Thoughts? ideas to improve?

[Owen Roberson]

View attachment climbing anchor.jpgView attachment frictionsavers.jpgView attachment ascent system.jpgView attachment lanyard.jpg
First off, I'm still learning as much as I can, just wanted thoughts on improving my technique and improving safety.
I typically use a butterfly with a quickie as an anchor but just go the dmm multi sling that I have been trying out.
then I have my steel ring adjustable friction saver on 11mm psi cord with and 8mm Prusik look. then the yellow is an aluminum friction saver that's attachable to SRT lines making them into an optional DRT. then my usual ascent system using a gri gri as a tie in with the tail goin up to a small ascender with a pulley and a foot loop giving a small 2:1 more or less. and lastly I have my XL lanyard / secondary ascent system. I have 25ft of 9mm cord with a double over had and prussic on my left D to clip into and on the right another Prusik with a rope man .
I typically climb on either 11mm PMI or 9mm HTP with a stitched eye, leaning towards only the 11mm to climb on and the 9mm as a light weight speed line.

any thoughts? commits? ideas?

 

[rope-a-dope]

Welcome, tree friend! Sharing your climbing tech, good stuff.
Grigri in a RADS system will get you there if you are just seeking height. Working a tree with one can get challenging as positioning for canopy work is quite different from the needs of rock guiding/belay. Not saying it wont work for you for a time.
The thing I wonder about is the lanyard with rockman. As a secondary system or just positioning lanyard for cuts, it seems too hard to slack. Rope grabs on basic flip lines are easier to open and disengage because that's what you are doing half the time with a secondary attachment. You already have a prussik there so is this like a 2 sided thing? Or just an aid to advance above a 1st Tie in? If that black line is 9mm then I can understand the need to depend on ascenders, as the grip is terrible for a typical doubled around limb prussik adjusted lanyard.
If you have 2 ropes and want one to be a speed line, you may already be aware that you're decision should be final. Or are you even talking about rigging tree pieces or humans on it?

 

[Owen Roberson]

I also have a rollnlock I could sue for a lanyard as well, but yes I’m getting started in the tree climbing world, being self taught I’m mostly trying to climb trees for sport and work my way into an arborist career. Any suggestions on 2 in 1 lanyards(position and small ascent system)
I’m trying to keep the lanyard under $100 if possible

 

[Owen Roberson]

also for the speed line, I'm mainly doing small limbs nothing more then 100/200lbs but then also experminting with small zippiness for friends, I use a double figure 8 on a bight wrapped around a limb or trunk twice, one end to climb up the other used as a zipline .anchoring to the ground with the gri gri or a 8/9 mm prussik. they've worked well so far, ensuring to keep a control line with the zipline.

 

[islandarb]

Simple lanyard setup. My goto.

 

[MO_treeguy]

View attachment 73470View attachment 73471View attachment 73472View attachment 73473
First off, I'm still learning as much as I can, just wanted thoughts on improving my technique and improving safety.
I typically use a butterfly with a quickie as an anchor but just go the dmm multi sling that I have been trying out.
then I have my steel ring adjustable friction saver on 11mm psi cord with and 8mm Prusik look. then the yellow is an aluminum friction saver that's attachable to SRT lines making them into an optional DRT. then my usual ascent system using a gri gri as a tie in with the tail goin up to a small ascender with a pulley and a foot loop giving a small 2:1 more or less. and lastly I have my XL lanyard / secondary ascent system. I have 25ft of 9mm cord with a double over had and prussic on my left D to clip into and on the right another Prusik with a rope man .
I typically climb on either 11mm PMI or 9mm HTP with a stitched eye, leaning towards only the 11mm to climb on and the 9mm as a light weight speed line.

any thoughts? commits? ideas?

So I’ll start off with my gear, my climbing style is more focused on trimming not removals so this is what I’ve found best for me so far. 200 ft blue moon with rr, hand and foot ascender most times or if I’ve got a long hike I’ll use the knee ascender, 75 ft secondary system with a zz, 25 ft lanyard with the art. I usually base anchor till I get into the canopy, install my friction saver and switch my anchor point. When I’m walking out on a limb and I’m finished on one lead I’ll use my secondary system to tie in so I can drop straight down to the next lead and work my way back in. Saves the running back and forth and wasted movement/energy. Utilizing the natural redirects also makes life easier. It took me almost 2 years to find gear/techniques that fit my style and I’m sure that’ll change in the future since this industry is evolving. When I’m removing a tree, it’s all about taking the biggest cut allowed. Once the climbing redirects clicked with me my removal confidence shot up. I could redirect my rigging line so the tip goes the way I want and butt tie that baby with a midline attachable rigging point so it could turn into a tag line so the guys on the ground can do as they please with it. Speed line rigging isn’t very beneficial here so I’m not proficient at it but super cool to watch. I’ve been in the industry 9 years, year 6 of climbing is when everything began to click with amazing guidance from my mentor. My biggest piece of advice for new guys wanting to climb is go find the best climber in your area and work under him for a year or so, ask questions and pay attention to how they attack the work day. Everything from how they communicate to the crew to navigating in a tree. Comfort and being efficient in this industry takes a long time at least from my experience but I was self taught until year 6 and went to a company that has one of the best climbers in my area. He took me under his wing and it changed my work.

