static footlocking line on every accent

[Daniel]

I worked with a contract climber recently.. Extremely knowledgeable, and a real gear head.. He's more of a pruner than removal type and he's won some events at the local TCCs etc..

He uses a static line for access on every tree... I think it can be a waste of time and energy, especially if he's just going up one tree. I can see it if you're up and down big trees all day... But is it really worth the time and energy to take it out, and put it away on a job where you're just going up one tree?

I footlock on the fly and don't like the added stretch on the start of long accents, but have never used a new hank of KMIII that was given to me a few years ago. Never really saw the need. How much energy does the static line save, compared to the hassle of dealing with another line?

This particlual climber is just not proiduction oriented.. He's skilled but slow if that makes sense.. Anyhow.. I made a comment about it one day after his climbing line had gotten all fouled in the static line, and he said that Mark C. uses a static line on EVERY TREE.... talked about it being less fatigue etc...

I find it hard to believe that Chisholm uses a static line for access on every tree (pruning obviously).. I saw him footlock in 2002 for a climbing demo and he just used his climbing line. Anyone know?

 

[Fairfield]

I think the last time Mark had wrote on the Buzz about making acsess to a tree, he stated that for each tree will be a efficient way of climbing it. In other words sometimes footlocking is the way to go, but the next tree you can as easly just hip thrust. To each there own but I never seen the point of setting a static line in a tree to just go 30ft up and take a couple dead spots or what have you. To that guy, it could be the best way for him to do it.

 

[mattbc]

I love to footlock. For me it is the easiest way in the tree but I never use a static line unless it will be a large tree and located on the opposite side of the tree to my work. There are also times when the tree is just not set up well for footlocking and bodythrusting makes more sense. As to being about production or not I think a good climber always uses the most energy efficient method for entering and working the tree, and that being the case you will naturally be faster.

 

[NeTree]

To heck with foot-locking. Wraptor it.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Do you mean that the access line was static and then the climber changed over to a typical climbing line?

There are too many variables to say that this is 'the best' solution.

There IS merit in having an access line in the tree as a potential rescue line.

My system is to use Tachyon as my access line up to about a 60' TIP. Since I climb using a Unicender I don't do a changeover to DdRT. It makes little sense to use the few calories of energy that I 'saved' from using a static line for access to change ropes out.

When I look at changes to my system one of the factors is the amount of calories that I expend to gain 'effeciency'. The loss from rope stretch isn't that much in the whole scheme of things.

 

[familytree]

I recently climbed on an "ascent only" static climbing line and I loved it.

It's a safety issue. You are supposed to leave an ascent line in EVERY tree you climb for rescue purposes. Why not make it a static line?

After climbing on a static line for ascent, I now find myself in the market for an ascent line (thanks a lot Cormac. Jerk)

 

[Fairfield]

Has anyone tried using a setup for ascending a static line, but mde your setup so that once at the top there is no major change over. On my set up I just have to lanyard in then pull the running bowlin down to my hitch climber to descend. Mind you, when I get to a good crotch I do seperate my running bowline from the line. Yo dont have to more of a personal prefrence.

 

[Fairfield]

here is a closer look, the foot opposit of the foot loop has a Patin

 

[Jamin_Mayer]

[ QUOTE ]
To heck with foot-locking. Wraptor it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Nice!

 

[Jamin_Mayer]

For the sake of the conversation... I always consider the best method for each ascent. There are pro's & con's with ascending into each tree. I never want to get stuck thinking there is only way to enter into a tree.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Fairfield,

If I understand your system it looks like your friction hitch is on the single line?

How do you keep the hitch from locking down and not being able to unlock it?

 

[Fairfield]

Tom, I see what you are looking at. I dont use it in that manner it is only for ascending to the point where my running bowline is. At that point I clip the Hitch climber into the bite of the bowline turning it into a Ddrt.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Ohhhh...you choke your access line up top. I don't use that.

 

[Fairfield]

Well some times I will choke it off. It all depends on the tree, and what needs to be done. If it is a sketchy job I will tie off at the ground level in case I need to be lowered. Of course in that case the above technique of ascending would not be used, to much of a pain to switch over.

 

[treebing]

thats pretty much the acent method i use fairfield. but then i clip n the F8 revolver to decend. I have not tried it with a static line. I also hold the friction hitch closer to my chest using my lanyard.

 

[Fairfield]

Treebing, I remember the video you posted on your system. I liked the way you thought outside of the box on it. Do you ever have a issue with the line zig zaging thruout the tree, or was that more just an example of the diffrence between the friction with Ddrt and SRT (not being there at all)?

 

[Tom Dunlap]

One of the wonderful aspects of SRT is that the friction at the hitch/descender is the same all of the time. the only variable is the amount of rope below. With a long length the weight has a small effect on how the descender works.

Running an SRT line through redirects has no effect on the friction. This eliminates a lot of frustration and having to use other gear for reducing friction.

 

[Blinky]

I use a 10mm static line to get into high canopies or my doubled lifeline for access under 60'. I usually footlock but I go with whatever suits the situation... sometimes I even climb a ladder (shudder)
I a big fan of footlocking, it's fast and keeps things simple... but sometimes it's the wrong tool. Saying 'every tree' sounds kinda dogmatic.

I like footlocking static because it doesn't stretch but I like lifeline because it's thick and supple... one's about as good as the other.

 

[treebing]

the only issue of the zigzagging came at an in oportune time during a masters challenge. Pulling the rope out at the end through the multiple redirects caused it to do a crazy flip around a branch and tie itself in a half hitch around the spliced end of the line. I never did get my line out of the tree.

Another thing that has happened is that i zig zaged around limbs and through crotches and not realized Id ziged around a sucker. the sucker gave and i free fell for a few feet. causeing me to lose a few heartbeats.

 

[Fairfield]

The half hitching of it's self was what I thought might be a problem, not much you can realy do about that thou.