Body thrusting with hitchclimber and distel

[will.morris]

Thats where fitness comes into play! I just don't see the point in the hassle of a ladder to gain 15ft on say an 80ft tree for example.

 

If its a big tree your going to pace yourself anyway so whats an extra 15ft and if its a small tree just use your lungs for an extra minute.

 

Bigger ladder you might say but then your making things dangerous.

 

Groundies first job should be unloading the tools/warming saws and climbers getting into the tree IMO.

 

Decent breakfast, loads of energy, climb from ground ... no ladder nonsense :001_tt2:

 

Only time for a ladder in my mind is if your working next to a target such as a greenhouse where theres high chance a throwbag could damage something.

 

My opinion only though so please don't take offense if you disagree!

[Joe Loggs]

By the time it takes to get a throw bag in a tree depending on the tree it's just much quicker to throw a ladder up I don't no where this nonsense comes from about not using ladders iv worked for a fair few companies and not one of them didn't use a ladder to get into the tree, I understand If people are scared of them but cmonnn why waste energy when you don't have to.

[Bing!]

First job for the boys on site is tools off, including ladder. Straight to tree. Saws filled, climber up, thats me, very fit thanks. I don't waste energy getting to the first branch, I walk up the ladder. 80 ft tree with first branch at 40ft then ok, throwline to first branch, ladder at full extension and up I go on rope and harness for the first 30ft then thrust the rest. 30ft of unnecessary effort saved. The first bloke that says getting the ladder off the truck is a waste of time gets to put my anchors in every tree.. : )

The council contracts we do can involve streets of 20-30 + trees about 20-30 ft, sod throwlining them, ladder up, step in and get cracking.

 

Just saying like........

 

Bing!

Edited June 11, 2012 by Bing!

[MattyF]

Loosely tied vt and a ladder all the way .... Welcome to the real world.

[skyhuck]

Personally I think customers are more impressed if you don't use ladders, it makes them less likely to think they could do it themselves.

 

I often get offered ladders by customers (as I never take them) I just smile and say "no its all done with ropes, ladders are far to dangerous for tree".

[silky fox]

Recently had an interview at Kew Gardens.....No sign of any ladders. Don,t use em myself..Had a climbing test. threw my anchorpoint in 2 throws completed the test in three movements...foot ascended to the top...Spiderjacked to the extreme left tag...hop skip and a jump to the extreme right tag....Didn,t break a sweat..

[Dan Earp]

It's the holding my weight thing that I struggle with hence why I prefer body thrust prussic but to move around the tree I prefer Hc distel I know it seems pointless but my progress getting up the tree is much better

 

Could you not use the other end of your line , or take up a 2nd rope with you hc to move around quicker? as i like to asend on my vt, but some time use a prussic at the other end or 2nd line.

[Paulfreebury]

Could you not use the other end of your line , or take up a 2nd rope with you hc to move around quicker? as i like to asend on my vt, but some time use a prussic at the other end or 2nd line.

 

Yes I could, but my original idea was a way of capturing my progress while using my hitchclimber vt, adding a prussic above the vt takes a couple of seconds to put on and take off and enables me to bodythrusts and take up slack without holding my weight. By adding a prussic you don't need to use the other end of your rope.

[Bing!]

Do you use a friction saver with rollers? I find this puts a lot of stress on the arm you lock off when ascending, I use a bog standard friction saver, no rollers, as it reduces friction (of course) but has just enough friction to reduce the effort required to hold your weight comfortably.

 

Bing!

[will.morris]

I'm clearly not in the real world then ...

 

You'd never use a ladder in competition, college or when doing a ticket because they are seen as bad practice in a red tape sense. Not saying this is why I don't use them, I know we all do things (inc me) that by the book are deemed as bad practice.

 

Not knocking people for using ladders, it's your choice. Just saying personally I feel no need for them.

 

20-30ft street trees, again why is throwlining (or even rope throwing on that size) going to take more than a few mins to get a line in.

 

I also agree with skyhuck on the professional image thing. BUT as I say clearly some people have the complete opposite opinion to me, so lets conclude ladder use as marmite ... but I think we knew that already