SRT Reaching the tips.

countryboypa31

countryboypa31

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I couldn't find the old thread(s) about this but its been mentioned a couple of times that some (myself included) feel its easier to reach the very end of limbs when pruning using SRT climbing. I wanted to post these pictures from a job we did today as an example of how i think this is true.

The tree is a weeping willow 24" dbh. The red dots are the path of my rope. Where it comes in contact with the limb (kinda like connect the dots). The blue dots are the cuts that i made (or close too, not all are exact but its fresh in my memory so they are close). Its been damaged in 2 previous storms so they wanted to reduce the canopy as well as the weight on the end of the limbs to try and prevent future storm damage.

Being that willows are very brittle i wrapped the rope around my first TIP creating multiple points of contact with the limb and gives it a fishing pole effect so that i felt safe tying in as high as i did (probably about 2.5") I redirected off the second TIP to deflect the rope angle when climbing (some rigging principles applied *thanks Todd Kramer) The rope shows my final path, i used 3 different "paths" through out the climb. I was able to get out and make every cut with my handsaw to ensure a proper cut.

Job took 2 hours from point of arrival till we rolled off the site.

I felt this was a good example of how you can achieve a higher TIP and use multiple redirects to be able to "easier" access the end of branches when pruning. Personally speaking i don't think i would have felt safe tying in that high Ddrt or been able to use the redirects to SAFELY get out to the ends and make the cuts. Possibly with a polesaw sacrificing poor cuts and lots of rips!

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257277-willow2.jpg
 

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nice idea with the dots. Ive tried to take pictures of some of the more crazy rope paths Ive taken but they never turn out because you cant ever see the rope.
 
Natural crotch. The only thing i carry on my saddle is a footlocking prussic, which i'll sometimes use for a redirect if i feel there isn't a safe branch union. Seriously though only once that i recall i ever used it instead of natural crotch.
 
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Natural crotch. The only thing i carry on my saddle is a footlocking prussic, which i'll sometimes use for a redirect if i feel there isn't a safe branch union. Seriously though only once that i recall i ever used it instead of natural crotch.

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Thinking if you did a simple sling/carabiner redirect it would give you more flexibility on settings and would make rope management easier if you reset to get to a different part of the crown. Probably six of one, half a dozen the other since you can just pull the rope out of the tree with natural redirects when you're done.
-AJ
 
Great job of establishing the objective and carrying it out!

ps with that tree a pole pruner could have done a decent job, but nothing's better than getting out there yourself.

How do you make the dot with the circle? I use Paint and all i get is the plain dot. :(
 
That's a great way of demonstrating the benefits of SRT!

Perfect example tree too, no sane person really wants to set an anchor for DdRT that high in a Willow!

You're riding a hitch with rope wrench right???

With your permission (with credits) i'd love to share that image in some SRT info i'm putting together for our website.

I really want to educate more people here in Australia towards the option of working the tree SRT.
 
Indeed, the SRT crown tour is a phenomenal tool for two dimensional trees.

Force magnification resulting from a ground anchor is still definitely a factor despite your rope angle efforts, and one I wouldn't feel strongly applying to tiny unions in a Willow of all trees. If you lose one union and drop, I would hypothesize you are in serious trouble.

Don't be fooled, Willow doesn't give a hoot that you are taking the effort to make proper cuts. You get a thumbs up from me though.
 
Can you explain your redirecting process for me- step by step..

Are you climbing through those tiny forks or pre threading the rope?
Thanks
 
Great post. And I agree completely. This is my third year on srt and I have always found a way of not just reaching every tiny branch of a tree, but also feeling always safe and comfortable doing it. I switched to srt after I took that fall when my TIP broke, I was planning the change as I was recovering from six broken ribs and a punctured lung. I didnt want to rely on just one TIP anymore or feel that I had to excessively lower my TIP out of paranoia it might happen again.
For redirects I mostly use natural crotches too but every now and then a sling and a biner can save time and having to pull all your line through.
 
