Spiking up a pole with mainline choked off

[Blah]

We were discussing this at work the other day, spike up a conifer with flipline and main climbing line, clean off brash on the way up.

 

I was taught to just have the mainline around the tree. If gaffs kick out, I'm sliding down the tree.

 

Boss was saying he leaves stubs for this reason. I don't like this solution as you then have to cut again on the way down, or worse, groundie has to clean off the chogs.

 

The other climber was saying how he'd been taught to tie off his main climbline with a running bowline. Seems neat, but now you've got your full weight on prussik / zigzag / hh w/vt designed for a 2 to 1 mechanical advantage, so likely won't work brilliantly either.

 

Did a search on the forum and saw some suggestions for adding in a figure of eight to descend, but can't really picture how that would work.

 

Does any of you kind souls have a picture or two of how to set this up?

[stihlmadasever]

Choke a cambium saver or sling and biner around the stem and run your rope through that so you can descend quick if an accident happens.

You have to move the cambium saver/sling up as you go up the tree though..which is a bit of a pain.

On connies i really doubt you would fall straight down with a rope and prussik round the stem,more likely to twist and catch you on the rough bark imo

[Aicchalmers]

pulleysaver/fimbiclimb allows you to adjust it neatly to the diameter of the stem, and it's convenient for coming down for lunch and having an anchor point on a smooth stem! Supposedly with running through a carabiner on a sling you should use two with the gates pointing in opposite directions ..

[Pete Mctree]

The running bowline will function the best. I think it is irrelevant that you cannot release the prussic, as it is not a working system in that configuration. It is just there as a backup if you slip.

[stihlmadasever]

Ive used a multi anchor before aswell as cambium saver

[Pete Mctree]

Looks difficult to advance - besides, your not going to slip that far with such monster stubs

[woody paul]

If you are that worried double wrap flip line so it bites stem if you drop.

[stihlmadasever]

Looks difficult to advance - besides, your not going to slip that far with such monster stubs

 

Lol yeah was just an example of a top anchor point on a pole to allow for quick descent in a 'i need a cuppa' scenario.

[Aicchalmers]

hs regs does say you should always have a lowerable system, and makes it a lot easier to come down with an anchor point all ready in place/ advance your anchor above you on a smooth stem when rigging etc for some extra security..

[Pete Mctree]

You can always spike back down, or improvise & place a munters on a krab below the prussic. Sometimes an over reliance on gadgets can slow the job down & fatigue you. A cambium saver whilst working I understand, but whilst ascending?