Beginners climbing guide, hints, tips and general climbing techniques

[joe123]

I've tried Buckingham, stein and bashlin so far. Think I'm just gonna go with the bashlins, I prefer them to the Buckingham and the stein, thanks for the help.

[Joe Newton]

I have a pair of well used bashlins, bought from a member here. I find them much comfier than the Buckingham ones.

[stoff101]

Hi all!

 

I am just starting out climbing trees with gaffs. I've been practicing on an old oak that's due to come down soon. My problem is descending. I seem to be ok getting up the damn thing and then the nerves kick in on the way back down. Obviously I have practiced by just taking a few steps up and then back down, but as soon as I get to a hight where a slip would hurt, I lose my confidence in the gaffs.

 

Is this noemal for a beginner and can you give me any tips on descending? I keep a good angle away from the tree and and keep my lanyard level while standing. when coming down with the lanyard I do the opposite action to an ascend, is this correct?

 

I would sooner practice on a softer wood but don't have any other trees I can risk damaging. Just terrified about gaffing out.

 

Sorry for the mass of writing! Thanks for any help in advance!

[Quercus-90]

Hi all!

 

I am just starting out climbing trees with gaffs. I've been practicing on an old oak that's due to come down soon. My problem is descending. I seem to be ok getting up the damn thing and then the nerves kick in on the way back down. Obviously I have practiced by just taking a few steps up and then back down, but as soon as I get to a hight where a slip would hurt, I lose my confidence in the gaffs.

 

Is this noemal for a beginner and can you give me any tips on descending? I keep a good angle away from the tree and and keep my lanyard level while standing. when coming down with the lanyard I do the opposite action to an ascend, is this correct?

 

I would sooner practice on a softer wood but don't have any other trees I can risk damaging. Just terrified about gaffing out.

 

Sorry for the mass of writing! Thanks for any help in advance!

 

Back your flip line up with your main line double choked around the stem when going to any height, then any slip you'll be caught by your main line so no worries!

 

As long as you have the angle right, and you step your gaffs in hard enough, there is no reason you should slip

 

 

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[Dan Curtis]

Keep your hands on your flipline, not the tree. If you slip, cinch your line tight and it'll catch you.

 

This might help too;

 

[stoff101]

Thanks guys!

[philip9992000]

Hi I'm new to climbing and wondered what rope would you recommend and what sort of length

[JKUltra]

Hello fellow climbers.

 

Love the climbing aspect of Arboriculture so much that I'd like to climb trees just for fun...

 

What's the rules on going out, finding big trees and climbing them? (You know, in the eyes of the law, get charged with criminal damage or something!)

 

I don't want to get slapped with the book!!!

[crackoff]

Just like to say what a great thread...

 

Full of useful info and help.

 

Its threads like this one that show that, as a group, tree climbers of all sorts appreciate that not everyone knows whats best, but that even those starting out need a guiding hand in what can be a very dangerous (especially if not done right) game. Other than a few minor disagreements, or discussions on relative physics, you all show that no matter what, safety comes first. ease of operation, and speed come second.

 

I'd just like to offer a round of applause to those who know that offering advice, gained from experience, is free. But that the lack of that advice, can cost dearly...

:congrats::congrats:

[paul330d]

HI I'm fairly new to climbing,was taught drt with prusik hitches

I'm looking at trying the hitch climber and was wondering how you advance up the tree,with the way i was taught you anchor yourself with one end of the rope to the tree and throw the other end around the next limb above you and so on.

but i can't see how you can do this with a hitch climber .

hope this makes sense.

paul