Laz

Its french for 'Puppet' - which is a great descriptive name, as thats what the climber looks like with arms and legs cycling through the air!

You are correct Drew - the ascenders are both primary means of security AND act as redundancy to the other. Both pics are acceptable to me, but you must always clip the top holes to prevent cam slippage and rope exit. I also clip the rope below the Croll to my right sliding leg ring - this prevents the rope exiting if pulled at 90 degrees stepping over branches. I would recommend a rope of true kernmantle to EN1891 Type A (Blaze is neither) of 11mm. This is what the ascenders were tested with, and the rope has passed stringent tests to ensure knotted strength and sufficient energy absorption. Very important when relying on one line (just as in DdRT). You need some kind of strap to ensure the Croll tails properly. This is my set-up, which is essentially the same as yours: http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=2307

I read somewhere that the word 'Hell' is a derivative of 'Hellas' - an ancient term for 'mine'. That struck a true chord for me - cave/mine/HELL! I'll stick to rocks and Trees!

The grigri and Unicender are rough in the wet. It rains alot here. The stop isn't a hands free device - it has to be locked off. Should be called a 'Go'. But it is a good descender, especially for long descents. Not so important points for access, as the climber can be lowered from the ground. The Eddy is a much better tool that can be used and slacked off completely with one hand, functioning like a friction hitch. Auto locking too. I haven't tried it in the wet yet.

Yes, it is possible to run DdRT off of the top ascender. But I would never recommend it, or practice it. I'm still in North Wales. Probably better to pop over at the trade fair where the system will be set up.

Yes. Cavers use SRT of various methods more than any other user group. This is a good sign, as caving in the UK is very hard on equipment. Much more abrasive than treework.

Yes, I remember it. It isn't the same system. Look at the two vids and forget about equipment, look at the technique and energy involved with different muscle groups.

I feel there is more to be lost than gained by doing that. The beauty of the Croll is its ability to instantly manage slack. It makes the Frogwalker instantly adaptable to climbing air, against trunks in thick canopies or wearing spikes. Always being secured twice to the rope. The Torse is instantly adjustable to make sure the right amount of tension is applied to make it stand up correctly and work most efficiently.

Thanks. When all is said and done, it is a sensible approach. And, unlike a ladder, it gets higher than 7m, you can't easily fall off it, or watch it travel across two lanes of traffic. A ladder is still often a good option though, and is very ergonomic access too.

Like anything worthwhile, there is a learning curve to safety and efficiency, that will always be best served by quality hands on training at the outset. We run a course that integrates this technique and the 'RAD' SRT system, with one to one personal ergonomics coaching from a fully qualified and very experienced remedial fitness professional.

It takes some practice and fine tuning to get the correct smooth technique, if you want safe bio-mechanical efficiency and speed (which is the main point for me). I use this as access, then change over to DdRT for work positioning mostly. I slide the ascenders down the access line to pull up if I need a long re-ascent. The foot ascender stays on for re-ascending on DdRT short distances. It can be used for working the crown, if backed up with a secondary system. But there are important safety considerations. Changeover to descent is easy, ALWAYS being attached twice, until a hands free descender is attached.

Only one hand in the handle - the other hand grips the specially shaped top part of the device. The other leg of the Spelegyca remains free for energy absorption, OR to clip a knot as back up when removing the ascender to pass that knot. The instructions have important information and diagrams for the full system (including rope suitability): C26%20TORSE%20FR7726%20061098_1.pdf B02%20PANTIN%20B02500.pdf B16_%20CROLL_%20B16500-03.pdf C44%20SPELEGYCA%20FR7244-G.pdf B17%20ASCENSION%20B17502-F1.pdf

Hi Steve - I like how the youtube link shows in the post - nice! I'm all ears about your technique - drop me a line to discuss it if you like.

This is the system: - Edelrid powerstatic 11mm dry lifeline (hi vis orange - I always advocate an 11mm true Kernmantel, to EN1891 Type A for knotted strength an sufficient energy absorption). Anchored with 2 trunk wraps, split tail, and two lcokers (for continuous knotted loop emergency descent). - Petzl Ascension - left hand (doesn't clash with Croll), clipped through top holes (important to retain rope and prevent cam slippage) with Oval locker to a, - Petzl spelegyca - attached to Oval /HMS krab (built in enrgy absorption) that holds the, - Petzl Croll - attached to harness with a, - Petzl Torse - Bi-colour to easily avoid twists when donning over shoulder. Lots of adjustment for increased length and easy on the move adjustments. Quick release enables entire system to be released at the back. - Adjustable footloop (change of length required for RAD system) to quicklink on Ascension for left foot. - Petzl Pantin to right foot. - Small clip to retain rope to right leg (prevent rope pulling out of croll). - Petzl Grigri for descent (attached to krab with thin cord so as not to drop during changeover - can be left attached to sliding D, ready to go). - Petzl strings to lock krabs in alignment. - TreeFlex harness.

Evening All. Often times, I am asked what SRT is and how to do it. There are many answers, not all of them very safe, practicable or ergonomic. I find this technique the best allrounder; I consider it safe and bio-mechanically efficient, with important provisos. I post this as an example of a very good way to access trees, as I can find little info or videos of the correct technique. It is a 'FrogWalker' system: [ame] [/ame]