RC0

An added bonus then that my post amused you....I wasn't even trying. If youre going to throw a party its a good policy to send out some invites beforehand. Where was it posted before ?

Did you-yourself do anything here promote the competition ? Did you start a thread somewhere ? If not then you cant really complain about having no support after the event. You guys dont really help yourselves. I agree with the others who suggested that you have the perfect platform here on Arbtalk to promote the event....which Im guessing has way more members than the ISA UK....not to mention a whole lot more traffic on the site each day. But you choose not to. Why ? I dont know you from adam, but if you asked me to come and support or your competition, I would, no probs. Im sure a lot of others on AT would too. Did you or anyone else get any photos from the day ? Video? How did it feel to win ? Congratulations by the way. You're on the inside, where's most here are not and dont really get the appeal. Its hard to relate if you dont open up and sell it.

Going back some years, climbers were taught to use both ends of their line to work the tree in the UK...lanyards weren't really the done thing. So thats not what you'd call DRT, but for arguments sake its exactly the same principle. But the point being that they were configured as a 2:1 system, with appropriate hardware to accommodate. Obviously the hardware and techniques that makes 1:1 climbing workable differs somewhat. Is there a written standard or rule of thumb for a base-tie 1:1 system in the UK ? Or the ridirect (high point),up in the tree ? Somebody must know. If you're a pro-treeworker and you fall off an unsecured ladder without a safety line, your insurance company might tell you to go whistle. If you're ascending a tree with a base tie (single line 1:1) and your high point/redirect fails, possible the 2:1 effect a contributing factor.... you take a fall and get hurt....are you insured ? If such a claim ran into tens, possible hundreds of thousands....I can't imagine an insurance company let alone the HSE saying 'there your cash, get well soon'. I'm out of UK legislation for 3 years now, but I'm pretty sure you can't just configure whatever climbing system you want and assume to be insured. Must be some trainers/assessors here on arbtalk....is SRT 1:1 part of any criteria ?

You know what I meant. I'll reply appropriately when I get finished at work.

Quite possible that the high point or redirect failed 'because' he was using Srt, as opposed to DdRT....due to 2:1 (or not quite) effect on the crotch with that set-up. I prefer the term SRT as to refer to the fact that you're attached to a single part or leg of the line, DdRT for the same reason....before you start Kevin. I dont care how many lines make up the chain.

click on the 'manage attachments option, Jon, then put your pics on.

Just make sure you have slings long enough that you have a distance of at least a foot between the carabiner and the log once you've choked them up....as too short a distance and the log or limb can get unexpectedly jammed at any point on the way down....that'd give you a wobble mate. Not really any new vids in the process, although I do collect clips here and there. I need spare time to put anything together though. You dont need to go mad tensioning the line when you're zipping logs, as opposed to limbs....as they much shorter so less likely to drag, snag or fall short of the landing. Obviously depends on how much height you have too. The groundworker on this job just took a re-direct on the tree, then a wrap on the snap hook which put him in a good position to see everything as it happened. See pics

Mark on this job the landing was probably 80-100 feet away....certainly the ground anchor was 100, but we let them drop before that point. What you have to consider is that the steeper the angle, the less pull on the tree....so there's actually much less wobble when you're higher up. And by the time you're lower with a wider line angle, sure it pulls much harder on the tree but a shorter, thicker tree is obviouslly stronger too. At least, that's the way it seems.

Thanks again. bigger slings paddy but same set up, steel carabiniers. Its hard on the rope, so probably shouldn't use your fave....but very quick and easy to set up for each log. No crazy tensioning of the line....just a wrap on a tree. I know Jon (jomoco) has some good zip line pics, hopefully he'll post if he follows the thread. Are you out this way now Paddy ?

