Rob Thompson

PLEASE DO NOT DERAIL THE THREAD !!! (I'm aware of this sort of topic going a bit divided...) I'm asking anyone who knows, weather the new rules (That I know a lot of people hate) require a climber to lanyard in to make a cut when on twin ropes ? I'd of thought that two ropes was enough ! I was up a thin today, there were so many cuts to make, that I abandoned the use of my side strop in favour of two systems. It was a bit like the old days, just climbing around cutting stuff. I never did strop in or have a second line back then, but I generally would have my back to my anchor and blakes. So does anyone profess to know the law on such things. I'd just like to know weather I'm being naughty or not ! Two systems AND a side strop seems a bit much to me 🤷‍♂️ Tia, Rob.

Lol, first line... after reading through the whole thread, I'll bet you regret asking for replies ! Tough crowd ! With regards to the gyro, it's too skinny for me ! Like was mentioned in the thread, it'd be better on a pulley too, with a Becket for saftey. I like the rook/hydra, but I don't like how it orientates the system on a left to right. The gyro looks to solve this problem, but I don't really want all this rotation. Just my own personal preference. I did an introduction to srt course/day last week. Unfortunately it seems to be aimed at the total novice, but it was nice to climb in front of an instructor and make sure that I've not developed any bad habits/techniques in my path to including srt to my climbing work life. The instructor had a gyro. He had us all climbing on two lines, I wasn't a fan, but I can see the possible benefits. I suppose that like anything in life, we may struggle to learn something new. But as we get used to it, we wonder what all the fuss was about ! I don't claim any idea of the rules re twin rope, but I was under the impression that they both had to be able to get you down. Before chatting to Ben at land skills training, I thought a side strop while cutting was enough 🤷‍♂️. If you're still in touch with camp, tell them that Rob wants it on a pulley, it needs to be visibly stronger, and lots of colours ! Rob.

The camp gyro is too skinny. Where's the DMM option ?!? Come on DMM, pull your bloody socks up ! I don't need three independently spinning key rings, I need three static rings, mounted on a swivel. The hydra/rook will not work for me, because the tail ends of line face to the side. That's a pain for one handed operation. I don't want to tend one at a time. I'm really hoping that DMM or ISC come up with an option. Super high quality, with an industry appearance.

I made a saka type knee ascender. I like the saka type ascender, but i can't buy one ! I like making things, it was a rainy sunday afternoon, and the parts I needed had arrived in the post. I bought a stein knee ascender when I got all my srt kit recently. Every time I got to the top of a rope walk, I'd be flustered and uncomfortable. The elastic going over my shoulder to my side D was really digging in. For me this is a great help. I had thoughts on making something that straps to my leg, but that was before I'd even learned to use my kit. Since using the kit for a little while now, I've realised that actual rope walking is not happening so often during a climb. So it's no hardship to clip this on now and then. This cost me £60. The ct simple ascender was £42. Not a big budget build at all, and for me, it is well worth it. I already had the XSRE biners and paracord. I had to buy the ascender, amsteel, blue pipe, and heatshrink. I have enough amsteel, and heat shrink left for many other projects. I like how it's all in one unit, with no bits of cords hanging around. It's light, small as it can be, and flexible. As you will see from the picture, it's a straight pull on a doubled over 4mm bungee. That's perfect for me and my gear. If I swap the lower XSRE for something a little thicker, like the non ppe biner that came with my stein one, then it can be configured to pull longer. With the bungee going in by the ascender, down the tube, around the biner acting as a redirect/pulley, and back up out to the top XSRE. Not as efficient as a pro job with an actual pulley, but it does work rather well. I prefer it how it is now though.

Do I need the receipts for all items that I want loler checked ? None of my gear has been loler checked, but I have prety much replaced everything this year. But it's come from multiple sources, and I don't have receipts for everything.

I suppose my gripe was just aimed at a more competitive price angle. But of course I'll just shut up and pay !

I suppose so, these are the comments I was expecting. This'll be my third one now. Before that I had a skylotec, before that I've used two petzl's, and before that I began on the obligatory willans. Back with the willans, I took off the central maillon and tied a rope across for a bridge. A bit revolutionary back then ! I must say that the skylotec was the most comfortable. But the treemotion is the best of them all, so I suppose I'll cough up !

I'd like to compare the cost of a treemotion harness to a ford focus... madness ? Not in relativity. The focus is a popular car, a lot of people have it. Because it is so popular, and there are so many on the road, it is cheaper to buy and to run. Why is the treemotion harness still one of the most expensive saddles one can buy ? Every video/webinar that I watch, the climber is wearing the treemotion, it is clearly popular throughout the industry across the world. Why is it not cheaper now ? Are they just taking the piss ? It is not the complicated composite of materials that lower range harnesses can be. It is actually a fairly simple design, utilitarian. This is a question of consumerism. Don't give me that argument of "there's no price on saftey" , because all the price range available are safe. This is just a moan, and a moan will not often achieve anything. I'd just be interested in your thoughts. Mine is 5/6 years old, with many parts replaced since new. So it is time to get a new one. I'm just asking why ?!! A disgruntled climber.