I find it amazing that people use SRT to get around the tree, I've tried it and it makes me incredibly nervous/anxious.

It creates fear in my bones, I get this sense of impending doom that something very bad is going to happen to me when I'm way out on a limb and all I can see in front of me is one single line and for that reason I wont ever try it again.

Funny though, I use SRT to get into the tree and it doesn't have the same effect.

Guess its all in the mind.
 
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I find it amazing that people use SRT to get around the tree, I've tried it and it makes me incredibly nervous/anxious.

It creates fear in my bones, I get this sense of impending doom that something very bad is going to happen to me when I'm way out on a limb and all I can see in front of me is one single line and for that reason I wont ever try it again.

Funny though, I use SRT to get into the tree and it doesn't have the same effect.

Guess its all in the mind.

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I am so glad to see someone say this. I feel the same way.
My uni sits on my desk. The Rig was "ok" for limb walking but nothing "feels" as safe as a hitch once I get out a ways on a limb. My biggest gripe about it is that I dont see myself ever being able to swing,decsend, and reach out to grab my target with one free hand all simultaneously.
Having said that, I love using the frog to get up the treeand I also think The Rig is Awesome when used with a rads config.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I find it amazing that people use SRT to get around the tree, I've tried it and it makes me incredibly nervous/anxious.

It creates fear in my bones, I get this sense of impending doom that something very bad is going to happen to me when I'm way out on a limb and all I can see in front of me is one single line and for that reason I wont ever try it again.

Funny though, I use SRT to get into the tree and it doesn't have the same effect.

Guess its all in the mind.

[/ QUOTE ]

If I may ... that "sense of impending doom" does go away ... really. I have to admit I had it, really bad too, when I first used SRT even though I was young and 'bullet-proof'. I felt it again when I went back to SRT years later. Kept at it though, <u>low &amp; slow</u>, 'til it got comfortable. I can't get over how much better SRT is for working a tree. DdRT seems so lame, now and terribly inefficient. There are several systems suitable for working SRT but I believe Treebing's got the best way to ease into it, since it's hitch based.

Just sayin', don't give up on it.
CHEERS
Cheers01.gif


BTW, GREAT THREAD, Countryboypa31!!!
NICE WORK, PERFECT ILLUSTRATION OF SRT EFFICIENCIES!!!
 
I'd also like to know how the re-directs are set? My guess would be to either toss the rope through, or a throw bag and bring it through that way?
 
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I'd also like to know how the re-directs are set? My guess would be to either toss the rope through, or a throw bag and bring it through that way?

[/ QUOTE ]

Like all things tree based, no one time is like another. The route can be set with a throw line sometimes, crotches can be climbed through sometimes and slings and biners set at others. I like using slings and biners but will use natural crotches if I am on the home stretch so that I can come straight out and pack up.
 
Great illustrations!

Setting redis and not having to clear false crotches on the way out is a HUGE timesaver. Getting rid of rope friction makes SRT climbing smoother and my shoulders don't get worn out from yarding so much rope around corners.

To add a bit of weight to my access line I have a 12oz throwbag with a shoelace loop tied on. This gets girth hitched to my rope to give it weight and allow the Pantin to slide up. When I get into the tree I yard up my tail and hang the throwbag on my harness. If I need to advance my lanyard or reset my climbing line I use the throwbag for more weight.
 
I'm at work so my answer is going to be short. I'll try to answer anymore questions later when i have more time.

Seems like the main question is about the how i set the redirects. For this particular tree i lanyarded in below the redirect and used a throwball on the tail of my line to toss it through the crotch. I was able to inspect the limb being used closely to make sure it was suitable.

I could have used a sling and a biner and that might have given some extra strength, but as said you would have to go back and retrieve them. I left the toughest part for last so instead of having to limb walk back in i just dropped off to the ground. Unless i know i'm going to be going back up i don't want to have to leave something that needs retrieved.

I'll go into a little more detail about the redirects when i have time tonight. I'll try and answer other questions as well. Wish i would have had before and after pictures but it was a last min thought so it is what it is.
 
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