Hey everybody!

New guy here. I've been a long time lurker and just recently acquired my own set of climbing gear. I'm strictly a rec climber. I've done a few climbs (4-5 after initial lessons depending on what you consider a climb ) and that was with gear that wasn't mine but a friends (ex tree worker) and a few years ago. I really liked it but college didn't allow me to really get my own gear and hence I've waited until now. I've always been interested in it and back then bought the Tree Climbers Companion (still have it). I kind of a knot 'enthusiast' (always have been) and that is probably the reason tree climbing appeals to me the most (using my knot-craft for pleasure rather than just when necessary, which isn't that often... Always amazed my friends when I helped them move with how easy I could tie down their stuff in moving trucks... esp amazed them when everything was just a slipped making it 10 times faster to get things out without cutting lines...).

I just received my gear and have a few questions that I feel you guys would be able to shed some light on.
First, the gear that I bought.

150' Samson Arbor-plex 1/2"
NT Basic (XL)
2 Rock Exotica Pirate Biners
40' 3/8" bee line
figure 8
Rockman vented helmet
200' yale throwline
10oz throw weight

Tree stuff was really good and also sent in 2 ear plug sets (one's i've never seen before, will be handy for mowing as I don't run a saw...) and a set of Atlas Fit Work Gloves (didn't order either tree stuff seems like a good bunch of ppl ).

I plan on climbing mostly DRT with some SRT thrown in there just to be familiar with it (hence the fig8). I plan on starting low and slow again. As I am a knot head... I like the idea of being minimalistic with my gear. I'm not in a rush to get into the tree and honestly don't care if it takes longer doing it the way I will as it will also be a great workout (plan on starting with using my climbing tail as the bridge with a blakes). When i climbed last (roughly 20 lbs lighter...), I was able to use a distel (with a pulley for auto tending... plan on using a dog clip myself) and almost go hand over hand up the line without issue... I know it isn't exactly a 2:1 MA... but i found it pretty easy (and a good workout) to go up that way.

I do have a few questions tho...
Mainly will my saddle really 'break in' like the manual for it says it will? Right now its tight (I have a 42" waist, 5'11", 300lb... powerlifter and ex crossfit advocate... ). If it'll break in, then i'll just tough it out for a few climbs, but if it really doesn't... is there a way to create a rope bridge? The issue is that the screw link makes it tight to bring it all together. I was thinking about making a loop out of some bee line (triple fishermans bend) through each side loop and the D link. What do your thoughts?

Also...rope management. Right now I'm using a 5 gal bucket with the throwline flaked in. I'm using a large duffel bag for everything else (climb line flaked in). I would imagine that there are better solutions but I'm trying to stay minimal here as well as under a budget.

What would you guys make with the bee line first? When I climbed before, i was able to foot lock pretty well. I plan on trying a distel again (side-note... love the very wide range at which a clove-hitch structure is used in different knots... buntline, distel) and will use a piece for that. Also when i try SRT, i'll probably use a piece for a prussic or klemheist. Would you guys suggest a second lanyard? I was going to try to use my climbing line as a 'lanyard' (third rope i believe its called?) but I'd imagine a dedicated lanyard would be easier (probably need more biners tho). How about using it for a split tail to begin with?

Any tips you guys could give out are also appreciated. I'm mainly climbing in my back yard and will be starting nice and slow again. I'd imagine finding locations to climb might be an issue once I'm willing to branch out but I'll deal with that when that time comes.

Now... if only it would NOT be a day where they're calling for thunderstorms... Want to go out and climb already... lol...

my first suggestion; get some sort of a friction/cambium saver, it will save the tree from damage as well as your rope. There are many types out there but the most user friendly are probably the dan house rope sleeves. Tree stuff has them. I suggest 2 if you will be using both ends of your rope during your climbs.

having a dedicated lanyard is always a good idea, using the other end of your rope works but if you do it a lot, its a lot of work. but since your not in it for speed you can get by that way for a while.

good luck and welcome!

p.s- check out moss's video of the poor mans pantin (foot ascender). can someone post a link?

http://www.arboristsite.com/recreationa ... 136801.htm

check this thread out for poor man pantin.... This technique will save you a piece of gear for a while...

@quabinclimber
I made a cardboard 'temporary' cambium saver that is listed here. I was too excited waiting for the gear to come in (only took 4 days from ordering to arrival). I'll make another one upon your suggestion. Thanks!!!

i plan on making a ring to ring friction saver but not for a while.

and Thanks for the link to the pmp, will have to give it a try (tho i don't mind getting good at footlocking).

foot locking is a good skill to have however if your rope situates you against the trunk of the tree it can be difficult. With the foot ascender techniques you can have one foot pushing against the trunk to keep you away and the other working the ascender.

good work making your own gear! making my own gear is one of my favorite aspects of this hobby.

ahh i c now. Every TIP i've ever climbed on has been away from the tree. I definitely see where that wouldn't be the case and I would need something like this!

Thanks

My first suggestion is, have you tried a G21 SF! I love mine!

Oh, Welcome to Canopy Chatter.

Based on your description it sounds like your NT harness is a bit too small. I've added extensions to my delta loops with a couple of rated stainless steel twist shackles, you can order them from a sailing gear supply house.

http://www.sailrite.com/Harken-Twist-Shackle-5-16-Stainless-Steel#

The pin end goes in the harness belt loop, the other end on the delta. I tightened the harness loop eye with vinyl electric tape to snug up to the shackle pin.

