Mikey P

Just a quick question: does the angle of the rope into the pulley/over the crotch make a difference? The reason I ask is that, when you rig a rock/ice climbing anchor to, say, two anchor points and then equalise them, you want the angle between the ropes from the anchor points to be as small as possible. If the ropes leave the equalisation point at shallow angles, they exert over twice the load on the anchors. Does this happen when using a pulley or running a rope over a crotch too?

Aha! I see.

Is it not simpler just to get a few of those little PMR-type radios that you can buy in just about any high-street shop and use a headset on those? The earpieces will go easily under your normal ear protection and you can buy these radios with standard mics or throat mics. Admittedly, there is a wire that most certainly will get caught around just about everything! I'm just interested in why those aren't seen as particularly suitable - seems easier than setting up your mobile as a walky-talky.

I was trained to throw it using the bight-through-the-ring-method described and it works...sometimes... My instructor informed us that there was a golden rule of throw bags called the 'Three Times And F*** It Rule', ie, if you can't do it in three attempts try something else. Mind you, when he wasn't looking, I'd throw it over-arm and get it every time. Heh-heh. Result.

Good luck mate! As I only passed mine a month ago, the best advice I can give is not to panic! Know your answers for all of the questions off by heart so you can rattle them off for the assessor - I was told that assessors intensely dislike it when a student clearly doesn't know his stuff and has to be prompted for every answer. It also means not having to stand around in the cold/rain for as long for the assessor. Take your time for the initial climbing assessment and prep as much stuff in advance as you can. Get that high anchor point to start with as it makes everything else sooooooo much easier and looks more professional. The good gen I got was, as soon as you've come down from your climbing/branchwalking bit, as soon as you hit the ground start getting your ropes ready to go again - it'll save you a lot of time and it shows the assessor that you're organised. The last thing you want to be doing is untangling/prepping ropes and retying your system when the clock is ticking for your rescue. Visualise all the stuff you'll be asked to do - go through it with your equipment on so you remember where all your rescue kit is - and mime out the actions. Don't do this in front of anyone else or they'll think you're a bit odd... ;-)

£16 from local shop. 5ft tree, looks fine. Dog is sizing it up already.

As someone without a lot of experience and who doesn't have a dismantling qualification, I thought Chapter 2 was excellent for tree safety assessment. We did tree assessment in the NPTC units but the pictures, examples and explanations in this document were really good. In fact, it's worth downloading and printing off just this chapter, even if you have little interest/experience in rigging.

Doesn't look fistulina... Maybe Daldinia Concentrica-ish (Cramp Balls?) but the wrong colour (should be black)? FYI, this is quite a good resource: http://www.rogersmushrooms.com

The Swandri can be reproofed by the company - unfortunately, you'd have to send it back to New Zealand so that doesn't help you. I'm pretty sure I saw something about being able to get it reproofed by someone in the UK so at least you might be able to sell it on to someone smaller! I've heard it suggested that you could wash it on a low-temp (30 degrees?) wool wash with a couple of caps of baby oil (to replace the lonolin which gives the Swandri some of its water repellency) - no idea if this has any truth in it. Nikwax do a product for wool called 'Wool Wash' which is good for cleaning the jackets without removing any of the water-resistant capabilities of the fabric but it doesn't reproof the fabric. They are excellent coats in the winter - I love mine for hiking/dog walking - but I find them quite easy to overheat in if you are doing any sort of hard physical work.

Just about to finish after 17 years in the services. Looking to go back to study next September but needed to use up resettlement time and money. Have always been interested in the outdoors and climbing/caving, saw the Kingswood Training advert in 'Quest' (service bods will know what I mean) and completed the course earlier this year. Really enjoyed it - thanks Richard - and want to do more! Mostly doing jobs for friends and neighbours at the weekends at the moment because I'm studying for exams and also working full-time during the week. Have managed to get a saw and PPE and have just bought rope, harness and climbing gear. Aim is to build the experience and then do start doing basic aerial-rescue qualified groundie work with someone (anyone!) and take it from there...

Just to back up what your mate said, I've only had good experiences with Jonesie & Co: very helpful, reliable, good advice, and competitive prices. I don't normally blow smoke up people's arses but I have also contacted some other firms to get kit quotes and not been particularly impressed. That's not to say there aren't good alternatives out there but I'd certainly recommend having a chat with Jonesie before you check elsewhere.

That's the bloke! And, yes, he did.

Is that you, Matt? Me and another lad bought the Petzl Sequoia harnesses from you at Kingswood a couple of weeks ago. They got us through our Units 38 and 39 and were fantastic! Many thanks. Also bought some PPE and a saw (346XP) from you too - excellent stuff! Cheers!

Yeah, if you look at the pictures above, you can see two golden-coloured rings at the side of the bridge. These rings undo and the straps that tie into them have various loops; these loops adjust the strap lengths and you should be able to move the bridge around a bit. Also, I think the SRT variant bridge is mounted higher up so it may be worth a look. As for hanging gear from the harness, there are plenty of attachment points and gear loops. Also you can either use upside-down carabiners through the webbing loops or the special Petzl gear-hanger clips for racking your kit.

Like it! I take it that's just a standard rigging plate? I'll have a look at the Petzl site for those rings. I'm guessing they're like the fitted loading rings (visible in your picture above) but will clamp over the main bridge.

Heh-heh! How did you guess? Just finished - really enjoyed it and Rich has a great set up there with some really good instructors (Andy, Pete, Ian, etc). However, I assume it's like getting your driving license: now need to go out and get the experience. Forgot to mention: I have a clean, pre-1997 driving licence.

Hi, Just qualified CS 30/31 and 38/39. Also LANTRA Woodchippers and Stumpgrinders operation and competency certs. Looking for one or two days a month (pref weekends) to build experience. Will work for gear. Open to discussion/negotiation. Own PPE and saw. Own harness but no ropes or other climbing kit at the moment. Live west of Poole and prepared to travel in South Dorset.

Just got back from doing my Units 30/31/38/39 with Kingswood Training - bought a Petzl Sequoia as the harness I'd been issued with was very uncomfortable (although I should point out that others said it was fine). The Sequoia basically got me through my aerial assessments! Although I don't have much experience with other harnesses, this one allowed me to work in comfort, it was light, plenty of gear/attachment points, leg loops were comfortable when adjusted correctly, and - most important of all for me when comparing to the other harness I tried - it did not restrict any movement. My only issue is the main bridge. Any carabiner or large maillon connected to the main bridge is able to slip over the gold-coloured rings which link the straps and bridge together. This sometimes allowed excessive rotation or even slipped when you didn't expect it. By that, I mean that if the carabiner/maillon was resting against the ring, and you then suddenly put weight on it by shifting your centre of gravity, the carabiner/maillon would overcome friction, move past the ring, and slip about an inch or two. The first couple of times this happened, I was quite disconcerted! Solved by using maillons that were not big enough to go over the rings. Anyone else noticed this or am I concerned over nothing? Mike