Good luck and be safe out there!

 

[MO_treeguy]

Also 2 in 1 lanyards are crappy in my opinion, my art is one of my favorite tools making life so easy. It’s effortless to slack out or gain slack with one hand. I have a 2 in 1 lanyard but it only comes out when there is sap involved to keep my other lanyard clean. Find a rec climb to try other guys gear out and see what tools are out there that might fit your style

 

[Owen Roberson]

Im experimenting more with lanyards as most trees I climb are a 50ft ascent then spread out at the top so the canopy mobility is important. I want my lanyard to have the capability of being a small secondary climbing system as well. Im getting a petzl shunt micro ascender that im going to try for an adjustable lanyard. I have a sewn termination on a 9mm line that I plan to trim down to 50ft for a long lanyard. if the petzl shunt dosent workout I plan to work with prusiks more, ive had trouble with them in the past as I usually end up have too long of tails or too short just trying to find the right balance.

The gri gri set up I have for for ascending is, main attached to the gri gri the tail runs up to a micro ascender and pulley giving a moving 2:1 pulley ascent. not the best ascent system but I also don't have a large budget so im making due with what I have.

 

[MO_treeguy]

Im experimenting more with lanyards as most trees I climb are a 50ft ascent then spread out at the top so the canopy mobility is important. I want my lanyard to have the capability of being a small secondary climbing system as well. Im getting a petzl shunt micro ascender that im going to try for an adjustable lanyard. I have a sewn termination on a 9mm line that I plan to trim down to 50ft for a long lanyard. if the petzl shunt dosent workout I plan to work with prusiks more, ive had trouble with them in the past as I usually end up have too long of tails or too short just trying to find the right balance.

The gri gri set up I have for for ascending is, main attached to the gri gri the tail runs up to a micro ascender and pulley giving a moving 2:1 pulley ascent. not the best ascent system but I also don't have a large budget so im making due with what I have.

For the lanyard I’m going to try to sell you on the ART. It’s everything you want and then some. I’ve seen one climber use it as a mini srt system and him ascend back up to where he chocked it off. I’ve never used it that way so can’t give you feedback. If your work is a spread out canopy I’d recommend working on climbing redirects and utilizing a secondary system. Those two things and I can go about anywhere in a tree comfortably. As far as you ascending up the canopy using your 2:1 technique I’m not familiar with it, I stick with the 1:1 ascend. Nothing cute, I can get 50 feet up in around a minute and not be gassed. Maybe get the hang of basics to where you are not second guessing your set up before jumping to the next level.

 

[Stumpsprouts]

For the lanyard I’m going to try to sell you on the ART. It’s everything you want and then some. I’ve seen one climber use it as a mini srt system and him ascend back up to where he chocked it off.

I do this routinely but not sure I would recommend it for the extensive use the op is describing. It is amazing and very compact and hands down the best lanyard adjuster, but it is difficult to ascend and descend as an SRT system and is not officially approved for that use, so it should always just be a secondary system.

You need to unweight yourself to descend (either by putting your weight on the tree or thrusting up on the rope). You can ascend using a foot ascender but there’s no chest attachment so you’ll be flipping up the device with your hand.

I have had better luck with the body mechanics of a VT system on a single rope when used as a secondary access / work positioning point. Still not perfect. The Captain Hook, for example, is usually built as a single rope system with a VT hitch on it.

Some folks who got it like that will just put an SRT device on their lanyard.

 

[Bigtime_aero]

View attachment 73470View attachment 73471View attachment 73472View attachment 73473
First off, I'm still learning as much as I can, just wanted thoughts on improving my technique and improving safety.
I typically use a butterfly with a quickie as an anchor but just go the dmm multi sling that I have been trying out.
then I have my steel ring adjustable friction saver on 11mm psi cord with and 8mm Prusik look. then the yellow is an aluminum friction saver that's attachable to SRT lines making them into an optional DRT. then my usual ascent system using a gri gri as a tie in with the tail goin up to a small ascender with a pulley and a foot loop giving a small 2:1 more or less. and lastly I have my XL lanyard / secondary ascent system. I have 25ft of 9mm cord with a double over had and prussic on my left D to clip into and on the right another Prusik with a rope man .
I typically climb on either 11mm PMI or 9mm HTP with a stitched eye, leaning towards only the 11mm to climb on and the 9mm as a light weight speed line.

any thoughts? commits? ideas?

