"Un-secured" Footlock

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opposablethumb

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\"Un-secured\" Footlock

I once asked a vet why it was called "secured" footlock, and not just "footlock" (referring to static footlocking up two ends of the rope with a prusik loop.) It sounds redundant - afterall, we don't say "secured body-thrusting" or "secured SRT" or "secured Ddrt". So why say "secured" for this technique in the climber's bag 'o tricks?

His answer was that back in the day, and I don't know when that day was, arborists used to footlock without a prusik loop. The only "security" was your hands and feet - no backup if you let go.

Wow.

Sounds pretty hardcore to this greenhorn.

Any of you folks who have been around longer than me have any interesting/scary/funny stories about what this was like back in the "good ole days"???
 
Re: \"Un-secured\" Footlock

My dad's an arborist of 30 years and he said in the eighties this was very common even into the early 1990's as well. In ITCC's back in the day the had unsecured footlocks as well. It is crazy, and I would never do it. Just asking for trouble
 
Re: \"Un-secured\" Footlock

I remember the first time I footlock it was on a 1/2 in manilla rope and it was scary , especially when you had to spread the rope to take a break, that was 30yrs ago! Wow!! our industry as come a long way.. Lets climb safe and have a great Holidays


Later from SO-CAL
 
Re: \"Un-secured\" Footlock

I learned non-secured first...then secured. And to think I griped about having to use yet another piece of equipment...my loop and another caribiner.
 
Re: \"Un-secured\" Footlock

I was taught be basics to footlocking unsecured, but only a foot or 2 off the ground to get the concept and trust the technique. I have never gone any higher than that without being secured.
 
Re: \"Un-secured\" Footlock

If you think about it, footlocking unsecured is no more dangerous than climbing a ladder unsecured, maybe even safer because the rope can't fall. You always have complete contact with the rope. The only way you would fall is if you passed out, got hit by bees, or nailed by a falling branch, all of which are possible.
 
Re: \"Un-secured\" Footlock

L. A. County DPW tree workers as late as 1999 had to footlock 30 feet unsecured and do an on-rope rest as part of their climbers exam in order to work as a tree climber for the county. Bob Weber was one of the first to use the secured footlock in competition about 1987 or 88. That inovation won him the buckle. Bob sometimes posts here occasionally. He is a great guy. I still have some biners that I bought from him.
 
Re: \"Un-secured\" Footlock

[ QUOTE ]
If you think about it, footlocking unsecured is no more dangerous than climbing a ladder unsecured, maybe even safer because the rope can't fall. You always have complete contact with the rope. The only way you would fall is if you passed out, got hit by bees, or nailed by a falling branch, all of which are possible.

[/ QUOTE ]

As I was starting this thread, it crossed my mind that their are plenty of painting companies operating today that send their guys up 30'+ extension ladders with no fall protection. How the heck does that clear OSHA?

I knew a painter once who was painting gutters on the tall side of a building, probably around 60'. His tallest ladder didn't reach, so he "lashed" another extension ladder to it with a garden hose. A garden hose. Kind of reminds me of southsound's bedsheet man.

There I go, derailing the thread I started...Didn't mean for this to be about ladders, but I think your point is true, treebing, that ladders are more dangerous than unsecured footlock!
 
Re: \"Un-secured\" Footlock

I learned to footlock unsecured in the mid 90's, but never did much of it. I had a contract climber work for me a couple years ago who said he was going to footlock usecured into the tree... I was like "No thanks!" He's an old school climber, so he had to body thrust up a tall white oak, advancing his rope as he went. I flew up a giant red oak next to him in no time and had to laugh.

There's a story in Ellis Allen's new book 'Tree Escapades'

http://www.ellisallenconsultingarborist.com/tree_escapades.html

about a former employee who freaked out and fell like 20 feet from an unsecured FL. Lots of other old school mishaps -er- learning experiences in the book as well!

-Tom
 
Re: \"Un-secured\" Footlock

My brother and I used to freeclimb coconut trees in growing up in Hawaii with only a pair of boardshorts on... once we were fifty feet up, the standard was to knock down some coconuts then slide down the trunk... made for some gnarly scapes on the arms, chest, and legs!
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Re: \"Un-secured\" Footlock

I went to school for arboriculture in 1969 and the teacher had a senior student demo the footlock and tie in on an old elm..he footlocked up the tree to the limb and then he wrapped his leg around the limb while hanging up side down and tied the tautline hitch while hanging up side down then he let go and came down ..all on manila rope...sure was fun back then.
 
Re: \"Un-secured\" Footlock

Wonder if I'd still be here if I started back 'in the day'. Maybe alive but all wrecked up.
When I was in the military (Reserves)quite a long time ago (I don't want to say how long ago it was) we had to climb some big thick rope to the top of the armoury ceiling - however you could do it. I couldn't grip with my boots so I kicked them off and did it barefoot. I actually made it even though I thought my arms would fall off at the hinges. When I got down I saw that the top of my foot looked like ground beef. I put my socks and boots back on. It took me a week to soak that sock off my foot. Gross, eh!
Simplyarbors story reminds me of when we were teenagers we used to climb firs in BC to some height and grab a branch and slide down it and catch the one below etc, all the way to the ground. In my mind it was high but it probably wasn't super high.
 
Re: \"Un-secured\" Footlock

actually the way i was taught was much different than the current footlocking. we would tie in to the belt and leave a long tail (for the tautline hitch). then we would pull ourselves up the rope while footlocking the the running end and then when we got to the top we would hang by our legs or stand on the limb and tie the tautline with the tail. kinda like footlocking the tail using a blakes hitch, which is what i do now.
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Re: \"Un-secured\" Footlock

[ QUOTE ]
I went to school for arboriculture in 1969 and the teacher had a senior student demo the footlock and tie in on an old elm..he footlocked up the tree to the limb and then he wrapped his leg around the limb while hanging up side down and tied the tautline hitch while hanging up side down then he let go and came down ..all on manila rope...sure was fun back then.

[/ QUOTE ]

Crazy as it is, that's just awesome. Up side down. sheesh.
 
Re: \"Un-secured\" Footlock

I know a number of guys who when they started back in the day (70's and 80's?) they would be told to spur up to the first branch on big azz firs and cedars with NO flipline or anything to secure them. Once they reached the first branch their foreman would tie on their flipline and they could go to work. First branch was sometimes as high as 80'. you gaff out, you die. This was common practice.
 
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