I'm going to replace the heavy mini steel carabiner I've been using on here for this, just for the irony... and a weight saving, of course !

We are looking for a suitable candidate to join a small friendly team. We have occasional/floating groundies, but we'd like to have a permanent member who can take on a more professional role. It'd be great if you could drive, had some experience, and lived local. Experience is not essential, we can train you, if you show promise, we'll get your tickets. What IS essential, it the desire to take this on as a trade to learn, we're not looking for a labourer here. You will learn groundwork in it's many facets. When you are proficient, you will start to learn to climb. Pay will be based on ability. If you're just out of college, great, we'll test your mettle ! If you don't want to learn to climb, that's fine. A good groundie is worth their weight in gold, you just need to get good ! I look forward to hearing from you, Best wishes Rob

The rhino would be no good for my swivel. I need to invert the biner to be able to get it on, the gate section will not go through the swivels hole. The rhino is for belay devices, or anything that you don't want moving out of place. It prevents cross loading. It's a great biner for the right job, but no good for the DMM swivel.

I've got 2 perfectO's. I have them on my re direct webbing slings. I think they are too tiny for a whole system. They are so cute !

Just ordered some more, my wife can't understand WHY I need more biners !

Appreciate the input, cheers. Captain charisma did show a figure 8 that captured a ring, midline. I suppose that could be an option when using a ring. What's your favourite 4 way biner of choice ?

I've taken the standard triple off my DdRT system, and it's oval carabiner. This works a lot better. Maybe the eccentric is all mouth no trousers ! I'll see how it does in my DdRT O rig... meanwhile I'll probably order some more of these ovals.

All good advice, thanks. Is the pinto on a carabiner not a risk ? I'm just trying to find my feet here with this new system. I want to learn the safest way to work. I've binned the idea of the open system anchor, you're right about fail safe.

Thanks for all the advice folks, I'm taking it on board. Maybe I am guilty of over complicating things, not so unlike me ! So a better option is to base tie, ascend, DdRT to final anchor, set a ring and ring cambium saver ? I see a lot of you seem to achieve an isolated limb anchor from the ground, skills ! Thank you all, Rob

Hello, new to srt, patience required ! I've got my srt kit, and I'm trying to tune it in. I was using a single attachment pulley with a loop of paracord threaded through the holes to clip on the chest harness. Now I thought I'd upgrade that for a very swanky triple attachment pulley, dose anyone else find it a royal pita to get to any of the two remaining holes ? Also, I treated myself to a boa karabina and a swivel. Replaced my bridge while I was in the area ! Now, when the system is on, I did not foresee, the bloody things won't work together ! I had to put a ring back on the bridge. I suppose I'll need an oval karabina. I have a few of those in various sizes, but I find that they seem a bit cramped. Am I just being a ninny ? What do you guys use there ? Thanks, Rob.

Do you think it's worth it ? That much better than a maillon rapide ? When using it as a canopy anchor, will it not carry the same risk of rope on rope dammage as hauling up a pinto, being so small ? I saw on here somewhere that a guy had got a burn through his outer rope sheath, right on the end of his alpine butterfly where the rope had passed through a pinto.

£4.75 luggage straps from homebase... It did require the use of a sewing machine, which due to my lack of ability is why it looks a little shoddy ! But, it wasn't fifty quid ! If it dies in use, I'll fork out for a posh one.

I will certainly keep at it, I'm no quitter ! I look forward to learning the coping mechanisms to get by comfortably on one srt system. And then look to merge the two where needed. Yesterdays tree should have been a 4hr climb, but I was up there for 6 or so. I stayed calm, but I've not been that wiped out after a climb for years !

All good advice. It was a large mature oak with multiple sections. With drt, I would've re anchored a few times. But yesterday I used redirects. At one point, I'd finished with my last redirect, and wanted to lose that one to drop back in to the main garden. I had to pull up my tail and use a blakes on a bight to decend from that area of the tree. This displays what I really felt that I was missing yesterday, two ends. How do you descend from an area with no redirect. All I can think is some sort of retrievable redirect ?

Today I used my kit for the first time. First jab at srt. Bit of a nightmare really, I have a lot to learn and adapt. I did enjoy the ascents, and the redirects. I liked how I could work the tree in cake slices without having to worry about friction or getting back up for the next bit. I am generally quite efficient in my work, so today was a blow to my ego ! My anchor got wedged up there in removal, I had to get out my drt kit and get back up there, balls ! Funny how easy it was moving in the tree in drt after struggling for the day ! I'm really keen to look to some training, to answer some of my questions. Or even a recreational climb with a practiced srt climber.

I've recently bought a beal birdie for my 10mm hook line. It works dreamy ! Just thought I'd add that here !

You're right mate ! I just feel indoctrinated with bulletproof anchors !