Pine trees have such densely packed canopies, how do you get your line over a limb? Not only that, how do you get your line to only be over the limb that you choose(instead of it being over every limb in the tree)?

Do you happen to know what species of pine it is? Or are you talking about conifers in general? Branch and crown structure in conifers can vary quite a bit from one species to the other.

To answer generally, you have to start looking for the branch you want, it's up there, somwhere. Conifers often hold larger branches in the lower part of the crown. This is where I look for a branch to throw to.

Once you get your throwbag up there and it actually comes back down over multiple branches there can be alot of work ahead to isolate the branch for DRT climbing.
-moss

Most people throw to a limb when throwing. Depending on the structure of the limb, I might just throw in a general area, then after I throw it, focus on the best limb available from the throw my finagling the line where it makes the best sense.

Might that work in the pines you are climbing?

love
nick

A limby tree is a situation where a throwball on each end of the throwline is a distinct advantage.

Say you get the throw weight over a decently large diameter branch. The end of the throwline still in your hand is probably at an angle, over many limbs. If the weight is allowed to fall straight to the ground, all the rest of the throw line can be pulled to where another weight is at the opposite end of the line. Pull the second weight up almost to the fork, then let it down slowly.

This way, it can be easier to get the two ends of the line parallel. As you lower the second weight to the ground, wiggle it to get it swinging, and follow the path the first throw weight made in between the branches.

Sometimes, the weight used to make the throw with is too light to pull the line reliable to the ground, depending on the texture of the bark, height, etc. Have a few weights of varying sizes handy.

Hope this helps.

Thanks Oman.. That helps a lot. I have been practicing with a giant white pine out in the back yard and your hint helps a lot. I guess I should have held off on hiring the local tree company to trim those extra branches.... Just kidding. Don
In a drop of water is the secret to the oceans.
In the sighing of the branches the secret of our heritage. Anonymous.

I gave up on trying to isolate my line in any evergreen. I now just toss the throw line high in the canopy as close to the trunk as possible and then pull my line up. I asscend SRT which has some advantages. By climbing SRT you dont get all the sap on your rope, you dont have to install a cambium saver, and you can usually get the rope higher in the tree for your initial climb.