Poll on two rope technique.

[mikedrums69]

Ive been climbing with a back up more often than not for the past year. Just use a simple a hitch with a hitch climber on a single line. Never really notice it now I’m used to it being there. I do find it beneficial being able to add my chicane and redirect it if I want to for some reason. I tend to risk assess it out tho if I’m on spikes/flip line and not jumping about a lot 

[Mark Bolam]

Wouldn’t you struggle to bale on that line if you had to Mike?

[Marksquirrell]

I work in the utilities environment and I see it as a don’t get caught scenario.

The clients we work for have their auditors who would throw the book at you even though they have no idea what they are talking about (a bit like HSE I guess.)

Generally the trees were climbing are too small and awkward to have a second line let alone a secondary anchor. Also Wtf do you do when working in conifers?! [emoji23]

I’m about the only person I know climbing SRT and when I’m in a big tree much prefer setting a redirect than a secondary line.

That’s my view point, I know some people are trying to adopt 2 ropes but generally it just hampers you.

[Paddy1000111]

6 minutes ago, Marksquirrell said:

generally it just hampers you.

Apart from a little added safety or the ability to use two isolated anchors to aid movement I think the only thing that two ropes does is hamper 😂

[mikedrums69]

27 minutes ago, Mark Bolam said:

Wouldn’t you struggle to bale on that line if you had to Mike?

I can use both hitches with one hand. I use one 40m rope and the other is roughly 20-25m. The longest is always set to reach the ground and personally I don’t have stopper knots at the bottom. So if I had to bomb out in a hurry I’d just run off the end of short rope whilst transferring into my long rope. 
 

[Mark Bolam]

6 minutes ago, mikedrums69 said:

I can use both hitches with one hand. I use one 40m rope and the other is roughly 20-25m. The longest is always set to reach the ground and personally I don’t have stopper knots at the bottom. So if I had to bomb out in a hurry I’d just run off the end of short rope whilst transferring into my long rope. 
 

I meant your single line with just a hitch and a hitchclimber?

 

Really hard to descend on just that.

 

Found out one morning 50’ up a pop when I’d forgotten to connect my Ropewrench.

 

I was very, very hungover.

 

Don't tell the HSE. 

[Spruce Pirate]

1 hour ago, MattyF said:

No mick I never said it was , but if your going to harp on about it being the law endlessly it’s interesting to see out of 46 votes 43 are not using it.. I could not give a flying **************** either way if you or I use two ropes or not.. I definitely won’t be when I’m rigging trees that won’t suit it or I feel it’s dangerous and it will certainly encourage me to become a bigger fat middle aged bastard by using a mewp as much as possible.

 

Making climbers less agile, less competitive and slower will be part of the process to convert people to MEWP work, which is what they (HSE) really want anyway.

[mikedrums69]

5 minutes ago, Mark Bolam said:

I meant your single line with just a hitch and a hitchclimber?

 

Really hard to descend on just that.

 

Found out one morning 50’ up a pop when I’d forgotten to connect my Ropewrench.

 

I was very, very hungover.

 

Don't tell the HSE. 

Ah yeah, gotta! Yeah I’d have to add some friction before I could come down. I’ve usually got a few bits on my harness to aid with self rescue or a rescue of someone else. 
the way I see it though. If I were to stupidly cut my main line. I’d rather have a back up line that I could get myself down on or someone else could use in aid. Than dangle on just my side Ds waiting for someone. Unfortunately rescue is never a straight forward thing like on courses

[mikedrums69]

24 minutes ago, mikedrums69 said:

Ah yeah, gotta! Yeah I’d have to add some friction before I could come down. I’ve usually got a few bits on my harness to aid with self rescue or a rescue of someone else. 
the way I see it though. If I were to stupidly cut my main line. I’d rather have a back up line that I could get myself down on or someone else could use in aid. Than dangle on just my side Ds waiting for someone. Unfortunately rescue is never a straight forward thing like on courses

Gotta?????? My bad... meant, Gotcha 🙄

 

what a dick 😅

[jarborist]

24 minutes ago, Spruce Pirate said:

Making climbers less agile, less competitive and slower will be part of the process to convert people to MEWP work, which is what they (HSE) really want anyway.

👍 Although I imagine they may not have that exact agenda. They just don't care. 

I've been trying to use two lines as often as possible. (not tried it in conifers yet) I've found what most of us knew: you can do it. It's often very awkward . It doesn't often increase safety. It's interesting where it can be useful.  But overall it can  increase the danger in quite a few scenarios. 

Just like a lot of things (eg. More tickets for everything) I can't see it reducing accidents. If the hse spoke to some arbs who work maybe they might find some better answers to reducing accidents.