Aerialtraveler

I've been using the Camp Gyro threaded on my rope bridge for over a year. I've noticed no problems with excessive wear to the Platinum rope bridges I've used during that time. I love it as a rope bridge swival due to the low weight and compactness. Camp has not (yet) specifically condemned the use of the Gyro on a rope bridge but they haven't officially embraced that use in their technical instructions either. Camp does describe attaching rope or webbing to the attachment holes with knots. doc.camp.it/Manuali/GYRO_MANUALE%20r0.pdf

I wanted to release a video showing some of the struggles with throwing the DMM Captain Hook in the tree. I regularly post videos to youtube and I thought viewers might get a kick out of seeing the failures that are often edited out. I've been using the hook for recreational climbing for about 9 months and wanted to share some my self-study footage so that others may learn from my mistakes or at the very least get a laugh.

DMM Captain Hook Bloopers! A little schadenfreude for viewers to enjoy. Almost 10 minutes of missing the target, tangles, near misses, and general hook mayhem...The video also shows the progression of my hook skills and set-up over the last 9 months. ! Warning - Video contains some rough language !

https://youtu.be/607I29rQqJU This recreational tree climbing video shows a high and long traverse between medium sized White Oaks in southeast Ohio. This traverse is one of the highest I’ve attempted at 25-30’ long and 55-60’ off the forest floor. The footage was captured in early April 2018.

I prefer to top tie and I'm a recreational climber. I've tried lowerable base ties. They can be helpful for initial access for dense trees that are easier to shoot over then into. But the chances of it being used successfully for a rescue are limited due to the climber being potential tied in with their lanyard (as the OP mentioned above). I was never a big fan of the increased load on the tie in point and the additional links that need to be checked due to the hardware being used, if any. A base-tie-off also introduces a lot of rope into a system (that isn't used with top ties) which can amplify the bounciness of certain ropes. There is also some debate if a untrained rescuer could figure out how (depending of how complicated the base tie is) to lower a climber that was injured and needed down quickly. This would apply to recreational climbers that don't have a trained ground crew like a working climber.

More speculation, discussion and another photo can be found here about this prototype device. http://www.treebuzz.com/forum/threads/petzl-rope-wrench.38753/

MS193T and and 13" Silky Zubat for me.

This too. x2

Can you get the MB harness without the leg pad logos?

Honey Locust. Some have more spikes than others.

X2 another vote for the Black Diamond Half Dome from a recreational tree climber

I've been using the big bulky CMI foot ascender (right) for almost 10 years. It's not the most compact or the lightest but it does lock onto the rope and will probably last a lifetime. Actually I think the cam has a lifetime guarantee. The Kevlar strap shows no sign of wear yet. The knee ascender I use with it is of the DIY variety. You can make one with a decent pull for as little as $35-40 depending on which chest ascender and bungee cord is used.

I'm currently using Yale Bandit 11mm for both bridges.

Silky Zubat 330 has always worked well for me. The cost of the blade replacement is stupidly silly and enough me for to consider another hand saw in the future.

The stream is being effected by Acid Mine Drainage (AMD). It happens when old sub-surface mines are abandoned, which then flood (since pumps no longer run) and begin to overflow into wetlands and streams. It's common for this run off to be acidic and contain toxic metals. To be honest I'm not a geology or biology or chemical expert but it's clear something is very wrong in this stream valley. The mine at this site has probably been closed for 60+ years. Here's a information rabbit hole to venture down if you're interested https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acid_mine_drainage