Tree claw / grapple

[RogerM]

Rant and Rave: FLyWheelThrowlineHolder

 

[Gareth]

I read that article. Have never tried it. It looked promising and should work too.
Alas , the never ending pursuit of getting from point A to B .
That's what i like about this work we monkeys do. The innovation , ideas , etc is ENDLESS !

 

[Gareth]

Just a quick line to show those who thought a 50 ft traverse was impossible. Scotty and i had an amazing climb at Francis King park B.C. Victoria the other day. My best climbing experience ever. We scaled a beaut 230 ft D. fir, then on the way down i managed to use my claw to hook into a neighbouring D.fir over 50 ft away. Then at approx 150 ft in height i traversed across - the most awesome experience ever. Scotty followed shortly afterwards. Check out the photo.

 

[jimmyq]

Gareth, that sounds cool, more pics!!

 

[Gareth]

Sure. Here is one when i was half way across my traverse, looking back at where i had come.

 

[Gareth]

And here is one of Scotty using my line to zip across to me.

 

[Gerald_Beranek]

Here's some pics of a traverse we did in Hendy Woods back in 76. Over 40 feet across and about 200 feet up. Showing my friend Andy half way across. And yes, those are spikes he's wearing. It was all old school back then.

That's a slip hook for chain, weighs in about a pound. Thrown over a strong limb and followed by a little fiddling to hook back into the rope, offers a fairly secure anchor to get where you want to go. Just like setting a choke. Though I didn't use the hook at the Hendy Woods climb, I do quite a bit working at heights where the trees are further apart than I can use a throwline for setting a rope. All of which is planned out before going aloft, of course. Otherwise I don't pack that thing with me. Situations have come up where I wished I did though.

Where a tight crotch presents itself afar I've simply thrown a wad of rope over to jam into the crotch, and occasionally even a stick. In either event I'm always securely tied-in by my primary support. And yes, I've gone winging back from whence I came a few times. Jam knots pull out, limbs break, but never has that hook let go.

My two cents,

Jerry B

 

[chris_girard]

Hey Jer, I remember reading about your slip hook for doing traverses in your Fudamentals book.

I tried it out a few years back and it works just fine for me too. Good idea.

Chris

 

[Gerald_Beranek]

That's the hook alright, Chris. You should know I heated and bent the eye 90 degrees and cocked it so the rope exits out the back, that to keep the opening clear. That little modification helped so much in getting the hook to do its thing, and that is, to hook the rope.

 

[chris_girard]

Jer, I remember you saying that you bent that eye 90 degrees so it hooks better, but I haven't gotten around to doing that yet.

If it really helps that much then I'll definetly try it out and let you know how it works out for me.

Chris

 

[Gareth]

Nice to hear about your ideas and Adventures, Gerard and Chris. It sure is nice to be able to get across into neighbouring trees.
I have another photo here, which Scotty took of me during my traverse.