Im all right mate, thanks. Lots of pruning but they make for boring pictures. Or at least, doesn't look like anythings happening. I have 2 days of reduction work on that job now. Trees all similar sized. Hard work. Good job I have old man strength. Tom, about 130. And thats a pretty accurate measurement. Thanks

The last pic should have been first in line, as that was taken at the start of the day. Two more days left on that site. All pruning/reduction work of similar sized trees.

Some tall trees besides a house today. I set the camera on timelapse-3 seconds, so you are relying on luck to capture something worth while. Ziplined much of the logs out until we got too low, then lowered the remainder. The lowering part was awkward because the logs ended up all jammed in the stone walkways down below. Couldn't drop any of it because of the risk of the logs bouncing. all kinds of stupid shrubs, sprinklers.....and the house of course.

ziplining the top of a 90 footer

Nice work Tom. Was the tree dying ?

Nice work David, and a very watchable vid. You got some ugly trees there. Especially liked the speed-line/traverse. I dont do anywhere near the amount of rigging that I used to since moving to BC, but the rings still get used regularly. I like that they're so much less cumbersome than blocks and pulley....and the fact that I dont have to worry about a block getting pressed into the side of the tree or mis-aligned. A ring is a ring, there's no wrong way to load it, if you know what I mean. Wouldn't be a bad idea to send out some samples for the guys use and pass around perhaps while you're waiting for a dealer come on board. Lots of proficient and enthusiastic riggers on the UK scene. You done any negative blocking vids ?

Quite a big tree for just two of us on the job. A ton of limbs, up to 6in and 20 ft over the first half, then becoming smaller there after. Ziplined nearly all so to enable to keep the limbs whole and get them closer to the chipper. I had to get down 3 times to help chip and sort out, but it worked out as one guy trying to chip and run the line would've been way too slow. Was able to fall a good sized log towards the end which saved a lot of time. Some big jobs ahead in the coming weeks.

Yeah its a pain in the bo llocks. but if it you hit some really bad resin bubbles and leave it overnight it can soak in to become permanent hard spot in the line. Will bring you to an absolute halt when your hitch hits it everytime there onwards. Mark I got the spiderjack for double line. Not mastered it yet though. Still on the ropewrench with hitch on a single line. Edit: just hit a thousand posts. Been a member since day one I believe. Is there a prize ?

Olive oil works pretty well for resin....with bucket of hot water and a scrubbing brush. Some weeks I'll have to wash the Same line 3, 4 consecutive nights if I'm unlucky.

Edwood mentioned the zz being hard on the ropes. I do recall this being an issue even at a trade show demo before they hit the market. Anyone else had a problem ? Bear in mind I'd be using it for long descents, fully loaded. Thanks again.

More great insight. Thanks again:thumbup1: Looks like the SJ. For those who mentioned SRT, thanks....I do lots of SRT. Just not for every tree and task. Sometimes I'll switch systems in the tree even, depending. But thanks, again. I'll order it tonight.

Thanks for the info, much appreciated I did have a go with a spiderjack (not the lockjack) just the other day for the first time and while it took some getting used to, it does has a lot of promise for the kind of thing Im doing here. I especially liked the way the rope just falls through it and that I can choose some or even no resistance at all when Im limb walking, even at a wide line angle. Little concerned about the clutch situation though, having to keep buying new ones. Used the unicender when they first came out, and while I though it was a brilliant concept and performed splendidly as a stop/go work-positioning device, anything in between was not really fit for purpose. Not my style of climbing anyway. Zigzag sounds good though, but Im leaning towards the SJ. Thanks again.

Thanks for the replies:thumbup1: Wish it were that simple. Many of the firs less than 50 years old are covered in resin bubbles throughout the limbs and main stem. You rub your line on them and they burst. Cant really avoid your line rubbing on the tree for too long. Come on I know lots of guys here have used both. So what do you say ? I need to decide today or tomorrow.

Doing pitchy trees all the time is somewhat of a disaster for my hitches. Its a constant thing, they can become unworkable within an hour some days. So Im thinking there may be some gains by going mechanical. Which device would you guys choose and why? Thanks in advance