Tying off to the _base_ gives you TIP backup if you capture other branches in the system.

Choke hitching at the top allows you to use one rope if you're traveling light. Once you get to the top of the rope use the other end of the rope for your DdRT tie-in. Assumes use of a hybrid arborist/static rope.

To answer Aussietreeclimber's question, I use both methods, depends on the tree structure and how much gear I'm carrying into the woods. Once you choke your rope to a branch you are committed to the climb. Unless you put a separate pulldown line on the hitch.
-moss

Another advantage of using a gri-gri or 8 when tied to the _base_ of the tree is you can be rescue from the ground in the event you realize you cannot go any further for either bugs or animals.

Also if you cinch with a running bowline your are commited to climb to your tip. You might realize on the way up you would rather travel elsewhere and can can do so via another line and just leave your ascent line where it is and retrieve it from the ground.

Fair comments with regards to securing the rope to the _base_ of the tree. I've just never tried it. Also the fact that i'm almost always solo, somthing that has an influence on my favoring of the TIP cinching onto the branch, no one's coming to my rescue in a hurry with rope knoweledge that i'd trust my life with. So i'd rather have the use both ends of my rope, or the full length. And its a good excuse while on the phone to the parentals "oh i HAVE to climb it now to get the rope back down"

One question Climber020: would you tie off to the _base_ of the tree where other members of the non-treeclimbing public would be around? Do they get curious and eventually look up?
I'd just personally prefer the option to pull all my gear up for a nice quiet climb, even though i've never climbed near the public as yet.

Matt

When climbing in the public area I usually have at least a ground sitter to watch over myself and everything else going on. When I go solo, it is usally out in the wilderness where no one would bother going but hunters.
But like I said I am only on my ascent line for a minute or so, so I am not real worried about someone tampering with it. I back it up anyway, so the time it would take someone to untie the set-up and be able to open the 8 or gri-gri I can run up to my tip before anything can go wrong.