ascender accident

quercus

This is a pdf file I recently encountered on the dutch arborist forum.
Ya'll should take a look at the pics and realize just how close this guy came...

Unbelievably he's back on the job...

Attached Files

wiltonsquare.pdf (1.74 MB, 808 views)

Eric Frei

Good story, back up both sides if you are into those devices.

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spartek

Thats why I keep my mechanical "toys" to a bare minimum. Another thing with gadgets that people tend to overlook or be unaware of is metal fatigue.It happens , and there is no way to predict it.Especially with devices that get used over and over day after day. One thing that could have been done is to place something over that damn fence. That's a "field-dresser" for sure.Thats a BIG problem with climbing utility poles, fall and come down onto a mounted sign someone placed on the pole . It will literally cut you in two.We should all remember theses photos and ALWAYS asess your work area before going aloft,our families have alot riding on it.

Sean Freeman

Good post Q, its always really good to learn from someone elses mistakes when they themselves are not totalled by those errors

treevet

A line falling out of an ascender or a camming device sticking open are real concerns and I think often shock loading camming devices is over looked also. I have seen climbers moving around on slack ascenders alone without the mentioned necessary back up. These devices in no way are meant to rescue you from a slip and fall resulting in significant shock load.

newguy18

All the more reason why i don't and will never use an ascender for belaying,maybe for work positioning on a flipline but not on the climb line.I'll stick with friction hitches.

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Bruce Hopf

My Goodness. Thanks for the Post. I know that the Jobs you guy do, are very Dangerous. I'm not a Climber, but from some of the Horror Stories that I hear about, like this one here, , Makes me Pray for Each and everyone of you, that do Climb for a Living, to be Safe, and Sound, while doing your Jobs. . Talking from experience, Being Injured is no Fun, especially for the Rest of Your Life . Bruce

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arborcorp

I too will stick with friction hitches, Sometimes I think the race up the tree is not as important as your method of limbing.
Steady steady can win the race.

Jason Axe

thanks for the post, man that guy is lucky he didnt die. good lord was on his side. and i agree shoulda had some thing over the fence and aways have a back up.

Cole

i wouldn't look at mechanical acenders after this and not use them... i myself have a kong double ascender "new version" along with several thousand dollars worth of mechanical gear. the rope popping out of this device was caused when the climber is nearing the union where the rope is over. And the circumfrance of the branche causes the rope to spread opposite ways thus pulling open the cam with the camlock in place and the rope came out. myself and some guys from work set up a mock senario of this. we couldnt get the rope to pop out without causing damage to the line but i tell you there was a bee's dick in it any further and she was coming out. the new kong double ascender has a hole behind the camlock, when a karabiner is placed in this hole it is IMPOSSIBLE for the camlock or the cam to open enough so that the rope can pop out, we didnt put to much force on this as if you push the ascender up to far....you wont get it back unless you cut the limb. but hopefully this explains a bit about the kong ascender. i have a picture for anyone if they are interested still unsure how to post pics.

Cheers guys..

kiwi_tree_steve

i have been a fan of Friction hitches myself, climbing on a french prussick and pulley, and a distill with a micropully on my flipline, HOWEVER............. i just changed companys were i work, and with the new job came a Lock jack
just put that sucker on my flipline and im loving it sooo much free'r to use, and that was a pain in the ass to me before, not sure i trust it for my main climbing line yet tho.... just love that french setup!

if useing this type of device to climb with ( main climbing line), what tips or BACK UPS should i use to make me feel like its safe and still be free to climb with?

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Cole

what rope are you using this can be a factor i run 11.7 blue tounge i brought the rope when i purchased the lockjack and i found the new rope ran very fast through the cam, after the rope had worn in and fluffed up it was alot more user friendly.....what sort of friction device etc setup do you have, try using the lockjack without a friction saving device this helped me a bit, after i got used it i set it up with the ART rope guide but i use the lock jack for sport rec climbing. i use a DMM hitch climber with a VT 95% of the time for work