Throwlines or throw-knots

GASoline71

GASoline71

Location
The Great Pacific Northwest
New here. I have hung out at the Treehouse for quite some time and have only lurked here until recently. Thanks for the invite Mr. Dunlap! The resources available to a new climber on the net nowadays is just mind numbing. Almost too much to absorb, but well worth the time to read.

My question to you all is, how many of you still use the old-school throwing knots on your climbing line to access lower branches? Does everyone drag out their slick lines and throw weights for every tree they climb?

Gary
 
There goes the neighborhood!/forum/images/graemlins/avid.gif

i think that; if throwline kit is small bag you bring with you on first trip to the tree (along with ropes etc.), and in 2 seconds it is open and ready to deploy.... it is part of you and not an extra thing to drag out.

i do hate low shots with it; but stubbornly just stay with it to practice further this chosen technique.
 
I throw line exclusivley now Gary...the ladders stay at home. Once practised and easily accessabile as posted above it becomes natural to use it to access the tree.
 
I use what ever is the easiest and quick for the job at hand.
I had a job yesterday to take a tree off a line mid span.
I needed the ladder and ten feet away I had to set a block in a tree as a redirect so it made sense to access the tree and use the ladder to set the block.
 
Welcome to the Buzz! It's always great to have new people bringing in their ideas.

Oh, it's really just Tom :)

I rarely use ladders or a monkey fist knot to access a tree. Like Kevin, use the best tools available.

When you get yourself setup for using throwlines be sure to get two throwlines and four bags. Two lighter bags for the throwing end and two heavier ones for the manipulating end.

Go right to the smaller diameter lines. Zing It or Fling It are popular. there are others too.

Two five gallon buckets nested inside each other makes a nice throwline storage. There are other schemes for other methods too.
 
Welcome gazoline!

It depends how far up the tree and what type of tree. Ladders are a great tool for accessing a tree - but better when protected by a high line set with a throw line. However, smaller trees closely branched and close to one another, can be quickly accessed with ladders; it doesn't make sense to mess around setting lines and haul up a rope, when you can walk into and up a canopy in a natural style.

Too many climbers also waste time trying to get the final anchor point from the ground. A good 40-50ft throw will get you into most of the closer branches, then a couple of throws from there (with a throw knot) will take you quickly and easily to the final TIP.

I only use spectra based throwlines like zing-it, for hauling lines on long throws with lots of friction (less chance of snapping). I find they act like a magnet to any stick in the vicinty, and they can't be 'strummed' effectively to manipulate them to the ground. I prefer a 2-3mm polypropylene based line; easy to manipulate, doesn't stick to wet mossy boughs (typical north west problem), and tends not to tangle so easily with itself or sticks.

WARNING! (Dark sense of humour ahead)






Of course, you can forget all that technical messing around and just run up on a set of spurs.


/forum/images/graemlins/devdude.gif /forum/images/graemlins/pokinit.gif
 
Lazarus2, Is my long lost kinsman. Hear hear. Words of wisdom and practicality.

One addition- If the polesaw is already out it makes a dandy tool for dropping a monkey's fist right where you need it in the lower canopy.
 
[ QUOTE ]
WARNING! (Dark sense of humour ahead)






Of course, you can forget all that technical messing around and just run up on a set of spurs.


/forum/images/graemlins/devdude.gif /forum/images/graemlins/pokinit.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

YUP! with a set of spikes, you can whizz to the top of a tree in seconds, no ropes needed hee hee arf arf! /forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Paolo, you surprise in advocating ladders. Personaly, I've always felt that saying 'groundsman, put the 3 section ladder into that crown' is an excellent way of accesing a lot of trees.
 
Welcome to the BUZZ, Gary, Great post.

O K guys & gals, learn me something.

What knot is the best to use for attaching the throw ball?

What knot do you use to tie your line?

How the h*ll do you aim for your shot? I really suck at this./forum/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Pics would help me,Thanks
 
It just takes practice. Sherrill sells a goofy practice throwball thingee, it might help. Or get a Big Shot.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I use a monkey's fist all the time, I hate breaking out the throwline.

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You guys, Tom, MB crack me up! A monkey's fist knot? /forum/images/graemlins/monkeedance2.gif
Have you ever tied one of those? (see attachement) I have and believe me, it is what I call a hobby knot. Something to mess around with at home in the evening tieing it to make a key fob or a conversation piece.

Lets just say if you want to quickly set your rope and jump up in a tree, that knot would be the LAST one I would choose. Takes alot of time to even tie /forum/images/graemlins/aaa.gif
AND time to untie. I am surprised at you Tom, for using the wrong name for a knot, and you the master of correct tree methodology! /forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif
What I do is make a knot in the end of my rope that will come untied by itself and I think (they) are referring to the same thing dont know the name of it tho:

take three small loops of rope in your hand, then wrap two or three perpendicular loops around the first loops. Then slip a bight of rope through one end of these loops you made and hold it so the whole thing does not come apart.
THAT is a weighted end. Now take up a few coils of rope in the same hand and throw the weighted end over your selected branch. The coils you gathered will help the rope pay out to lessen the amount of drag and increase your distance.
when the weighted end passes over the limb, the loops will untie themselves and the rope will come down (usually).
 

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It's simply a way to weight the end of your rope. You can tie it open or closed. And if I need a tiny ball, I use the hangmans noose style knot.
 
Frans,

I guess you caught me using sloppy language :)

There are plenty of specific names for what are in effect throwing weights on ropes. Most times I use a hangman's noose with the bight cinched down tight as a throw weight in the end of my rope.

I use a slipped figure eight to tie my throwline to the ring on my bag. It is simple to tie even with gloves on. This knot... or would it be a hitch in this configuration?... will untie easily no matter how hard the bag gets jammed.
 
I use either an open mokey's fist or a closed monkey's fist in the end of my climbing rope.(the open pulls undone if hung up)

Mostly though I use one of the 3 or 4 throw lines I always carry. I find the Slick Line works great up to 50ft and is easy to pull and toss. My longer lines are Zing It.
 
A 16 ounce throw weight adds a fair amount of ballast as well. I find it faster than making a noose, but all of the rest of the technique is identical. Most of have throw weights anyway so why not?
 
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