Is product development technically effective or unecessarily complex?

[hesslemount]

Being a tree climber wanting to venture into new technical developments but not for the sake of technical self masturbation does anyone have an opinion on the following 2 techniques?:

 

a) Helical (friction hitch) tied to crab with anchor hitch (or buntline) with 1.5M of 8mm aramide which is self adjusted with micro-pulley attached to crab with a small shackle with a 1/4 turn.

b) Double rope technique alternative to footlocking - a left and right ISC foot ascender with Petzl's new double handled ascender (ascentree).

 

I was shown method a) by a friendly member of staff (Craig) at Trees Unlimited in Leeds and seems to work very well although found the helical a little cumbersome to tie in comparison to say a Blake's or Prussik. But the knot does work very fast and runs true. As for method b) I'm awaiting my ascentree in about 2-weeks time to try this method out.

 

I know there'll be lots out there saying "Jeez what's wrong with just a Prusik (or Blake's) and footlocking?". But the investment in money and time to develop the techniques seem to outweigh the cost of unecessary physical exertion caused by "sticking to the old ways" even though the old ways are admittedly good and tried and tested.

 

OBJECTIVE opinions from all corners appreciated.

Edited December 4, 2008 by hesslemount
gramatical

[Rupe]

A) the helical is just one of many "advanced" friction hitches. Advanced really just means that they self tend with use of a small pulley. They are undoubtably different than blakes/prussik and some would say better.

 

The helical (I used it for 2-3 years) is one of the riskiest! It doesn't always grab the rope unless you tie it tight, but then it wont self tend, so you need to tie it loose and hope for the best!

[Rupe]

Forgot the photo of my helical set up.

[Rupe]

That is just one way of doing it.

 

B) The sytem you describe will only work with two fixed ropes, not one rope over a branch. The latter system would work but the rope would be pulled back and forth over the branch and damage the rope/branch, and be hard work.

 

Two fixed lines can be done but is more complicated.

[Rupe]

WHere are you gettign the ascentree from and how much?

[Rupe]

That is just one way of doing it.

 

B) The sytem you describe will only work with two fixed ropes, not one rope over a branch. The latter system would work but the rope would be pulled back and forth over the branch and damage the rope/branch, and be hard work.

 

Two fixed lines can be done but is more complicated.

 

Ignore all that, the system would work fine if you using both legs at once!!

[hesslemount]

WHere are you gettign the ascentree from and how much?

 

Huddersfield Saw & Tool Company

Vine Street

Leeds Road

Huddersfield

West Yorkshire

HD1 6NT Tel.: 01484 424055

 

Ask for Paul he's not a climber but he's incredibly helpful. I got quoted about £105 from the supplier he rang whilst i was there yesterday.

 

Thanks so much for the photo's of your helical / pulley set-up. helped lots.

[Rupe]

Seriously, be carefull with the helical!! A vt is much more reliable!

 

I have improved the set up since that photo but don't use it now and dont have a photo, basically it is possibly to get the pulley right up under the knot so there is no "sit back" this means you know straight away that you are falling out of the of the tree!

 

 

 

The helical is ancient now and there are more technically effective systems available.

Edited December 4, 2008 by Rupe

[scotspine1]

Forgot the photo of my helical set up.

 

Rupe, that little Petzl pulley, as a slack tender I found it was sticking as I tried to advance the hitch, it was the sharpo corners of the side plates. Into garage and filed off corners with flat chainsaw file (rakers), works much better now. never sticks. If anyones gonna try the Swabisch as a hitch for a flipline its better with 5 wraps if your using the marlow cord.

[Rupe]

Good work, you even filed both side to be neat and tidy! Cool.

 

Don't use them now anyway, so last century!!