The attached photo shows a releasable throw weight made from an unpaired (clean) sock.

This confirms the notion that most devices have an inexpensive improvisation.

Also, the climber deserves protection on their equipment investments. These hand throw devices need to be retrievable.

Regards,
JimK

Keep FIT - Fun In Trees

The attached photo illustrates how the climber releases the weight from the line in a sweeping motion. When hopelessly trapped in a fork, the same release mechanism occurs. Otherwise this weight can be thrown multiple times and pulled through crotches as shown in the photo.

Why would the climber want to release the weight from the line? Well, there's definitely more to the story.

Regards,
JimK

Keep FIT - Fun in Trees

As climbers work with their own adaptations to the releasable weight, a question pops up: how do you test a releasable weight to know that it works in the field?

A releasable weight has these distinct properties:
1) when the weight is grabbed, it can't be pulled off the line.
2) it holds on the line when whirled in a circular motion
3) the releasing pressure is easy to medium, not hard
4) it can be thrown a minimum of 5 times over a 25 foot branch and shocked loaded with less than 4 inches of slide on the line

One climber noted that 1.75 mm Zing-it bit down on the ring, creating a hard release. It failed test #3. The munter hitch will be replaced with a simple loop.

Any semi-flexible band that runs through a ring seems to create the releasable weight mechanism. A grommet beneath the bottom of the ring keeps the line centered. The top munter hitch helps to center the line also. Though a simple loop can replace the Munter.

There are many adaptations. However the successful prototypes have the properties listed above. I've produced over a dozen prototypes and I've thrown the releasable weight all summer long. I like how the ring slides off the line when trapped in a fork. I use the release most frequently to remove the weight quickly off line for a pull back. If I ever use a conventional weight again, it will be only as an historical reenactment.

Why Use a Releasable Weight?
1) It protects the climbers investment in equipment by making the weight retrievable
2) It conforms to the Leave No Trace standard.

Tree entry is the front door to RTC. The hassles need to be resolved to make this activity more welcoming to the newbie. The release of a stuck weight puts a smile on any climber's face. I like how the routine tieing of the Munter on the weight reinforces the skill of making this valuable descending knot. That's good muscle memory for the newbie.

Regards,
JimK

Keep FIT - Fun in Trees

Just wondering if you thought in the current bags we have with the rings already sewn in place if we could just hot cut the hole in the nylon loop already on the bag?

Jim, I'm not sure if I'm following this right, but if so, this is a SWEET idea!!!

In your list of requirements, does it not also have to release when jammed.

I'm assuming this means that if I make a toss, then try the pull the weight back up, over, and down to me, and it get's jammed in the process, I can just pull firmly on the throwline, and the munter will release and the end of the throwline will come back down to me, and the throw weight, if I'm lucky, will fall back to the ground.

Am I reading this right?

love
nick

RocknRoll,

If your current bag has enough room, cutting a hole under the ring will make it releasable. The more room for threading your line, the better. I keep mine loose for ease of threading the throw line through.

Nick,

Once jammed the ring and weight slide off the line by pulling. If you look at the photo above, a tight fork of a tree will press the ring where my fingers are located. Pressing fingers or pressing limbs have exactly the same affect, so you're correct that "release when jammed" needs to be included as part of the properties. If the fork is open, then everything pulls through and the weight stays connected. Your de_script_ion is on the mark that the weight falls to the ground and the line flows through the tree freely. The reliability of the weight falling to the ground when released is about 98%.

This ring functions on the same mechanism as the fireman's belay. Imagine the top Munter hitch on the ring as a climber in rappel. The bottom loop is the ground person pulling down on the line. As you know, when someone pulls down on a rope with a munter or figure-8 descender, the rappel halts. This is precisely the same mechanism behind the releasable weight.

You have to play with it, to begin to see it.

Regards,
JimK