Climbing alone?

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

I have the climbing kit in the motor most of the time, i do a lot of lone climbing recreationaly, but never professionaly, not these days, too long in the tooth and too aware of my mortality these days!

 

Like the others say, know your limits, take a mate if you can, and definatley dont try to free climb monster ash trees just cos youve sen a behemoth great Hispidus bracket!

 

The only way up that day was to grab a drooping branch hand over hand swing a leg over and a little shinning, photos done and adrenalin gone i realised I had done something rather Sillet-esque! Im getting to old for this crap, where did my twenties go?

[Stephen Blair]

ha ha tony, i can just see you now, wondering 'how do i get down now??' lol

what ever anyone says its up to you, accidents are never planned, they just happen. Even your rope getting snagged on some ground cover can stop you moving, so you will have to unclip and free climb. Personally i dont think you should, meet up with Nick and the lads and go and play with them:thumbup1:

[rcarolina]

Thanks for all your interesting replies. I didn't make it clear but it wouldn't be alone alone - I would have colleagues able to keep an eye etc.

 

It's a private arboretum at a private school/estate and so only accessible to staff (CRB checks etc). I'm the only one working there with any CS tickets. In the past they have always used contractors, but the tree stock has never really been looked after comprehensively - always reactive work.

 

I think I might give some of the smaller trees a go. I need to get a set of climbing kit (I'll have to buy it myself). Based on what we used in training I'm thinking a basic set would be :

 

Rope

Harness

Flip Line

Biners x5

Throw line/bag

Prussiks x3

Split tail

 

Is there anything else I need for a really basic (non saw use) set-up?

 

Cheers.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

cut out the flip line and split tail, youll only need a main rope plus positioning lanyard the flip lines an over spend on a basic climbing kit.

[Stephen Blair]

spikes:thumbup:

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

spikes:thumbup:

 

Dont take any notice of the Hethen, SWB is on the wind up as always!

[Stephen Blair]

just take big steps u the back side, eh tony:laugh1:

[Peter]

Helmet and decent footwear, good walking/scrambling boots are ideal.

 

I have rec climbed alone many times, as with any hazardous recreational activity, make sure someone knows where you are and when you should be back, and carry a mobile phone on you at all times.

[White Noise]

just take big steps u the back side, eh tony:laugh1:

 

I remember that one

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

just take big steps u the back side, eh tony:laugh1:

 

i dont get it SWB?