- Location
- Retired in Minneapolis
This might be a technique that goes by other names but this seems to be the simplest.
The main place that I've used this is when skinning out an excurrent tree like spruce, etc. All of the limbs can be dropped straight down. But if any of the limbs hits any way but flat they could take a dive towards the most expensive thing in the area, like statues or triple glazed windows.
There are two ways to implement the VSL. From the bottom up or top down.
Top down is easiest. It's much like any SL but the tail end of the line is attached to the butt of the tree. This works if I'm going to go back up and chunk down the spar. The top anchor can be tied off securely.
Bottom up isn't too difficult either. The SL rope is choked above the whorl of limbs to be cut and the bottom is anchored with a bollard or munter. The limbs are slung with small webbing slings and clipped together. With some creativity a number of limbs can be slung into a nice bouquet. When the tips hit the ground a careful groundie can let slack into the SL to let the bouquet tip towards the exit route. A tag line can be added to the bouquet too if you need to control the flop of the bouquet. As the climber moves up the top anchor is moved. The easiest anchor is a choked sling with a heavy biner. The SL rope has an eye splice in it. When it's time to move the top anchor, the climber unclips the spliced eye, puts the SL rope on the saddle and then climbs up to where the sling is choked. Climb a bit further and rechoke. Sometimes the sling can be whipped using the biner as a throw weight. Continue to the top.
When it comes time to chunk down the SL can be used again. Rig the pieces just like any SL. The chunk slides down the SL and hits at the base of the tree. The sling used for the choker keeps the chunk from cartwheeling across the yard. Another real plus about this system is that the shock load to the top anchor is almost eliminated. The chunk does accelerate but most of the energy is dissipated when it hits the ground. The chunk may jump a bit but the lower anchor point is right nearby and the shock load goes, mostly, to the butt. A very little goes back up to the top anchor.
Groundies that I've worked with have been very creative with controlling slack in the SL. Both for limbing and chunking. With skill, the pieces can be tipped and laid in the direction towards the chipper.
Any modifications or suggestions?
The main place that I've used this is when skinning out an excurrent tree like spruce, etc. All of the limbs can be dropped straight down. But if any of the limbs hits any way but flat they could take a dive towards the most expensive thing in the area, like statues or triple glazed windows.
There are two ways to implement the VSL. From the bottom up or top down.
Top down is easiest. It's much like any SL but the tail end of the line is attached to the butt of the tree. This works if I'm going to go back up and chunk down the spar. The top anchor can be tied off securely.
Bottom up isn't too difficult either. The SL rope is choked above the whorl of limbs to be cut and the bottom is anchored with a bollard or munter. The limbs are slung with small webbing slings and clipped together. With some creativity a number of limbs can be slung into a nice bouquet. When the tips hit the ground a careful groundie can let slack into the SL to let the bouquet tip towards the exit route. A tag line can be added to the bouquet too if you need to control the flop of the bouquet. As the climber moves up the top anchor is moved. The easiest anchor is a choked sling with a heavy biner. The SL rope has an eye splice in it. When it's time to move the top anchor, the climber unclips the spliced eye, puts the SL rope on the saddle and then climbs up to where the sling is choked. Climb a bit further and rechoke. Sometimes the sling can be whipped using the biner as a throw weight. Continue to the top.
When it comes time to chunk down the SL can be used again. Rig the pieces just like any SL. The chunk slides down the SL and hits at the base of the tree. The sling used for the choker keeps the chunk from cartwheeling across the yard. Another real plus about this system is that the shock load to the top anchor is almost eliminated. The chunk does accelerate but most of the energy is dissipated when it hits the ground. The chunk may jump a bit but the lower anchor point is right nearby and the shock load goes, mostly, to the butt. A very little goes back up to the top anchor.
Groundies that I've worked with have been very creative with controlling slack in the SL. Both for limbing and chunking. With skill, the pieces can be tipped and laid in the direction towards the chipper.
Any modifications or suggestions?
