Funny but serious by all accounts!!

[Adam Bourne]

Thats nothing, he was wearing a tutu the other day....allegedly for a dare

 

Haaaaaaaaa!!

[Steve Bullman]

Base Anchors are safe as long as its pointed out

 

I'm sorry, I disagree with that. Pointed out or not, it is always going to be an added risk IMO

[scotspine1]

I didn't believe this the first time either but I've heard countless story's and heard it direct myself!! It's crazy I know but I'm not making it up lol

 

Perhaps this is something that's simply lost in translation.

 

Maybe it's this people are thinking of -

With DbRT work positioning you have all of the critical parts of the system above you and in most situations you're aware of where the two parts of the system are sitting in the tree - they're nearly always in sight, you still have to be aware of the trailing end below, if it gets cut and you don't notice you're falling off the end of your system.

 

With SRT work positioning with a base tie off, the down rope is outwith your control, unlike in DbRT you can't see it in most situations and it's below you where branches, timber do fall and potentially sharp tools can fall. The same applies to the trailing end in SRT as for DbRT.

 

SRTWP with a top tie off is as safe as DbRT.

 

I suspect the confusion and concern lies with SRTWP with the base tie off.

[Dave Alviti]

I often wonder if someone should look into how much tension the line is under and how that effects how easy it is to cut? Because a single line is bearing the full weight does it mean the fibres separate more readily than a ddrt system, say in the case of just nicking it with the saw or silky? We all know it's easier to cut straps and stuff when they are tighter can the same be said for climbing line? I've certainly noticed how much tighter my rope it when climbing srt.

[Dan Curtis]

Adam, does anyone really think that? I've heard the 'high up' industry voice allegation as well from several sources. None of them have ever substantiated it to me, even in confidence.

 

One of the "allegations" was me. I did hear it from a man who is part of the AA. I will not name and shame that person, it will not gain us anything but unecessary embarassment for their part and hard feelings.

 

Needless to say, they've seen the light.

[dexta]

NO

 

It is still only one rope! This is the exact issue adam is talking about. Steve is spot on with his comment about what people are used to. Sure having one leg of line in front of you is unnerving for the first climb or two. However, it is no safer or more dangerous. Hit your line without a secondary anchor, single or doubled rope, you are still screwed.

 

only joking:lol:

[daltontrees]

|I think the source of confusion is really obvious. If your rope is over a branch and down to your frictiobn hitch/device, that's a doublED rope. And of course a single rope. If you are climbing and cutting you should always have 2 separate attachments, often 2 separate ropes. That's doublE ropes. Those ropes can of course be doublED. It'd qurte right to say that it is safer to cut from double ropes than from a single rope. But when the single rope is doublED, cut either side and you are mince.

 

There was a thread about the terminology for SRT a few months or a year ago. Personally I gave upon it because no-one seemed to care that the current terminology was ambiguous and therefore potentially dangerous.

 

Fun video, though. I guess if dolly had had her CS38 she wouldn't have put a loop of the makeshift harness around her neck.

[Ian Flatters]

I'm sorry, I disagree with that. Pointed out or not, it is always going to be an added risk IMO

 

As in Risk Assessment. Sometimes I'm base anchored in for access then switch to a top anchor with a alpine and a choked sling. So if the worst happens, nothing happens to my main lines safety. Other times I've been able to base anchor off a tree away from the drop zone/workzone and once i threw it through a beech tree to raise the line to 15ft is before i climbed to clear it of the work area.

[BenR]

SRTWP with a top tie off is as safe as DbRT.

 

I suspect the confusion and concern lies with SRTWP with the base tie off.

 

Agreed.. As for your comment Wilks, yes you are right, there will be a difference in tension and therefore how easy the rope is to cut. However, realistically, if you are hitting your line with a saw without a secondary point of attachment you are going to be in big trouble regardless of whether its single or doubled rope.

 

With regards to Ians post, Im of the same mindset. Im happy working off a base anchor without other climbers in the tree (dont trust anyone). I also make sure my base anchor is high enough up of of the way of groundies swinging saws around or on another tree well out of the way.

Edited February 11, 2014 by BenR

[Dan Curtis]

I'm sorry, I disagree with that. Pointed out or not, it is always going to be an added risk IMO

 

Yes, it's an added part of the system which is in a vulnerable position, but is it any more likely to come to harm than the tail end of a rope? Obviously a rope under tension will cut easier, but any part of a rope which has a lump of tree dropped on it will not fair well.

 

 

 

I suspect the confusion and concern lies with SRTWP with the base tie off.

 

I doubt that. There is obviously confusion about the safety of base anchors, but I don't think the "two bits of rope" issue stems from it.