Hello folks, First thanks to Peter and Patty for all their help. Without the video I am sure I would be still staring up at the tree. I have only been climbing for 2 weeks. I love the challenge of it. I have been going up and down to my comfort level, about 20 ft., for practice. I have noticed I am relaxing more at these heights. Today I cut some branches to help out a neighbor and it was helpful to be distracted by grunting so hard on those big pine limbs. It is nice to see improvement. So here is what I would like feedback on. Will I slowly acclimate so I can climb to the top of this 80 ft. tree and be relaxed while doing it? Thirty years ago I would be the carpenter to go out on the roof line to set up the roof jacks. Well now I notice that I am a bit more sensitive to the spinning. :_b_link__:
I have been leaving my rope in the tree as it has been beautiful weather with no rain. Is that ok for the rope as long as it isn't getting wet? It makes it so convenient to come home and get right into the tree.
Another part of the question is that since I have been using the rope for 3 or 4 days in the same set up and knots, does that account for the difficulty in releasing the blakes's hitch to come down. It was kind of funny last night, I decided to go back up as it was getting dark, then I hung around for a while. Well I had to giggle to myself when I started to squeeze the line and it wouldn't budge. I had never thought about the inability to come down, only about the unwillingness to come down too fast. I finally got it released so I wasn't rescued or anything but it was funny.
Thanks for all the sharing by everyone. I have been making my way through the archives. Have a great weekend. All the best Don

Leaving a rope in the tree is probably not a good idea. Squirrels have been known to chew on the rope, sometimes in places that can not be seen from the ground. Ropes also get sticky if left tied up (knots) outside. The rope can get stiff with UV exposure too if left too long in the trees. Use a smaller line in place after climbing. Any cheap line can be used as long as it can haul up the weight of a rope.

Don,
What kind of rope are you using? Also, it is best to undo your knots if you are going to leave the rope up unused for any length of time.

Thanks for the input treeman and ponderosa. Sorry if my first post seemed so mundane, what I left out was.. Yowee! This has been amazing. I love it. I just sat on my first branch way up in this pine tree. Granted when I look straight down I get dizzey, so I don't look down much. The tree was very kind to me. I cut a couple dead branches, and then it started to pour. I hardly felt it. What a friend. I am still in that tree time high, from having just gotten back. I did take my poison ivy rope down. It was like an omen, when I got to the tree there was a squirrel headed right up beside my rope. I learn, slowly but surely.
I did notice some flatterning and darkening of the line where the blake's hitch had been. This is probably the glazing I have heard about. I must admit the belay down is great fun. Now that I want to go a little faster then very slow I should probably put on a split tail? That is the point of them right? Thanks for the help. Joy to all Don

Don, about getting stuck hanging on your Blakes...

When you hang in one position for a long time on a Blake's it tends to lock tight on the down rope. I've noticed that Poison Ivy is a little more prone to this than other ropes. To unlock stand on your footloop or footlock the down rope, you want to unload the hitch the same as if you were ascending. While it's unloaded try moving it up. This should be enough to unlock.

Descending fast...
A split tail will theoretically allow you descend faster but you can still burn your main rope doing that, moderation is better. A split tail saves wear on your main rope but it is most useful for passing branches or recrotching, it saves the trouble of untying and retying your Blake's in the tree.

Split tails increase the complexity of your system, you'll have more safety checkpoints for your pre-climb inspection. Split tails also introduce some biner management problems at your saddle delta. Not show stoppers but things to consider.
-moss

Jolly1, Tell us a bit more about yourself, Age, location, how you got started in tree climbing, Have you Taken any classes yet?, or read soem books, etc. Where you got the gear and what do you have so far. This will allow us to provide some feedback that is more appropriate to your level of confidence, training and knowledge. What do you do for living now? Are you still a carpenter????.

Yes, you will become more comfortable and have more confidence as the time goes by and as you either take some organized training or have a chance to climb with another person with experience that can provide some suggestions and advise on your techniques and way of doing stuff.
Have fun and welcome to the community.