I use the rad system like you. works great for rec climbs. I would suggest having some climb line attached to your ascender for some added safety. I use some cheap amazon rope and foot ascender that I took off the foot loop. on the rare chance that the grigri would slip the ascender would catch me until I can grab the tail of my grigri. I also tie a butterfly on the main line after a couple feet and continue doing so every 10 - 15 ft. Don't recomend using amazon kit though

 

[Owen Roberson]

I use the rad system like you. works great for rec climbs. I would suggest having some climb line attached to your ascender for some added safety. I use some cheap amazon rope and foot ascender that I took off the foot loop. on the rare chance that the grigri would slip the ascender would catch me until I can grab the tail of my grigri. I also tie a butterfly on the main line after a couple feet and continue doing so every 10 - 15 ft. Don't recomend using amazon kit though

very good suggestion, I also do at least put a stopper knot a few feet off the ground when I climb in the case of me sliding down the rope. I have found that the mini ascender is larger enough to grip so I don't need to spend the extra money on a specialized hand ascender. me and my friend are doing a small 30ft removal of leaning oak over the past two days and its been helpful testing out what works and what does not work with my lanyards and climbing systems

 

[southsoundtree]

Way too big of a top if it doesn't clear you before the top hits the ground.
Way dangerous.

 

[Owen Roberson]

It’s also a 15-20ft drop that we need to get the limbs away from their play set off to the right, we couldn’t climb any higher safely because of the lean of the tree and couldn’t just fell the tree because of the play set so we did the best we could do with the materials at had

 

[southsoundtree]

Does "struck-by"mean anything to you?

You lacking the skill to climb higher to do it safely should make you say STOP, not Fark-it, and do it anyway. Learning good judgment can't be done from the internet.

I've got no horse in your race, just realize you're talking with lots of people with lots of experience, which also probably means seen lots of people hurt, sometimes the posters themselves. None of the current posters have been killed.

Many have known experienced people killed.


Tree climbing is all fun and games until you lose an eye.

Nobody want you to become another statistic, just on principle.


Listen to those who have been around the block a time or two. Soooo much to learn here...I say this as one who learned lots here, maybe been helpful a time or two in my time, to a person or two.

 

[Stumpsprouts]

It’s also a 15-20ft drop that we need to get the limbs away from their play set off to the right, we couldn’t climb any higher safely because of the lean of the tree and couldn’t just fell the tree because of the play set so we did the best we could do with the materials at had

Oh hell no. You need to hire someone who knows what they’re doing, and watch. From a distance.

1. no PPE
2. Wtf is going on with the green rope
3. Your tip in this situation should be behind you
4. You didn’t cut the tree high enough which almost got you smashed
5. There are many techniques to deal with this situation more safely and you have not seen them or learned them

 

[Owen Roberson]

thank you for the feedback, I agree that this was not a good removal experience.

Wtf is going on with the green rope
3. Your tip in this situation should be behind you

the green rope on the fallen branch was a pull line so that we could better direct the fall of the branch.
it is also difficult when the tree is at at 75degree lean. the tree is parallel to the ground for about 20 feet.
I agree I should have worn my helmet during this. the second green rope is tied about waist level and is my lanyard then my main tie in is about 10-15 ft higher with a black line.
there are things we could and should have done better.
is it fair to say that im a minor looking for professional guidance and every time a mention that im young everyone starts to treat me different. im a completely self taught climber not using any powered Equipment and maintaining a minimum of two tie ins (and should have been wearing a helmet), ive been asking for advice and people to teach me but everyone keeps saying im too young. if im too young and too much of a liability then how am I ever going to learn anything.

 

[Owen Roberson]

I've been climbing for about a year now
I agree that this job was a bit much to take on, no one has been hurt which has been good.
I don't mean to come across arrogant but I have the confidence to do the work I just lack the expertise of notch cutting as im using hand saws and hatchets.( I know not the smartest idea) the guy who's land the tree is on is building a fence and just wants the tree gone without having to spend a crap ton on money to do it. me and my friend (both 17) have been working on the tree the past two days.
we've cleared about 7 larger limbs. that limb in the photo was the only one that fell short, it was a hard decision of we needed it out of the way to fell the tree but couldn't climb too high as the particular limb was not as sturdy as some of the others. without the $$$$ to spend to have a professional work we did what we could taking precautions and admitting that this tree could have been done differently.

asking advice
if the tree is at about a 75 lean almost parallel with the ground, a limited drop zone consisting of behind me and to my right ensuring to be cautious of the playhouse. vehicles can not be brought back to tree due to the shape of the yard and surrounding woods.
how would you and others attempt to remove this tree?
I need to know what I can do better going forward.

 

[rico]

Kudos for climbing without a shirt... The thought of loosing a nipple has kept me from even considering it...

You, my compadre, are the Vladimir Putin of tree-men!

 

[Owen Roberson]

Confidence comes with experience. There’s a difference between being confident you know how to handle something and being able to safely carry it out versus simply thinking you know what you’re doing but lack the experience to actually do it. You can also be over confident and get yourself into trouble. There’s nothing wrong with knowing your limits. This shit is dangerous. You push the envelope and things can happen.

You need to go back to the basics, starting with wearing proper PPE / protection.

There’s nothing cool about topping a tree with your shirt off and no helmet.

I agree about understanding the safety aspect and wearing a helmet, I need a teacher to help me understand my limits and help me get better. without this forum and people telling me hey this is stupid the only other way I would've learned is by getting hurt. because you guys see the flaws in what im doing that I might never have seen myself. I want to be able to learn form this colossal mistake of this removal and do better going forward.