best ascending and transition method

Fairfield · 23rd April 2008, 06:34 PM

Ok guys and girls, Let's see what we all can come up with. What is you're best way to to ascend a line (drt/srt dont matter) and make a smooth transition to come back down? This is mine.
ascending on Yahoo! Video

all it is, is a hand ascender to my micro (double eared) pulley with a any kind of foot loop on the asnder also. a VT hitch like normal on the same micro pulley. Then at the bottom my foot ascender. My hand being above the hand ascender does nothing more then keep me close to the rope with my chest. no pulling up, that is all for the legs to do.

newguy18 · 23rd April 2008, 09:28 PM

lately i find myself going back to where i started with a tautline.Not the best hitch but i still like it.i've also used the vt,distel,blakes,swabisch,prusik,klemheist and some hitch i made the descends srt.

quercus · 23rd April 2008, 09:59 PM

I believe there is no best way to ascend or descend... There is however a worst way and that's descending without the use of rope...

Everyone has his primary reasons as to why he uses a certain tech. Far experienced climbers whom are in good condition are footlocking on double rope because it's fast, other older climbers find that too much of hard work and go for mechanical advantage.

newguy18 · 23rd April 2008, 10:23 PM

footlocking ain't to bad when you get the hang of it.I practiced doing it without a prusik for about a year.The reason being that if for some reason when i used a prusik and it failed[unlikely]i could keep going or at the least hold myself fast to the rope.i do not do it unbelayed for work though.

Ekka · 24th April 2008, 02:22 AM

Kanga elevator by far.

Fairfield · 24th April 2008, 05:12 AM

I was going for methods that can use the least amount of energy but still has the climber doing the work.

newguy18 · 24th April 2008, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ekka

Kanga elevator by far.

how about a helicopter?

quercus · 24th April 2008, 01:39 PM

YUP A HELICOPTER LOOKS GREAT ON YA CLIMBING HARNESS... Don't even have to get out of it to do some major crown thinning. Just fly inverted and descend a bit over the tree. Guaranteed succesfull...

Did you guys know an apache helicopter can clip a pine of 20 cm in diameter in half without getting a blade broken?

quercus · 24th April 2008, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ekka

Kanga elevator by far.

amazing how them ole fella's seek ways to haul themselves in trees, nowadays...

just kidding, mate... just yankin' yer chain a bit.

newguy18 · 24th April 2008, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quercus

YUP A HELICOPTER LOOKS GREAT ON YA CLIMBING HARNESS... Don't even have to get out of it to do some major crown thinning. Just fly inverted and descend a bit over the tree. Guaranteed succesfull...

Did you guys know an apache helicopter can clip a pine of 20 cm in diameter in half without getting a blade broken?

Nah i was thinking maybe get 30' above the tree and jumping into the treetop.

Aerial · 5th May 2008, 05:26 AM

I've been lurking and learning of late. The opening poster's video was impressive and I've been working with emulating that method.

As quercus said:

Quote:

Everyone has his primary reasons as to why he uses a certain tech. Far experienced climbers whom are in good condition are footlocking on double rope because it's fast, other older climbers find that too much of hard work and go for mechanical advantage.

As a Master Parachute Rigger and parachute jumper with 2K+ freefall jumps, I've been interested in combining modern parachutes with age old forestry techniques (ie Smokejumpers). Here is the result of my research so far:

YouTube - Joe Parr spiral and tree landing Mexico

Great way to set a top rope. Notice the effortless transition to decent!

Aerial

Aerial · 5th May 2008, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quercus

YUP A HELICOPTER LOOKS GREAT ON YA CLIMBING HARNESS... Don't even have to get out of it to do some major crown thinning. Just fly inverted and descend a bit over the tree. Guaranteed succesfull...

Did you guys know an apache helicopter can clip a pine of 20 cm in diameter in half without getting a blade broken?

Do you guys know they have these things?:

YouTube - Helicopter Tree Trimming

My wife and I actually saw one of these things at work while whitewater canoeing in the Laural Mountains.

Clearing the Railroad right of way for the tracks that ran down the valley alongside the river.

Awsome, the pilot had a smaller version of the unit in the video, and on a much shorter tether. He flew right over the river to scope us out. Nearly triggered nasty flashbacks for me of friendly fire.

It did give me a close look at his rigging. It had a two point cable attach to keep the saws orientated. Pretty effective for controlling the slung saws. We eddied out (took cover?) and watched when he went back to work.

Aerial

franc · 10th May 2008, 04:01 AM

Definitely- Prusik & huit , 8 ? -at the begining I been working only with that metod and I was lighter than air !!!

...now I got - monkey,shunt,grigri,&crol,-and i'm look like christmas tree......

..foot-lock it's also ok, but wearing technik..

-- equipment ++++technik...!!!.

Therrin · 10th May 2008, 09:27 PM

Yeah mine's pretty different. Probably won't find it in a manual.

