Long ascents

[DrewB]

Brett- I'm not a huge fan of the unicender for descending big trees. Wear will be rapid on re device and the wrap over the top is quite dodgy if you have a lot of rope below you -anything over 30m+ Of rope and it won't automatically flick off on release. Also I have limited time on the unicender too so others may have better advice

[Mark Bolam]

My bail-out option is vital when I've just conquered a 40' Sycamore and a MILF brings the teas out....

 

 

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[carlos]

My bail-out option is vital when I've just conquered a 40' Sycamore and a MILF brings the teas out....

 

 

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[Old Mill Tree Care]

My bail-out option is vital when I've just conquered a 40' Sycamore and a MILF brings the teas out....

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Arbtalk

 

Brilliant!

:lol:

[Old Mill Tree Care]

On a serious note, I was looking at the HAAS threads on The Treehouse just a few days ago. There are no UK dealers for it so I could make my own except I can't splice and I wouldn't have clue how to get the bungee inside the rope.

This later part is surely done with real magic.

 

Any ideas chaps?

Thanks.

[rumination]

You don't need to do all the splicing to make a perfectly functional knee ascender. I actually prefer my homemade one to the HAAS as it's smaller and lighter, and works just as well.

 

Any kind of footloop on the bottom, any type of small ascender in the middle, bungee on top. Adjust lengths until it's just right for you.

 

Sorry for the giant picture...

 

[rumination]

As to the original question: this type of knee ascender/foot ascender rope walking setup is really nice for long ascents. Even if you don't have a RW this is a great system. Put your friction hitch on the rope as usual and use a lanyard-over-the-shoulder or light chest harness to tether it upright. The advantage is that when you get to the top your friction hitch is already tied up and all you have to do is clip the other side of your line on and you're ready to work. The only disadvantage to not having a single rope working device (e.g. RW or HH) is that if you need to descend in a hurry on your way up you'll have to take a moment to slap on a figure 8 or munter below your hitch to add a bit of extra friction, but it's loads easier than trying to change over from hand/chest ascenders to a dedicated descender.

Edited April 17, 2014 by rumination

[Old Mill Tree Care]

Thanks Rumination.

The only thing that puts me off about you design is the piece of elastic. When it's clipped to the back of my harness when I'm working I can see it getting caught on things and twanging my arse, really badly.

 

The HAAS has the elastic internally.

[rumination]

I see what you mean. I stuff the whole thing in my lanyard hip pouch so I've never had that problem.

[Old Mill Tree Care]

I see what you mean. I stuff the whole thing in my lanyard hip pouch so I've never had that problem.

 

Oh, I use a Ropetek Sidewinder for my lanyard so I don't have a hip pouch.

 

Thinking on though, I wouldn't have a HAAS with me on small & medium trees that have branches an twigs everywhere.

 

A HAAS has just gone on my shopping list.

 

 

Sent with my iPhone from me, to you!