Who is this climber?

Reg said:
on a tree that size, you'd be doing well to get 8' off the ground in 10 mins, for a first timer with a single line. That takes a lot of practice. Compared to today's procedure and standards, that guy is astounding. Same as the early high-riggers in the black and white films. What skill, and grit. Timeless video.
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Point made. Reg, what makes the beginning of the ascent difficult, assuming it was done exactly as he did?

I can imagine the amount of taper down low might actually facilitate.

I'm sure the ropes were 5/8" or 3/4" (more?), so you had a lot of weight to throw around. And the bark may be obstructive in places.

There's a video of Graeme McMahon flipping up a good sized tree covered in ivy and vine. It's impressive when you imagine how difficult that may be.
 
The difficulty, I'm willing to guess anyway, is in the wave you have to create when flipping a line that long. And then using your arms (not devices or hitches) to hold you in place for a moment.
 
TreeLogic said:
The difficulty, I'm willing to guess anyway, is in the wave you have to create when flipping a line that long. And then using your arms (not devices or hitches) to hold you in place for a moment.
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Well, nothing would hold you in place as you flip either side. You must have to pull in with both arms and flip one side, then repeat with the other.

Reading some of Gerald's material suggests that your flip line can get pretty fetched up in shaggy bark (with the wrong technique?)...to the point where you're completely stuck.
 
oceans said:
Well, nothing would hold you in place as you flip either side.
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Better stated, but that's what I meant. In other words you can't really just lean back on a tight lanyard like we do. At least not during travel, but maybe to take a break. And I can only imagine getting stuck on bark or a snag. Yikes! But again, that's what I meant by the wave you have to throw. Kinda like a newbie trying trying to flip a climbing line down a branch into a crotch from the ground. Apparently that technique takes some practice to learn because they never seem to have the motion right :endesacuerdo:
 
oceans said:
Point made. Reg, what makes the beginning of the ascent difficult, assuming it was done exactly as he did?

I can imagine the amount of taper down low might actually facilitate.

I'm sure the ropes were 5/8" or 3/4" (more?), so you had a lot of weight to throw around. And the bark may be obstructive in places.

There's a video of Graeme McMahon flipping up a good sized tree covered in ivy and vine. It's impressive when you imagine how difficult that may be.
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What I should have said was 8/ft of progress, pardon me. You are correct, walking up that initial root flair gives hope, but it's short lived. Getting all your weight forward while you throw the wave around the tree is way edit : (harder) than it looks. A lot if stamina needs too, not just technique. With two lines, you can At least lean back in one, while you throw the other....but what Hap is doing, and doing seemlesly is just different class. Do you have a link to greames vid ? I don't recall it. I am highly skeptical that it is anything close to what we seeing in the oregon vid.
 
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At about 55 seconds into the vid, he's beginning to spike up a tree with some shaggy bark and vine...ok, so not quite as gnarly as I remember, and not anything like what Hap was climbing, but still a similar technique and large enough to have to flip from each side.
 
I remember that vid. Those eucs are ridiculous tall. Couldn't believe how long it took for some of those limbs and logs to hit the ground. He's a badass too.
 
Watching Hap again, you can see that his chest is right up against the trunk when making the flips, then he leans back to make progress. Just seeing how high he raises his arms while flipping, and knowing how much that rope must seem to weigh after 100' of climbing shows incredible stamina.
 
Also pay attention that the knuckles are up so tight they touch the trunk, and the amount of slack between the hand and hips
 
oceans said:

At about 55 seconds into the vid, he's beginning to spike up a tree with some shaggy bark and vine...ok, so not quite as gnarly as I remember, and not anything like what Hap was climbing, but still a similar technique and large enough to have to flip from each side.
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That tree looks all of 5 ft from this perspective....so not even close, nor anythimg like as efficient from that very short outake. Steel core fliplines, even skinny ones dont advance so well beyond a certain diameter of tree. Don't get me wrong, those guys, Greame and co do outstanding work within their field.... But the west coast climbers of yesteryear, like Mr Johnson appear nothing short if masterful at such tasks. A lot to be said for repetition, and muscle memory.
 
I just edited my earlier post BTW. I meant harder, not 'easier' than it looks. Referring to getting your weight forward. I blame the phone.
 
Stihlmadd said:
Graeme is the man here in Australia for old school balls to the wall, check out the sherbrooke trees vids tahune big dead tree days 1,2 and three on yt.
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No arguments here mate. But Its not about who's a good allrounder....rather we're discussing a very task specific skill.
 
fair call Reg, I climb with a wire braided on wire braid core flipline which is very good for big takedown work when it comes to lateral or horizontal movement on a large dia stem and is easier to push through on the large slab bark sections of a euc but I do not see many other climbers using them are they just a Aussie thing?.
when it comes to an plain rope buckstrap I must agree it is a art to getting the various wrist flicks in time with the thrust /roll of the arms to advance whilst solely standing in the spurs and I copy Graemes style of using two fliplines for that purpose,
cheers.
 
Stihlmadd said:
fair call Reg, I climb with a wire braided on wire braid core flipline which is very good for big takedown work when it comes to lateral or horizontal movement on a large dia stem and is easier to push through on the large slab bark sections of a euc but I do not see many other climbers using them are they just a Aussie thing?.
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Not sure what you're describing there. Do you have a photo ?
 
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