I use a Petzl Minitraxion and Tibloc (or prussik) to ascend. When at the top I slip in a figure-of-8 descender and just "unlock" the minitraxion, leaving it on the line. (removing the prussik or tibloc, of course).

If I need to stop somewhere while descending I just flip the springlock on the Minitraxion back into place and it holds me wherever I want to stay until I'm ready to move again then I thumb it to "unlocked".

Works well for me. Maybe not as simple as a hitch that does it all, but I've never had my system jam up either, and it's got the backup built in.

Very little effort involved too. The ascent technique can take you 150' in less than 5 mins with a simple "standing and sitting" motion, but very little effort.

Cheers

23rd April 2008, 06:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
Fairfield Cruisin' Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Bucks county Pa USA Posts: 70	best ascending and transition method Ok guys and girls, Let's see what we all can come up with. What is you're best way to to ascend a line (drt/srt dont matter) and make a smooth transition to come back down? This is mine. ascending on Yahoo! Video all it is, is a hand ascender to my micro (double eared) pulley with a any kind of foot loop on the asnder also. a VT hitch like normal on the same micro pulley. Then at the bottom my foot ascender. My hand being above the hand ascender does nothing more then keep me close to the rope with my chest. no pulling up, that is all for the legs to do. __________________ Hi yes you know me I am B.A.M.F nice to meet you

23rd April 2008, 09:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
newguy18 Tree World Icon Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Live Oak Florida home of the crapiest trees you will ever see. Posts: 2,185	Re: best ascending and transition method lately i find myself going back to where i started with a tautline.Not the best hitch but i still like it.i've also used the vt,distel,blakes,swabisch,prusik,klemheist and some hitch i made the descends srt. __________________ Have your say join us today. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzkd_m4ivmc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzfzb...eature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-OqK...eature=related

23rd April 2008, 09:59 PM	#3 (permalink)
quercus Afterburner is shakin' Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: belgium Posts: 414	Re: best ascending and transition method I believe there is no best way to ascend or descend... There is however a worst way and that's descending without the use of rope... Everyone has his primary reasons as to why he uses a certain tech. Far experienced climbers whom are in good condition are footlocking on double rope because it's fast, other older climbers find that too much of hard work and go for mechanical advantage.

23rd April 2008, 10:23 PM	#4 (permalink)
newguy18 Tree World Icon Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Live Oak Florida home of the crapiest trees you will ever see. Posts: 2,185	Re: best ascending and transition method footlocking ain't to bad when you get the hang of it.I practiced doing it without a prusik for about a year.The reason being that if for some reason when i used a prusik and it failed[unlikely]i could keep going or at the least hold myself fast to the rope.i do not do it unbelayed for work though. __________________ Have your say join us today. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzkd_m4ivmc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzfzb...eature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-OqK...eature=related

24th April 2008, 02:22 AM	#5 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 5,664	Re: best ascending and transition method Kanga elevator by far. __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

24th April 2008, 05:12 AM	#6 (permalink)
Fairfield Cruisin' Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Bucks county Pa USA Posts: 70	Re: best ascending and transition method I was going for methods that can use the least amount of energy but still has the climber doing the work. __________________ Hi yes you know me I am B.A.M.F nice to meet you

24th April 2008, 01:39 PM	#8 (permalink)
quercus Afterburner is shakin' Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: belgium Posts: 414	Re: best ascending and transition method YUP A HELICOPTER LOOKS GREAT ON YA CLIMBING HARNESS... Don't even have to get out of it to do some major crown thinning. Just fly inverted and descend a bit over the tree. Guaranteed succesfull... Did you guys know an apache helicopter can clip a pine of 20 cm in diameter in half without getting a blade broken?

10th May 2008, 04:01 AM	#13 (permalink)
franc Break'n the ice Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Poland Posts: 6	Re: best ascending and transition method Definitely- Prusik & huit , 8 ? -at the begining I been working only with that metod and I was lighter than air !!! ...now I got - monkey,shunt,grigri,&crol,-and i'm look like christmas tree...... ..foot-lock it's also ok, but wearing technik.. -- equipment ++++technik...!!!.

10th May 2008, 09:27 PM	#14 (permalink)
Therrin The Tree World Bandit Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lancaster, Ca Posts: 1,112	Re: best ascending and transition method Yeah mine's pretty different. Probably won't find it in a manual. I use a Petzl Minitraxion and Tibloc (or prussik) to ascend. When at the top I slip in a figure-of-8 descender and just "unlock" the minitraxion, leaving it on the line. (removing the prussik or tibloc, of course). If I need to stop somewhere while descending I just flip the springlock on the Minitraxion back into place and it holds me wherever I want to stay until I'm ready to move again then I thumb it to "unlocked". Works well for me. Maybe not as simple as a hitch that does it all, but I've never had my system jam up either, and it's got the backup built in. Very little effort involved too. The ascent technique can take you 150' in less than 5 mins with a simple "standing and sitting" motion, but very little effort. Cheers __________________ Ken Fessia I.T.S.A. Tree Service (661) 916-4703

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