Mr. Squirrel
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Everything posted by Mr. Squirrel
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Yeah I can't imagine actual rock climbing shoes being too nice. I got a pair of La Sportiva Ganda Guides which are lovely in the summer, alot more breathable than my heavier winter boots too. Have lasted pretty well (had mine 18 months) and will be buying another pair soon. La Sportiva Ganda Guide available from Outside.co.uk
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I've worked pretty much exclusively in plane trees the past 3 weeks, glasses definitely help alot. As for your breathing areas, cough it all up seems the best way for me? Horrible, but better than a mask. I swear their worse than usual this year. Just wait until the oak procession moths take off in Britain, that's a really tricky one. Wear a protective oversuit in case they're there, or risk not sleeping for the next few nights? Hmmm...
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Anybody used one/know where I can find one? Looks like the ultimate spiderjack karabiner to me... KH215 Link Karabiner fro use in Industrial Height Safety
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I had a few 'big' ones last year and seem to remember this also. I think I went down a similar route to your technique aswell, a little improvising was definitely needed. Even with an access line going up the first 20/30m there was still alot of climbing involved in some of those. As you say too though, beautiful trees once you get to work in em. Pretty brittle, but stunning none the less...
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Pfanner kevlar extreme's, way tougher than any of their other trousers, the 2012/13 ones are really light too. Just got myself a new pair as my old ones were 5-6 years old and a bit ratty, very happy with them so far.
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Well Marlow do an LSK static rope, which I've used, but it didn't look like that. I'd wouldn't be happy buying a rope off ebay, and for the money you could almost get 60m of this, new, from a trustworthy supplier Equirial 10mm Type A static rope [sR-A-ST] - £1.20 : Starless River Caving Equipment, Technical Caving Gear from Starless River
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The key point to take from that post. Not everything works for everyone...
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I used to use a delta maillon on my bridge, it worked, but there is a reason I, and many others, use an aluminium ring instead. It works alot better. I can't see any blindingly terrible flaws in your idea, but can I see it as an improvement? Heck no. It sounds hellish. More chance of cross loading, more bulk, more weight, a longer system, what is there to like? Not enough attachment points? Put another ring on your bridge? As Mr. Bolam kinda said, there's a reason professionals use the system they use...
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For the record I don't think skinnyness is a big problem with a treemotion, I've got a a 30'' waist and it's very, very comfortable. Have you seen Mr. Strasser? He isn't a big guy, it's designed as a high end harness and most sh*t hot climbers aren't very big guys either... However it's probably a little pricey if you're just playing... I used a seqoia for a week and swore I would never touch one again. It caused me so much pain I almost hated tree climbing. It was like getting kicked in the nuts for an entire week...
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It may be able to, but I don't think this is really it's intended purpose. A knot would be alot tidier.
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Hit 30 here in Germany today, I just came back from holiday too, when I left there was a foot of snow on the ground. Quite surprising.... but definitely excellent.
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Spam and mayonnaise in a mates bicycle seat tube, that was a good one. Stank. He actually bought a new bike, though he won't confirm whether that was due to the mysterious smell... Mouse trap on the top locker shelf has worked a few times. A hand full of leaves in anybodys throw cube is good once in a while too.
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I work as a subby and seem to have a rhythm of doing 3 months solid climbing (I haven't touched a chipper in 6 months, and not because I'm work shy) followed by a month holiday. Mornings are a bit odd for the first week, but I think that's probably because I'm especially nakerd. After that it's the best job in the world all over again...
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Yeah, given it's somewhere you can't keep an eye on, and an anchor isn't something you want to worry about I'd replace it. The fact you asked the question should be answer enough really. But it looks like you cam to that conclusion yourself anyway... On the plus side the main bit with the big eye is really, really easy to make yourself so you don't necessarily need a whole new anchor setup.
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But sounds so much more clever! That's all 'a reduction' amounts to really, a (generally) lighter, less brutal topping. Reiterative distal tissue annihilation, going in that bit of my brain I use for confusing people. Including myself.
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'Helps to prevent failure of tree parts and hazardous situations like deadwood and hanger shake out and limb fracturing' How exactly does it achieve this and how is the picture of the snapped stem/branch relevant?
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Mine broke off completely about a year ago, never been an issue...
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1 cam a year, perhaps, if you don't use it much. I go through 2-3 a year, a new body after a year and a half. I'm pretty sure they recommend changing cams/body when it starts to slip...
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Got a pair of 5 year old stretch airs, still in one piece, few small holes but nothing major. Pretty nakerd regardless but what do you expect... Kevlar extreme every time, super tough, the back is pretty nice in a harness too. I see their 2012 model is lighter so should make them all the more bearable in summer. Gettin some...
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So long as the knot held that could be an alright idea. Put rope in bollard, very tight, cut prussik, dump 500kg into locked off bollard.
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That is a tricky wicket, I think what you need is not a piece of kit but alot of cunning. I'm thinking something along the lines of using one device to perform in the progress capture department, then putting the rope in a lowering bollard/portawrap or what have you and finding some way to release the load of your capturing system so you can lower, possibly utilising a swinging bench and a number of tree climbers... Edit: GRCS?
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Luckily losing the lever that makes you go down doesn't make you fall. Still a bit of a pain though. I guess you could helicoil the hole so it doesn't happen again? Also obviously you don't actually need to take that lever off to change the clutch either, so in future just leave that wee screw alone...
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Have a small caritool on the left which I have my pulley saver on while I'm going up, occasionally a polesaw, cable bracing gubbins or what have you. Doesn't get used much but still very useful. I wouldn't hang a saw on a caritool though, they're plastic, plastic is not tough. I have a chainsaw hook for that, never seen these in the UK but they're made by Komet... Freeworker - Motorsägenhaken mit kleiner Platte - climb up high!
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Happens from time to time, everybody gets scared up there sometimes. I had a horrible couple days dead wooding some 30m poplars this week. Long, long branches, windy, cold, old 'reduction' cuts. An old russian man came down from his flat and gave me a 6 pack at lunch time, he understood... You just have to rationalise it really, why are you terrified? What is the tree like? what's different? Plus, a polesaw is a perfectly good tool for dead wooding, pain in the arse to climb with but on the tippy bits and around the top it's easier, faster, safer and less scary...
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You mean you don't carry a rescue spanner? To be honest I use a petzl micro grab without a cuttable link. I tried the wee dyneema sling, but it was horrid. Without it it's beautiful. Obviously it's a good idea, but, I think I'm prepared to take the risk.
