Base anchor

[Matthew Burton]

Very thought provoking thread guys!

 

I'm currently using this system shown. Sorry for the rubbish pic, will try and get a better one tomorrow. The SRT line runs through the fig-8 and prussic and would be locked off. The black thing these are clipped to is a hitch climber pulley.

 

Which works for my purpose, entering the canopy before moving over to DRT.

 

I also keep the same set of gear in my rescue kit where a groundsman may lower a casualty. In this instance the use of carabiners isnt really an issue as its always attended nor is the flop test really a problem.

 

However I'm keen to move onto working on SRT or DRT with a floating anchor tied into my SRT line. This is going to require a rethink regarding the use of carabiners and I like the idea of something being flop test proof!

[Paul Smith]

Mathew, what purpose does the HC have apart from an extra attachment point for your krabs? Why don't you just just girth hitch the fig 8 to the hitch? The only problem with having a back up hitch to the line is you can't leave the hitch to assist the casualty you are lowering that may be inverted or unconscious.

 

Thanks to softhawksbanks for reminding me why I don't do it!

[Matthew Burton]

I see your point. If i went to just a figure 8 I'd be able to greatly reduce the gear required. I want to include a fail to safe system though as not everyone I work with is as switched on as I'd like all the time. Any thoughts anyone?

[Paul Smith]

Whatever you place at the base as a fail safe will have to be tended. I have used the Petzl I'd which has a panic function so even a novice can use it without sending a casualty into free fall!

 

By using just the fig 8 maybe the rescuer could tie into the tail with a munter hitch which would allow him to move out to the drip line but would allow him to belay the casualty?

[Matthew Burton]

Interesting suggestion. I shall have to get my thinking cap on....

[DrewB]

when using the hub you can hold the casualty on the bight inside the hub very easily and connect the vt onto your harness if you need to walk away from the stem. Ive had the I'd at the base but didnt like the fact that lots of branches etc were falling near it during work.

[Paul Smith]

Drew, if anything hit the I'd handle it would go into panic mode and lock off. I suppose the hub/fig 8 idea of belaying is the same but it means having to buy another shiny bit of kit!

[DrewB]

i was more concerned with smashing it bro!!!!

[Paul Smith]

i was more concerned with smashing it bro!!!!

 

Ah, see what you mean, it is über strong though!

[softbankhawks]

Matthew's back-up can be removed at the appropriate moment, the back-up hitch will be slack and he can un-clip without any hassle, I think anyway.

After trying the id for a while I believe it is a great fail safe piece of kit but wasn't designed for a trunk anchor/belay application and so is the wrong choice for a working SRT line and belongs, for us, in a RADS bag.

Can I throw up a question? Taking Matthew's trunk anchor as an example, if we judge the sitting end of the srt line to be long enough to get the climber to the floor, begin lowering, but then realise this isnt the case, how do we safely tie an additional line and add friction to that line?