I've done several climbs lately free_style_, that is depending on arms and legs and not using a rope to aid in ascent or descent. For future climbs of this sort I plan to wear a saddle and use a short lanyard to remain tied in while climbing. This requires a tree that has branches close enough to the ground so you can get in to the tree and branches closely spaced enough that they can be reached climbing in the tree. I found that I was getting muscle demands and body movement different from DdRT. I'm beginning to think that there is a place for this type of "backed-up" free climbing in the world of rec climbing. Maybe the tree equivalent of bouldering in the rock climbing world. What do you think?
-moss

I am definitely intrigued. I have also wondered about doing "top roping"

This of course should be done with Dynamic rope but could be a lot of fun.

The biggest issue that I see is that when you come loose - you will swing and that could ram you into something sharp - like a broken branch.

Top roping in a tree is problematic because you could only climb on the route that the rope follows down through the branches. With DdRT you can move laterally or at an angle upwards by setting new TIPs with the other end of the rope. Once you get more climbing time in you'll start to see where rock climbing concepts might hold up and where they cease to be applicable. Take a look at Jepson's Tree Climber's Companion for a practical de_script_ion of basic climbing technique.

The problem (or benefit) of swing is always present with any roped technique in a tree.
-moss

Originally posted by moss
I've done several climbs lately free_style_, that is depending on arms and legs and not using a rope to aid in ascent or descent. . . What do you think?
-moss
Ya know moss...
I’m glad you brought this free-climb issue up.
The need to free-climb (Bareroots _style_ but with shoes on) arises for instance, when using tall thin trees to mount stabilizer lines onto when setting up a treeboat.

One large mature tree holds the treeboat’s main support lines but I often string a stabilizer line or two into neighboring trees. Frequently these neighboring trees are very tall and thin. The only practical way to get up in these tall skinny’s is to free-climb them. A climbing saddle & line only complicates this type of climbing. Your much better off stripping down to the bare minimum and doing a free-climb.

The only set-up that might help when climbing above a worthy tie-in-point would be a fall-arrest harness.



A deceleration lanyard will help keep your eyeballs in the sockets should you take a fall.


My Son occasionally free climbs an incredibly tall pine on the back of my property. Seems to me that a fall would be somewhat cushioned by the massive web of pine branches that the tree has.
Then again... maybe not

Looks like I have a few books to buy...

What else is new. Of course, the problem is that shipping them here often costs nearly as much as the books.

I can usually figure out a way to get them eventually.

There are disadvantages to living in paradise.

crtreedude, check your U2U messages, the _link_ is at the top of the main message board page.
Thanks,
-moss