to capture fall may complicate the concept and if not removed jam the RIG. ( if I understand what you said?)
My intent was to come up with a rescue system that I can use when I am climbing without other climbers doing work for neighbors or friends that have no climbing experience.
In other words as far as the rescue part is concerned I'm looking for the SAFEST and the SIMPLEST system. For people that are seeing a carabiner for the first time. I'm almost thinking that the locking carabiner might be too complicated. I avoided two biners just for that reason.
Can an inexperienced person do this with this simple system and a brief explanation?
 
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... I wanted something anybody with a brief explanation could do if needed. No body wants to be rescued but I can see with working hard in the heat that we have now, passing out in the tree could be lethal if a climber is not lowered promptly...

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Yoyo, I love the way you analyze problems and come up with very thoughtful work-a-rounds. So, using those same skills, please pause to consider that during an aerial rescue you are literally putting your life in someone else's hands. Would you really be comfortable doing that with just a "brief explanation" to a non rope-working individual?

I know that the above-quoted comment was just a "for instance" type comment, but it is an argument involving the flip side of the situation you are entering. Do not enter a tree with the thinking that, if all else fails someone else can get me down. Always keep in mind that self-rescue is by far the fastest and best option.

David
 
I would suggest attaching the bungee cord to the quicklink to ensure that it doesn't interfere with the rescue. My experience with breakaway things is that often they don't break as easy as we would like. I like the idea of something to keep the flopping to a minimum though.
 
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I would suggest attaching the bungee cord to the quicklink to ensure that it doesn't interfere with the rescue. My experience with breakaway things is that often they don't break as easy as we would like. I like the idea of something to keep the flopping to a minimum though.

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Thanks for the suggestion. I did test the Velcro and make sure that it would break away but yet hold the climbing line tight enough to remain oriented. I did not want something solid enough to hurt the operator as well.
The concern I would have with attaching to the QuickLink is that the R I G does not stay oriented and is allowed to flop, I wanted it to stay oriented exactly like the picture and the instructions.
And again thanks for giving it some thought let me know if that makes sense.
 
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...So, using those same skills, please pause to consider that during an aerial rescue you are literally putting your life in someone else's hands. Would you really be comfortable doing that with just a "brief explanation" to a non rope-working individual?

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And that is the real question and thought process here. I'm really trying to see if this is so fail safe I would trust someone, not anyone but someone.

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Do not enter a tree with the thinking that, if all else fails someone else can get me down. Always keep in mind that self-rescue is by far the fastest and best option.

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Do not? or do? enter the tree thinking....
I'm thinking that this IS for when everything else HAS failed, and after all my precautions, something unexpected happened and my own self rescue is not possible,
This RIG is just so incredibly easy to operate and "fail safe", the operator lets go and you stop.
But yes, this is the question and it is after the answer, "yes I will climb this tree alone", after I considered the other options. I understand the "don't climb alone" advise, it is also balanced by, then I won't be climbing much. Tree climbing is not like rock climbing were you go to a site and everyone is there. I'm out in the woods on my own and accept and deal with those risks as opposed to not climbing. With this in mind I'm always thinking of, how will I get down NOW, if I need to. As much as I like my CELanyard, I can't just go moving around the tree with it and a second lanyard. I can't get halfway in a traverse with an M-rig or a zip line and not be able to get down NOW. Can I operate my hitch, Uni, lanyard with a broken arm etc. It does change everything.
I was thinking more about this concept and the kits. There are many ways to do a basal anchor. Chapter 5 of Best Practices for SRT outlines many.
Derrick has a good one[ QUOTE ]
Basil anchor with rig


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There are ART snake anchors and other pretty inexpensive SRT Anchor Slings.
The more I think about this the more I would use this as opposed to a kit. Not that one is better than the other, I'm just thinking, even if you have a trained crew, for not that much money you have a system that will let a climber down now rather than after a set up. 30 seconds is a long time if your bleeding out. Perhaps the climber has just enough consciousness left to un-clip his lanyard then passes out from loss of blood. With a simple anchor sling this system takes just seconds to set up. Is it worth perhaps wasting 30 seconds every time this is installed to gain a 30 second advantage in a life threatening situation?
I know, lots of hypothetical. One of the great things about tree climbing is you are always having to THINK, the exercise is great too. (ok, and you can make money doing it) Thanks for your patience as I learn and move forward.

Richard
 
Just curious how many people have actually lowered a climber in a true real work experience with a basal anchor or rescue anchor. We set them up every day and will continue to do so, but hopefully we never actually have to use it.
 
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Nice and clean.
My only addition would be to capture the "fall" of the rope on the marlin spike hitch. I've seen krabs work their way through the hitch. Capturing the fall will help prevent that from happening.

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Maybe you can explain to me how you would do that I'm not quite sure if I understand what you mean.

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After the clipping the loop of the marlinspike hitch with the krab, clip the part of the rope hanging down with the krab.
 
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Just curious how many people have actually lowered a climber in a true real work experience with a basal anchor or rescue anchor. We set them up every day and will continue to do so, but hopefully we never actually have to use it.

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I demo'd it twice to show crew members and video, both with rope cuts and me hanging on the end of the rope. I have never 'had' to do it in an actual rescue.
 
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