What system do you prefer to climb on?

[pruninggal]

Hi all,

What I enjoy most about going to climbing comp's is seeing how everyone's set-up and approach for different events is sometimes totally unique. I was just at the PNW comp in Tacoma, WA where we only had one woman competing in our region this year so, not so able to compare womens preferences! I'm curious what your favorite system or set-up is say, for rec climbing, or in general, just entering a tree.

Hope you're all enjoying your climbs!

 

[jerseygirl]

Hello and WELCOME to the BUZZ.

I am a rec climber and I setup with a split tail, beeline, with a tauntline hitch, and I run a mirco pulley under that, simple and sweet as it gets me up the tree.

Introduce yourself on the intro page so we can all get to know you, we are quite at time and more talkative at others.

Kathy Holtzer is up your way there somewhere in Seattle.

JerseyGirl - aka JZ or Shari

 

[Kathy_Holzer]

hey katy,
atta girl, nice to see you here! climbin on a 4 wrap vt w/hitchclimber to slack tend, steel biner at termination so i can go old school and toss the damn thing if i want to advance. haven't tried a new hitch since i started with the vt, but hear the michoacan is pretty excellent - think that's what wenda climbs on. course she's like 100 lbs soaking wet and full of koolaid! (hear that wenda?

)

btw, did well on my test - must be time for that beer..
k.

 

[pruninggal]

Howdy Kath and JZ, back again, intimidated but to stay

Until now, I've been going up in trees slowly and surely with the Blake's. If you can believe it I just today got my first eye-to-eye and single-eye tails (Bee-line 10mm) and really can't wait to switch up the system.

As a consultant who just climbs for fun, I really see the need and value to have better climbing skills for aerial inspections. Right now I really just need to usually get to one point in a tree or am just hanging around for fun. As someone who has an interested in competing you might imagine how the work climb seems a little intimidating to me - I "work" completely differently than someone hauling up a chainsaw for some serious physical work. I have to believe there's a way to bring the aspect of my work to comp - less but efficient gear. Don't know if it's possible

I hope more women talk about their systems here and thanks K and JZ!

 

[Adkpk]

How about this setup. It eliminates the step, with a blakes, of advancing the hitch. Just pull down on the working end of the line and the hitch climber pulley tends the slack automatically. It is my favorite way to enter the tree when trunk walking is a possibility.

 

[Bermie]

Hey there,
I started with a Blake's, it's fine, tried and true.
I have moved on like Kathy to the VT and hitchclimber. For an easy to tend system its great.
I tried a micro pulley under my blake's, tried a distel...I found with both I still had too much friction in the system to self tend well.
Once I switched to the hitchclimber pulley its like being on a different planet.
Word of caution, if you do try a more advanced system like the VT with hitchclimber, it is a more finicky knot and needs some attention before you get really comfortable with it, and that it settles well onto your climbline so it grabs well when you sit back on it. It releases very smoothly when you need it to, and consequently does need a wee bit more attention for sitting back on than some of theother knots.

 

[MLR]

I climb with the VT w/ a micro pulley. I like it much more than a blakes but I still find it locks up on me too much. Maybe I will try it w/ a hitchclimber. I may try some other knots if I can find some time. I am just learning to spice, so maybe I just need a new eye to eye.

 

[guymayor]

[ QUOTE ]

As a consultant who just climbs for fun, I really see the need and value to have better climbing skills for aerial inspections. Right now I really just need to usually get to one point in a tree

[/ QUOTE ]Really? If you can see the entire tree from that one point, then yes. But how many trees are that open to view? Or if you're assigned to inspect one feature, true--but. But what about the rest of the tree?

There could be a lot missed otherwise. Splits, cracks, rot,cankers can be totally missed if the climber/inspector is limited to the other half of the tree. imho the default aerial inspection involves assessing the entire scaffold structure. Who wants the liability from partial inspections of big old trees? Disclaim all day long, but there is still professional risk in that.

[ QUOTE ]
I have to believe there's a way to bring the aspect of my work to comp - less but efficient gear. Don't know if it's possible

[/ QUOTE ]Maybe it is! The whole concept of aerial rescue is being evaluated re its effectiveness (how many lives have been saved this way) and real-life applicability (what are the odds...). If it was replaced with assessments, and treatments that did not require a saw, that could bring the comp closer to the present reality of climbing arboriculture.

I think you're on to something.

But I don't have the fortitude to post it on the comp forum. The response may not be entirely positive... Maybe you could try it--they'd be less likely to beat up on a girl hahahaha

 

[Frax]

[ QUOTE ]
How about this setup. It eliminates the step, with a blakes, of advancing the hitch. Just pull down on the working end of the line and the hitch climber pulley tends the slack automatically.

[/ QUOTE ]


I like the look of this and I sort of see how it works but I think I'd have to see it for real to really 'get it'.

I find that the number one piece of equipment for ease of advancing (and sorry if this is entirely redundant) is to always use a friction saver at the TIP. I call the one I use a friction or cambium saver but I think its called a false crotch in the Sherrill catalog - the one with the steel rings.

I've switched to the VT and find it easier than the Blake's and Distel to advance as already mentioned but the big energy (and elbow joint) saver comes with installing the friction saver almost every time I climb.

 

[TLHamel]

My girlfriend ascends using the RADS method (with the Petzl i'D as her main attachment point). Easy to use and descent is readily available. She uses the CE Climb system (Hitchclimber) with 8mm OP hitch cord tied in a 5-over-1 Distel. A reliable hitch combination that still tends relatively easily.

 

[Bermie]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
How about this setup. It eliminates the step, with a blakes, of advancing the hitch. Just pull down on the working end of the line and the hitch climber pulley tends the slack automatically.

[/ QUOTE ]


I like the look of this and I sort of see how it works but I think I'd have to see it for real to really 'get it'.

I find that the number one piece of equipment for ease of advancing (and sorry if this is entirely redundant) is to always use a friction saver at the TIP. I call the one I use a friction or cambium saver but I think its called a false crotch in the Sherrill catalog - the one with the steel rings.

I've switched to the VT and find it easier than the Blake's and Distel to advance as already mentioned but the big energy (and elbow joint) saver comes with installing the friction saver almost every time I climb.

[/ QUOTE ]

Using a ring ring friction saver is another tool in making ascent easier. I also use a strop with a carabiner on one end and a crab and pulley on the other, like otis elevator! Having a crab in the system makes repositioning it easier too.
The hitchclimber pulley just works way better than a single hole micro pulley, and it works super with a VT, the upward force on the Vt is centered and consistent, and the VT itself is a symmetrical knot, so the whole thing loosens off easily, add in the friction saver and it just gets better!