BenR

Ok Ive had this thing a while now so its time to give a decent review. I really like the concept of the OAR. For me its a perfect blend of a unicender and rope wrench. The release is quite intuitive like a hitch, but also similar to the hitch is the way that the bulldog varies how it reacts on different rope stiffness and diameters. I found it grabbed and release well with 4 arms on cougar blue. Slipped on 10mm static with 4 arms. Bound with 4 arms on Imori but ran well on 3. Likewise with xtc, ran well on 3. The only reason I am not interested in purchasing a Bulldog OAR at the moment are the weight, the finish on the carabiner eyelets (too rough; i had to use a steel biner so i didnt ruin an ali one) and the overall size. I would happily buy the next generation OAR if it used smooth ali with perhaps even a rubber grommet for the carabiner eyelets and if it were a bit smaller. I cant see any issue with making it all ali personally because the rollers are so easily replaced compared to a whole rebuild on the unicender. Overall I like this prototype and when the idea is fully developed I will seriously consider purchasing one. I like that it can be used SRT or DbRT like the uni.

one more

Haha:thumbup: Me too by the sound of it mate! Here are some photos of two separate Strangler figs (ficus virens) I saw up in Northern Queensland earlier in the year. Hopefully they might inspire other people to visit some of the cool trees in the tropics:thumbup1:

Nah ive had a go on Ewan Murray's 70m length. Lovely rope but I think cougar blue has the edge for me as a SRWP line. Just that bit less bounce. Hows the escalator going? Bouncy or like cable?

Ian was that trip to Chile with Waldo? Grant Harris was telling me he pretty much set that trip up himself.. Sounds like fun, I bet you got some great photos!

Thanks for the info Ian! CAL are a pretty sweet setup. Ive seen the system they teach for the BCAP course and I'm pretty confident I can set it up. Will get in touch with them and see what the deal is. I did look at this course about 3 years ago Rob. I seem to remember it being in the region of 600 quid if you did it in the UK somewhere. Teaches basic SRT access from a twin rope lowerable base anchor setup with the view to make rescues easier if a beginner freezes halfway up the rope.

Just get over here and give it a go! You will find work if you look hard and you will get to do big stuff if you want it enough. You will get paid more than you would in the UK but the cost of living is a bit higher. Saying that I'm pretty sure you could save up enough in 6 months work to spend another 6 months travelling if you are good at budgeting. Good luck!

Yea would be cool to get Andrew out on a wrench too if he hasnt tried one yet! Is that the other colour of kernmaster Ben? If it is its great rope! Got a bit of stretch to it too. Im hoping to have a go with the wrench above my unicender soon. That could be fun!

Nice setup with the Spiderjack btw Ben! Will have to catch you for a rec climb next time im back!

Yea its sound. You dont need your arms to ascend so if you are next to the stem you can just push yourself off slightly. The steps are quite small compared to a frog walker but its not that difficult to clip up. Undo the ascender, unclip the small shackle and unclip from the pantin. Takes about 20secs max including putting it way in a little chalk bag. For short ascents I just use the pantin or climb the tree but for going back up to a redirect from the bottom its worth putting it on. Even for 10m its much easier and more efficient than sit standing with just a pantin.

Just thought I would post a couple of pics of my wrench rocket setup incase anyone is interested. Its a little fiddley but you only need a pantin, the bungee and ascender with a short footloop and a couple of snaps for hands free ascending.

Cheers Peter.

in the case of honey fungus, the black "bootlaces" are the mycelium i believe

I used the braided rubber fuel line for engines and stuff Tom. Its plenty springy in mine.

Thanks Atree will have a search

Hi Guys and Girls, I am about to leave Australia in the coming months after living, working and exploring in some amazing places. I will be sad to leave but also excited about the next adventure! Canopy access/research is something I am very keen on. I am an Arborist of 4 years experience, currently working in Melbourne. I have done research on E.regnans over here but I am really keen to climb some tropical trees!! I just wanted to enquire to see if there is anywhere/anyone you would recommend getting in touch with? I also have a degree in physical geography with a focus on epiphytic lichen communities in trees as my dissertation if that helps at all. Any suggestions or volunteering positions you may know of would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Ben

Love it! I need that in my life. And some 10mm spectra speed!!

Will stick to the pinto rig loopie then!

How fat a line will that omni block take mate? We have one a work that will take 13mm but one that would take 16mm would be nice.

Wrench all the way for beginner SWRPers.. Cant beat the familiarity of a hitch and if you dont get on with it and need to finish a tree pop the wrench off an switch back to ddrt..

I know a few people including myself who have base anchored an access line on dead stubs climbing mountain ash over here. As others have said, use your instincts, they are usually right. Ive also SRT'd up on a tiny dead stub on the wrench (with a nice big fork underneath it) because I couldnt flick the rope off it. Climbed all the way on it,

That does look a bit confusing old mill. I see what you are trying to do though. Not my bag. Kevin, I do have a stiff tether and I find the rope only drops through below the hand ascender when Im way up there. Which kind of defeats the purpose of the hand ascender/footloop for me. Wrench rocket all the way for a long ascent. Seems like it could work well with the HH too Old mill. Will try and get some photos at work tomorrow if I get time.

That's why I dont like frog walking srwping unless its on the uni since it devours slack. I find the wrench rarely advances with a footloop without me having to kick the slack through with the pantin. Maybe I should try it on a tether with hand ascender w/footloop an a pantin underneath!?! Hows that HH work if you frog walk with a strap like Dmc, Old mill?

Could get a bit cluttered on your bridge as an m rig.... HH biner + biner for the bight of rope + biner for the spliced end = too much mess for me

Glad to hear its coming together for you old mill. I cant get on with having a long tether personally. Hand ascender w/footloop, uni pantin. Or rope rocket setup underneath the wrench. Guess everyone finds their own way