When did you first hear?

A base anchored SRS line has many failure possibilities, not unlike everything else we do. Just remember, you can control those circumstances through diligence and knowing the outcome before you proceed with anything.

I use a base anchored line for 99% of all my climbing and wouldn't have it any other way.
 
Redbud33 said:
Is it known, has a rope ever broke on anyone ascending srt in one of these ways?
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I've NEVER heard of a synthetic climbing rope [NOT rigging] breaking in any configuration. Has anyone?

A hemp three strand rope broke when I was about 5' off the ground. That's when I learned about scheduled retirement of natural fiber ropes. A lucky lesson.
 
Are y'all saying you prefer to work off a base tie? I base tie for quicker access, but I retie upon reaching my desired TIP- usually a bit higher than my initial TIP- as I will tie directly to a smaller fork than I would climb base tied. I know that hypothetically, a base tie gives folks on the ground an easy means of rescuing you from the ground, but I don't like the idea of doubling the load on the TIP for the duration of my climb, especially if it limits how high I can tie in.
 
L3VI said:
The doubled load is inaccurate irl situations. Friction and rope angles greatly reduce the amplified load effect. Also we know that wood is much stronger in compression. Also a base tie can theoretically be caught by lower limbs if the main tip fails. I pretty much always work off a base tie while pruning.
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Those are all great points.

@Muggs didn't you do some load cell testing regarding the effect of the friction on mechanical advantage systems?
 
Redbud33 said:
How about if handsaw teeth somehow accidentally find their way to tied off side of rope, or what about nails in the base missed even if inspected. Is it known, has a rope ever broke on anyone ascending srt in one of these ways? Cuz I feel pretty vulnerable going up like this.
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If you are using a saw, you need to have a second life support, such as a lanyard. Never saw without a second life support line. Yes, your hand saw can cut through your climb line, or your anchor line. Always, repeat, always have a second life support when using a saw, hand or power.
A nail probably will not do anything to jeopardize your line. Modern ropes are pretty tough, even when cut almost completely through. I made the terrible mistake once of leaving my climb line in a tree overnight. Next day I went to work on it, swinging about cutting limbs. When I got to the crotch where my line was over, I found that a squirrel had chewed through the line almost completely and I had been working on maybe only a third of the rope all day.
But the important thing here is to never saw without a second life support system.
 
Okay fellows, I dug around in my garage and found my hand saw from 1968 that I used everyday, all day cutting elm branches 8" or smaller.
Foot in the photo for comparison.
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And yes, that is a steel handle. Try toting that on your harness. Weighs more than an Echo CS2511T. It use to have a leather scabbard that hooked on my belt, but I eventually sawed through it enough putting it in and taking it out that it wouldn't hold the saw any longer. The scabbard alone weighed in at about three pounds. Needless to say, I was one happy kid when I saved enough to buy myself a used Mcculloch 440 chainsaw, which weighed a lot more but made my life so much better, when it actually ran.
 
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Base-ties allow compression- loading in some situations versus lateral loading of limbs.

If you're base-tie leg is close to your cutting area, a biner from bridge ring to base- tie leg helps. This is common with conifers.

I base-tie, without concern all the time.


Do be aware of nails and sharp stubs.
 
I do all my climbing with a base tie, but I do not put my climb line over a crotch. I pull up the climb line with an anchor line until it almost gets to the crotch. Saves wear on the climb line, and I can use just about any good wearing rope as an anchor line. If I need to get higher, I will then switch to whatever means gets me where I need to go.
 
Shadowscape said:
I do all my climbing with a base tie, but I do not put my climb line over a crotch. I pull up the climb line with an anchor line until it almost gets to the crotch. Saves wear on the climb line, and I can use just about any good wearing rope as an anchor line. If I need to get higher, I will then switch to whatever means gets me where I need to go.
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Awhile ago a climber was pushing the idea of using this technique but having several legs of climbing rope anchored to the base leg. Seemed like a great idea for trees where you want to climb in a few different sections, for pruning.
 
Redbud33 said:
How about if handsaw teeth somehow accidentally find their way to tied off side of rope, or what about nails in the base missed even if inspected. Is it known, has a rope ever broke on anyone ascending srt in one of these ways? Cuz I feel pretty vulnerable going up like this.
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If you are feeling vulnerable maybe you should start climbing on double ropes with a fall-arrest on the second rope. Some arborists are doing that. Just don't expect everybody else to jump on that ship.
 
Eh, it's just reality. If I manage to somehow cut my rope with a silky way out on the end of a skinny branch having my lanyard around the little branch won't help.
 
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