The use of Static line for working a tree.

[SingleJack]

[ QUOTE ]
why not use a rope that has shock absorbing characteristics?

[/ QUOTE ]
Are you referring to using a more dynamic rope?

As treebing and others have said:
[ QUOTE ]
... too bouncy ...

[/ QUOTE ]

Shock absorbing (dynamic?) rope can be way too bouncy to be comfortable. However, that being said, it would be interesting to hear some comments on actually <u>using</u> that bounce as a climbing aid???

Here's the questions ... if you get into 'sync' with the bounce and time each ascent (thrust) with each bounce, climbing might become easier? BUT, would that risk overloading the TIP???

Arborist rope stretch (or bounce or shock absorbtion) seems to be somewhere between dynamic and static rope. A little bounce seems (IMO) to help make SRT climbing easier. Which is better; more bounce (dynamic) or less bounce (static)? ... or is it just a climbing style thing?

 

[Fred_Berkelhammer]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Here's the questions ... if you get into 'sync' with the bounce and time each ascent (thrust) with each bounce, climbing might become easier? BUT, would that risk overloading the TIP???

[/ QUOTE ]

I think that's probably right; risk of building some kind of harmonic oscillation?


I work with a very fast foot-locker (James Melton), who likes a rope with some stretch, which he uses to bounce up off his feet to gain a little length per lock. My other climbers are foot-locking a more static line (Sterling HTP). We've been attaching that doubled line to a KM III single line, for lowering from the ground in case of bee stings or whatever during ascent. Maybe this arrangement allows for better placement of a shock absorber, on the ascending side at the top of the system, so there is less friction interfering with it's being triggered?

 

[treewill]

[ QUOTE ]

Here's the questions ... if you get into 'sync' with the bounce and time each ascent (thrust) with each bounce, climbing might become easier? BUT, would that risk overloading the TIP???


[/ QUOTE ]

Noooooooo. Climbing SRT for any appreciable distance and rope stretch KILLS your efficiency. Maybe not so bad for shorter stuff, but get into tall stuff and it gets really ugly really quick.

In addition, bouncy rope is more impacting on the tree (more movement=more abrasion) and potentially dangerous. If you have a rope with tons of stretch and you unweight the rope near your anchor, the rope will try to pull you over the anchor and to the ground. Not so bad if you know to expect it, but this can be a dangerous rookie pitfall.

Also, my gut tells me that having a bouncy rope is stressing your TIP (and all the other stuff your rope is running over on the un-isolated side) more. Dynamic vs static loading and all that.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Here's an idea for tall trees...maybe a compromise.

Tie a more dynamic rope to a more static rope. Then, haul the rope into the tree keeping the knot on the climber's side of the TIP/redi. This would keep the climber on a shock absorbing rope but reduces the amount of dynamic rope in the system.

For very long ascents I'll bet that two ropes are already being tied together. There might be a recipe that gives the best of both worlds...like Reese's Cups!

 

[SingleJack]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Here's the questions ... if you get into 'sync' with the bounce and time each ascent (thrust) with each bounce, climbing might become easier? BUT, would that risk overloading the TIP???

[/ QUOTE ]

I think that's probably right; risk of building some kind of harmonic oscillation?

...

[/ QUOTE ]

A couple of years ago, trying out an SRT 'Texas System', I experienced "some kind of harmonic oscillation" while deadwooding a small Oak. It was trying to recover from a lightning strike and had lots of deadwood. Anyway, about halfway up, it started swaying violently in-sync with my climb and started 'raining' branches. I remember thinking what a cool way to deadwood ... BUT

, I GOTTA BE SOMEWHERE ELSE, LOL! I slowed my pace and the swaying finally stopped so I could finish the work.