The little grapnel hook that New Tribe is really nice for retreives. It comes with about 20 feet of throwline on it, which means you can reach out to lines that you wouldn't be able to get without. It's pretty cheap too ($10-15 range, I think?). That's what I use.

Josh

FYI, rcrook was my previous TCI member name.

Anyway, I have yet to use a Grapnel hook-something to look forward to.

But, I have been using a slingshot with spinning reel http://www.newtribe.com/technical.html and have been getting to first limbs at 50-70 feet with lead (Pb) fishing weights 3/4 to 1 ounce on Berkely Fireline (8Lb diameter/22Lb test).

I still need to practice my hand-throwing, but the slingshot is sure a nice tool for reaching higher than I can throw.

I have been doing RTC for about two years now and one of the most difficult things to get comfortable for me was to be able to make any decent throws while in the tree. Keeping balance, co-ordinating my footing and actually not getting the throw weight stuck higher up or retrieving the rope was difficult. Now I feel more comfortable while hanging from the line which allows me to think more clearly and make decent throws and advance the rope on the tree and into adjacent trees. I made a home made "grapnel" w/ a coat hanger, masking tape and a simple cord. It works in most instances. I also learned to retrieve the rope with a monkey fist like Abe Winters shows in his Climbing Booklet. Using the sling shot is another idea i used but now I can get pretty accurate and quite a long distance w/ the throw bags so I use less gear to haul up in the tree and so far it has worked for the type of trees that I climb around here. Good luck - Climb High!

abe winters climbing booklet where can I get one??

Oldtimer,
Are you saying that you advance while hanging from the line or while standing in a crotch, then by tossing a throwline from the crotch, to get a lot higher? Do you set a crotch saver also?
I'd like to know where to get Abe's book also.
Thanks.

Charlie to get a copy of Abe's Winters book e-mail him at the Georgia address.
Abram Winters
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Owner, edge-ucator,and tree climbing instructor
P.O. Box 142062
Fayetteville, Georgia 30214
(770)487-6929

He will tell you the cost, etc.

Some of this info is found also in the Tree Climber Companion book by Jepson

To answer your questions;
Sometimes you are stuck hanging below a branch and need to set up a redirect line and you may have to make a throw while sitting on your seat and hanging from the main safety line. It is pretty hard and unconfortable but it is doable w/ some practice. In these cases I will not set a f-saver on the new TIP. Most of the other times you will be standing in some branch and tied to the main line and your landyard for extra balance an safety. In a case like this you can reposition your main line and reuse the f-saver gain on the new TIP. Danger! Danger!..Never remove your main line before you set and test the new second TIP position with the new main safety line.