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TOPIC: Climbing trees with outward sloping branches
#131552
michaeljspraggon (User)
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Climbing trees with outward sloping branches 5 Months, 2 Weeks ago  
I might be climbing a Giant Redwood in a few weeks time. The last time I did that was 8 years ago, before I had the sense and knowledge to use ropes. However, the lower branches on these trees often slope outwards so wouldn't this lead to ropes/lanyards rolling down them instead of sitting in the crotch?

Is there a way to ensure this doesn't happen? I thought of double-wrapping the lanyards so that they grip the branch when loaded. Perhaps the only way to achieve a similar thing with the static rope placement is to isolate the branch, put a bowline on the end and pull the other end through until the rope cinches up against the branch. However wouldn't the rope roll down the branch when pulling the rope through anyway?

Any suggestions would be most welcome.

Michael
 
 
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#131596
michaeljspraggon (User)
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Re:Climbing trees with outward sloping branches 5 Months, 1 Week ago  
We might climb this tree tomorrow so any suggestions would really be appreciated

Thanks,
Michael
 
 
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#131615
moss (User)
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Re:Climbing trees with outward sloping branches 5 Months ago  
Here's one way DRT, you have to climb the trunk opposite the branch. Won't be able to get very close to the branch as the angle closes up, assuming you'll have another branch to throw to once you're up there.

I think that you can successfully cinch the sloping branch though without having to resort to the difficult method suggested in the sketch.
 
 
 
Last Edit: 05/05/2008 03:44pm By moss.
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#131616
michaeljspraggon (User)
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Re:Climbing trees with outward sloping branches 5 Months ago  
We climbed (and measured) that Giant Sequoia yesterday, before seeing your sketch. Double-wrapping the lanyards does grip the branches enough to support my weight even when hanging from an almost vertical branch. however it was a real struggle between 25 and 55 ft where the branches are at between 5 and 10 inches across, come out at -45° and almost immediately drop vertically - very hard not to slip off while setting each new lanyard (so sometimes I just hung from the other lanyard while doing it). I couldn't believe that we climbed this tree without ropes in 2000 (just before discovering TCI) . I would never take that kind of risk now.

The tree is 129 ft tall and therefore one of the tallest in the county. My camera batteries died so there are no photos.

Regading your sketch: I think it could work but only if the branches weren't sloping too much or the trunk wasn't too thick otherwise getting the rope up there in the first place would not be possible. Fortunately the tree has branches to ground level so we used short lanyards all the way.

Michael
 
 
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#131617
moss (User)
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Re:Climbing trees with outward sloping branches 5 Months ago  
Ok, now with a better de_script_ion of the tree, sounds liker alternating two lanyards (one the main cimbing rope w/split tail is the way to go (sounds like what you did). You could also girth two long slings alternately as protection while you ladder climb the tree, trailing your climbing rope for descent.
-moss
 
 
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#131619
michaeljspraggon (User)
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Re:Climbing trees with outward sloping branches 5 Months ago  
We didn't use a long climbing rope - the hard section was so difficult that I didn't want the added resistance and complication of having a rope dangling from my harness or sitting in my backpack, so we just had to climb back down the same way we ascended.

Slings can't be adjusted and also have no stretch, so if I had slipped then I would have taken a fall of several feet and come to an abrupt stop. The lanyards on the other hand can be adjusted to take up the slack and I use dynamic climbing rope for the short lanyards when climbing branches.

How do canopy researchers climb full-size giant sequoias? I'm guessing that they can fire a crossbow bolt high up into the canopy to where one of those huge limbs that has a vertical iteration and from there, either repeat the process or climb on branches, which at that point are more horizontal than drooping.

Michael
 
 
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