SRT Safety Notes

Would like to see a simple MA system added for lifting the climber enough to get them off their system (for aerial rescue). The redirected footloop is good but could be challenging with a heavy climber. For instance an adjustable lanyard can be quickly reconfigured to make a 2:1 lift and hold (progress capture) without adding extra gear to your normal climbing kit.

I think TreeBing or another "all SRT" climber has mentioned the limitations of a ground rescuing/lowering system for SRT. Ascent and descent are fairly trouble free, more things happen when climbers are working in the tree, and they should be tied in with a lanyard or other second tie-in if they're using a saw, therefore no ground rescue is available. I think this is a huge point to be considered as more climbers go to SRT, ground rescue looks great on paper but may be limited for real world situations.
-AJ
 
If there is an aerial rescue having ground based lowering already installed is a good thing but if a rescue climber is going up anyway a lowering rope can be installed at the same time if it's needed.

Hey Tom! Can you take that "most pro rec climber" deal off my avatar? I know you meant well but I'm getting tired of looking at it, how about "A guy who likes to climb trees" :-)
-AJ
 
I plan for the lanyard scenario as best I can if I'm in a potentially dicey situation. A rope lanyard and hitch or mechanical adjuster can be set up to have the climber be able to slide the adjuster off the end (no stopper knot), versus unclip. A scenario that can help sometimes. My wirecore has an eye on the end, preventing a slip-off escape.

I might chainsaw a facecut and backcut and finish with chainsaw one-handed or handsaw, and have my other hand on the snap on the end of the lanyard, ready to unclip if something catastrophic were to happen.

Othertimes, if I'm supported by a climbline from another tree, I'll 540 degree wrap my lanyard around the tree that I'm working in, and if I have to make a sketchy cut (like if the tree might fail from rigging forces), just unclip and hold the snap.

Nothing that is a great solution to all scenarios, nor without their own risks, but ways that add as least psychological help, and likely true risk reduction in the situations that I've used them in.
 
if the climber is working the tree srt than there should be no unusual issue in a rescue situation and the climber should be able to be rescued in the same manner as a ddrt climber in the tree unless he is climbing on a system that requires two hands to descend.
 
Here is an idea that I was playing with yesterday for working down a spar on SRT, where there are no longer any natural crotches to redirect through. When down to the spar, lanyard in, install the adjustable R and R FC in a choking configuration, and continue working down, preserving the ability to be lowered from the the ground.

In place of the block, use a normal ground tie-off with rescue lower device/wraps.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/southsoundtree/5304786959/in/photostream/
 
regardless of the system ddrt or srt teh key is to have a seperate access/rescue line whilst working in the tree, but when a climber accesses on a trunk belay (before a seperate access/rescue line is installed) at least they can be lowered to the ground pending........ a bee attack?
it is much faster to lower some1 attached to a trunkk belay, even if you have to climb to release their lanyard IMO also
 
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