Failed CS38 - Looking for advice.

[peds]

19 hours ago, nepia said:

Tree surgeon's handbag is what my instructor called it

 

Plain old handbag is what we were told. But we were still learning, of course.

[Stephen Blair]

I used to use a half brick, the 3 holes ones, smash in half then just tie my rope through the remaining hole!  I thought I was genius and had that bad boy for 2 years in the climbing bag!  Then I worked with another climber for the first time and I grabbed his rope because he couldn’t get it into the tree , tied in the mighty half brick and launched her easy 40ft up an ash, she bounced about a bit, then fed his rope down lovely!  He had fit as it was a brand new rope!  My reply was just use the other end!  I loved that brick! 

[Vedhoggar]

10 hours ago, Stephen Blair said:

I used to use a half brick, the 3 holes ones, smash in half then just tie my rope through the remaining hole!  I thought I was genius and had that bad boy for 2 years in the climbing bag!  Then I worked with another climber for the first time and I grabbed his rope because he couldn’t get it into the tree , tied in the mighty half brick and launched her easy 40ft up an ash, she bounced about a bit, then fed his rope down lovely!  He had fit as it was a brand new rope!  My reply was just use the other end!  I loved that brick! 

I’ve often wondered why bricks have holes … 

[Jayouz]

On 22/03/2023 at 19:13, Mark Bolam said:

If you want to become a climber you can’t just say ‘I’m crap at throwing’.

 

You need to practice till you’re half decent at throwing, or forget becoming a climber.

It’s an important part of the job.

 

Forget poles, slings, throwbags etc.

Yes, they are all useful, but you need to nail the basics to progress quickly.

Coil the rope as in the pic.

No idea what it’s called. It should take under 5 seconds.

Keep the coils small when you’re in the tree.

Grip the loop at the bottom and the rope beside it and throw it over the crotch or branch above you.

It will unravel and drop back to you.

 

Get up a small tree till you’re suspended above the ground.

Doesn’t matter if it’s 2’, as long as you’re off the ground.

Then practice throwing the loop above you.

If it’s not working, change your body angle. Change your arm. Change your hair colour. Change your gender if you have to.

Just make the changes necessary to make the throw.

Then practice.

Then practice more.

 

Twigs and branches in the way?

Trees can be like that.

Deal with it.

 

This isn’t an easy game.

Put the graft in and see how far you can go.

If you aren’t prepared to put the graft in quit now.

 

It would be good to keep us updated on how you get on.

 

I would say good luck, but it’s not about luck.

It’s about effort.

 

 

 

Oh believe me I don't want to stay being a crap thrower! At the moment I don't have kit to get myself into a tree but I'm working on that, just trying to figure out what to buy and spend the pennies wisely! I have my harness, lanyard and foot ascender sorted, at the moment I'm trying to decide what ropes to buy.

All I was looking for is some tips for if I get stuck on the next assessment, I'm quite happy to go and spend time practicing up a tree once I get my own kit, 

[Joe Newton]

You bought a foot ascender before you bought a rope?

[Rich Rule]

11 hours ago, Stephen Blair said:

I used to use a half brick, the 3 holes ones, smash in half then just tie my rope through the remaining hole!  I thought I was genius and had that bad boy for 2 years in the climbing bag!  Then I worked with another climber for the first time and I grabbed his rope because he couldn’t get it into the tree , tied in the mighty half brick and launched her easy 40ft up an ash, she bounced about a bit, then fed his rope down lovely!  He had fit as it was a brand new rope!  My reply was just use the other end!  I loved that brick! 

I once used some bailer twine and the largest socket I could find in the set.

 

Worked pretty well and got my up that tree.

[Mark Bolam]

Redneck.

[AHPP]

A fairly stout (14oz?) ball pein hammer head was my first throwbag. Rightly nervous to use it around houses. 

[Jayouz]

5 hours ago, Joe Newton said:

You bought a foot ascender before you bought a rope?

 

Apparently the hire kits were mixed up so on the morning of the last day of training the guy put it all back which then switched me to a left food ascender which I didn't like, asked if there was any chance of another right foot ascender and was told I would probably get told to get used to it so picked up a right ascender when I bought my harness.

 

*EDIT* Not buying ropes yet is just trying to figure out what ropes to buy and what lengths to buy, also what setup to use, on the course we just used prusiks loops but tempted to go for a hitchclimber setup as there are more options for the friction hitch, I sometimes found with the prusiks that 2 wraps wouldn't hold my weight but 3 wraps was too much.

Edited March 24, 2023 by Jayouz

[5thelement]

6 hours ago, Jayouz said:

 

Apparently the hire kits were mixed up so on the morning of the last day of training the guy put it all back which then switched me to a left food ascender which I didn't like, asked if there was any chance of another right foot ascender and was told I would probably get told to get used to it so picked up a right ascender when I bought my harness.

 

*EDIT* Not buying ropes yet is just trying to figure out what ropes to buy and what lengths to buy, also what setup to use, on the course we just used prusiks loops but tempted to go for a hitchclimber setup as there are more options for the friction hitch, I sometimes found with the prusiks that 2 wraps wouldn't hold my weight but 3 wraps was too much.

You where climbing two ropes on two Prussics, mixed up hire kits, what kind of training place was this as it’s all starting to sound like horseshit?