|
The Throw-Weight and Other Tools for Rope Placement |
|
The
first problem you'll encounter with climbing large trees is rope
placement: How do you get a rope over a branch if it's 50 feet up? TCI
recommends several tools. The best of these is a throw-weight. This is
a beanbag type of weight, usually 12 or 16 ounces, attached to a
1.75-4mm polypropylene or nylon line, which is usually 150 feet long. A
skilled climber can lob such a line over a branch 70 feet high.
Taller
trees call for different tools. Some trees grow so tall that 70 feet
won't get you half way to the first branch! Slingshots are a good choice
for getting the first line over a high branch. A simple slingshot with
an arm brace, a short fishing rod and reel stuck in the ground, and a
1.5 oz. shot bag attached to a light 15 pound test line will do the
trick.
Many climbers use a "Big Shot," a heavy duty slingshot made by SherrillTree Arborist Supply,
for shooting heavier throw weights high into a tree. (If you use this
method of rope placement, you'll need to pull up a 1/8 inch line before
you can pull up the heavier ½ inch diameter climbing rope.) A bow and
arrow or crossbow using specially designed weighted arrow shafts are
other options for placing high ropes.
|
