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Tree Machine · 18th June 2007, 07:05 AM

For the most part, I enjoy ascending up a 1:1 doubled line to enter the crown.
Once in the crown, sink a flipline, apply friction control to the doubled line
remove flipline and do the treeguy thing on the 1:1 doubled line.
(however, if I need to go all the way up top, I'll stay on ascenders til I get there, then switch over)

That is the general procedure that I use, assuming I get a well-traced throwline back to the ground.

Now, I won't claim the system to be 'better', but certainly faster, easier, quicker to learn, more straight-forward, less overall effort and the big one, the versatility to go 2:1 doubled, 1:1 doubled or SRT. It's hard for me to describe the sheer joy of just having the options, and being able to swap to a different system, at will, anytime it might be called for during the same climb. You go with what you're most comfortable with, what would be most effective in the situation, or what you just happen to be in the mood for.

Switching over from ascender to friction device, I know, is a mental crux point for many of you, as the friction hitch system doesn't require any sort of switchover. The bottom line on this, after the time it takes to sink your flipline (sort of individual in how long it takes you, 3-5 seconds for me), the swapover time to go from ascender to descender, or the reverse of that, generally takes me somewhere between five and ten seconds, including application and removal of security or ascender backup. That's the price paid to work off a mechanical system. Not a bad deal, actually, even if it would take twice that long.

The biggest difference between me and the rest of the tree climbing world is I never, ever ascend up into the crown on a 2:1 system. Given the choice to either run up a sand hill, or run up a paved hill, hands down I will choose the paved one every time.

18th June 2007, 07:05 AM	#63 (permalink)
Tree Machine Over mature heritage tree Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 571	Formal, official statement For the most part, I enjoy ascending up a 1:1 doubled line to enter the crown. Once in the crown, sink a flipline, apply friction control to the doubled line remove flipline and do the treeguy thing on the 1:1 doubled line. (however, if I need to go all the way up top, I'll stay on ascenders til I get there, then switch over) That is the general procedure that I use, assuming I get a well-traced throwline back to the ground. Now, I won't claim the system to be 'better', but certainly faster, easier, quicker to learn, more straight-forward, less overall effort and the big one, the versatility to go 2:1 doubled, 1:1 doubled or SRT. It's hard for me to describe the sheer joy of just having the options, and being able to swap to a different system, at will, anytime it might be called for during the same climb. You go with what you're most comfortable with, what would be most effective in the situation, or what you just happen to be in the mood for. Switching over from ascender to friction device, I know, is a mental crux point for many of you, as the friction hitch system doesn't require any sort of switchover. The bottom line on this, after the time it takes to sink your flipline (sort of individual in how long it takes you, 3-5 seconds for me), the swapover time to go from ascender to descender, or the reverse of that, generally takes me somewhere between five and ten seconds, including application and removal of security or ascender backup. That's the price paid to work off a mechanical system. Not a bad deal, actually, even if it would take twice that long. The biggest difference between me and the rest of the tree climbing world is I never, ever ascend up into the crown on a 2:1 system. Given the choice to either run up a sand hill, or run up a paved hill, hands down I will choose the paved one every time.