VT body Thrusting

S

Sheuian

Location
SLC, UT
First off, to introduce myself, I've been a utility arborist in Salt Lake City for about 8 years, I'm currently the foreman of a climb crew. I Like to consider myself a good climber, and I'm starting to consider entering a competition.

I've always climbed with a split tail/blake setup and I like it quite a bit, I've gotten pretty fast at body thrusting with this setup. I would like to start using the VT instead, but I just can't figure out a good technique for the body thrust. Who is good at this that can give me some pointers?
 
Its a bit of a different system in genral. The anchor bridge system is something you might want to search for on this fourm. That is one of the smaller down falls to the VT or any other eye and eye prussik your going to tie. When you do body thrust you leave slack in your line untill you tend it out.

Maybe a pantin would be an option for you. Instead of body thrusting you kick your leg and it does the same thing but with a better muscle group. Hope some of this helps.
 
I found (and I think this is typical) when I hip-thrusted on a blake/split-tail setup I would grip the rope with my left hand above my right, with my thumbs pointing at each other, and after each pull, push the knot up with my left hand.

With a VT system I pull with both thumbs pointing up, usually making three or so thrusts before holding myself up with my left hand and reaching down with my right to tend the slack.
 
Once you get up the tree a bit the VT will self tend. You just have to get high enough to get some weight on the rope.
 
cool, thanks for the quick replies, when I body thrust with the Blake, I do what gord was saying, and advance with every pull. I kinda figured that there wasn't a way to advance the VT with every stride like this without wearing yourself out. It sounds like the way to go is just hand over hand and have the ground-man tend the slack.
We don't have very many tall trees in Salt Lake City so there isn't much chance for SRT or DRT foot-locking, most of the time I'm only about 20 feet of the ground. That's why I'm so concerned about body thrusting, It is the quickest way to work for a Line Clearance tree trimmer.
Could someone tell me what the "anchor bridge" is? I've been searching but have yet to find a good explanation.
Thanks again my fellow climbers
 
I carry my Kong double ascender with me just for this... When I need to body thrust up a distance, I put it on and it does most of the work for me. Every 5-10' up I go, I pull in the slack on my climb line.
 
With a VT or any closed split tail hitch body thrusting is obsolete for tree entry on the trunk. One foot on the trunk, the other on the rope with Pantin, two hands pulling rope above the hitch, Pantin takes up the slack and gives you push. If you don't have someone to hold the tail for the first 8 ft. (until the Pantin self tends) just tend it by hand. A rope like Tachyon drops through the Pantin so well that the self tend starts quick. You'll go faster and farther with less work than you can body thrusting. Your hitch won't grab the rope until you stop the climbing motion. Up you go! You can save your energy for those moments when you need a few body thrust style pulls to get around a difficult spot in the tree. As was mentioned once you're at height the rope will completely self tend through the hitch without the Pantin.
-moss
 
Will it really self feed. Even after a few thrusts my know won't do it. (Even 50ft in the tree, with alot of rope weight) Maybe it just depends on how you tie it or something. No idea.

Also, is it possible to get the anchor bridge made. I can't splice yet (Would call Nick to do it) but I'm just wondering if there's specific measurements he would need to do this. Thanks alot!!
 
Hey Rich h thanks for that link to the anchor bridge setup, I cant wait to try that tomorrow
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Sheuian- I was in SLC last year...you guys have AWESOME trees! I live in LA now and our trees...in one of the most progressive cities in the world, are absolute CRAP compared to what you guys have going on there in SLC. Keep up the good work!

I think you'll find the anchor bridge very helpful.

love
nick
 
First Off welcome to the tree buzz where if you have questions someone has the answers. Sounds like to me if you are doing mostly short hauls like twenty feet or so you are right body thrusting is a good way to go I mean if I gotta go 50-60-70' or so then I'm definitely gonna foot lock but for a short climb it's not really necessary. The anchor bridge system is perfect for what you are doing you should buy one you will like it. With this system you can set your hitch up high so as you pull the rope you never have any slack and when you have made the accent you put your lanyard on then simply clip your hitch in short and off you go it's an awesome system. As far as the competitions I say go for it dude it's a blast and even if you don't win anything you will learn a ton of stuff and make some new friends.
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.....Also, is it possible to get the anchor bridge made. I can't splice yet (Would call Nick to do it) but I'm just wondering if there's specific measurements he would need to do this. Thanks alot!!

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The instructions for making a set are in the original thread. The measurements are actually pretty important because they match the whole system up to the # 3 boat snap. If the measurements are off or you are not using a # 3 (it was tested with every size snap and # 3 works best)you will find that your weight will be held unevenly by the cords or by the boat snap. With proper measurements your weight is perfectly distributed on the bridges and there will be no weight whatsoever on the boat snap.
 
call me old fashion or just stupid but i just pull myself up the tree. after about 15 or so feet the vt self feeds just fine enough to go hand over hand in a nice smooth flow.
 
hello, thanks to this threaded i think i understand the technique for using the vt or distel for climbing,at the moment i have been climbing using a split tail and blacks i like the way it work but im looking to move up to the v.t or distel.
can anyone recommend a climbing line and friction hitch cord combo?
.ps i have been using the blacks for 6 years!! thanks matt
 
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