Adding a rope bridge to an NT harness doesn't work too well, the NT Nikosi is the closest an NT harness will get to being a floating anchor/bridge harness.

Good luck with your climbing, looking forward to your reports!
-AJ

Hah I have shot a g21. It's awesome! The only reason I like a g19 the best is because of the cheap ammo. I've shot it over and over without worrying about ammo costs as much as my other ones (love to shoot my 357mag... but the ammo is too expensive... always go w/ 38 spl there as well )


Thanks for the help. Against my better judgement, I decided to go out before it started to be bad weather. I was lucky! I had a good 2 hours before it started to rain and it looks like it's stop already. No thunder yet... If it stays clear for another hour, i'm going to try to get out once more. When i went out, I saw that the harness is just fine once there is weight on it... plenty of room. As i've been losing weight, there will be even more room Thanks for the tips on extending it tho! I might even do it just to have more room. Also thanks for the tip on not having good luck w/ putting a rope bridge on the NT.


So, i guess i'm going to need to buy another throw weight(unless anyone has plans for a diy one...). On my first throw i hit a crotch ~ 30 ft up. I was like oh yea... gonna be a natural at this... The thing is that I threw it a little hard and it went pretty far into my neighbors tree as well. So i decided to pull it back through to get it isolated to just the crotch i hit and drop it back down to pull my rope/cs over. Well... i guarantee you can guess what happened... it got stuck... I tried 'plucking' it back but it was stuck... And after 30-40 mins...in my frustration... i pulled and pulled and pulled... It is now stuck on the SMALLEST lil branch/twig and i thought i'd be able to get it free... i was wrong... i broke the throwline... Now I have a bag in my neighbors tree, attached to my throwline that is through the crotch i wanted (in my tree) and dangles right at face level... If I pull it tight, it comes within an arms length of my tree trunk and is probably reachable... but i'm no where ready to be climbing up there... Still going low and slow... lol Oh well... I continued 'climbing' by throwing my line over a limb (8 throws...) ~ 15 ft off the ground... Did a hang test w/ a GTO and was ready to try different things.

Tried a blakes... went up a few feet (MAN i guess i misremember how NOT easy it is to footlock... i got it but was it difficult this time around...) and saw that my blakes was tightening up quite a bit... Went back down and tried a 5/2 vs the 4/2 and it did roughly the same. Then i got a section of the bee line and tried the distel, a lil better but am going to have to practice setting the hitch so that it grabs right... Also need to shorten the leads (right now about 3-4 inches which i feel would be better if it were shorter).

At that point... it started to rain. Fun Fun

Thanks for the help!

I hear ya on the cheaper ammo! I buy mine from the ammoman.com or Georgia Arms (internet). My round count for the year is 9300 and most of that is 9mm. I'm carrying a G17 in a Raven Concealment Phantom holster.

Keep us posted on your climbing progress!

Save yer bullets and buy a dynamometer! Bullets don't count in the race to own the most tree climbing gear.

You're experiencing the standard rite of passage. First time I threw into a tree (red oak) I hung two bags and a lot of throwline for seven days before I finally threw a good sized Idaho potato trailing a clothesline over a limb. You'll figure it out, a bag can be backed through a tree with careful movements, you'll start to recognize when you can and when you can't. Anytime an experienced tree climber throws into a tree there's a chance they'll hang a bag, the problem doesn't go away Best strategy is untie the bag and pull your throwline back through the tree if you don't like the throw. Every throwing mishap is a priceless lesson (in improving your cursing skills!).
-AJ

Damn! I just decided it's too risky too disagree with Ron on anything! Theoretical conversation: AJ says, "9mm rope is just too skinny for me to climb on, just don't feel comfortable about it". Ron replies, "Blam, blam, blam!" Discussion over.

I could even it up with my enhanced Sidewinder but it's difficult to conceal, I can't draw it that fast and it has zero semi-automatic functionality. Hmm... maybe a Sidewinder gatling gun would even things up?
-AJ

MD is a may issue state... and i do not qualify to get a ccp unfortunately... its unlike PA (where I'm originally from) where its almost a guarantee that you'll be able to get a ccp


Hah, its good to know that its a rite of passage... lol
my wife crochets... so maybe I'll be able to get her to 'make' a bullet and fill it with rocks? I'm still going to stay low and slow obviously... but it'd be nice to atleast climb a lil higher once i master the blakes..


talking about the wife... She came home today and was kinda laughing when she saw me trying to hip thrust (not very good at it... lol). She's also kinda expressing interest after seeing me (originally thought i was crazy...) I made a spanish bowline footloop that I'm gonna try out and see if I look "less crazy"...

Here's the stuff I've made so far w/ the bee line... I still need to cut the e2e hitch cord to be shorter as I was seeing how much cord I needed.
The CS works pretty good but i made it a little too tight and the 1/2 line can't go through easily by itself. Hence I used a short piece of beeline (cut too short when i was trying to make my first e2e...) and will pull my climb line through.

the throw weight that was stuck in the tree fell out on its own! Only being stuck to the smallest branch probably had something to do with it. I was really really surprised when i let my dog out into the back yard, he came back to the door with it in his mouth. No punctures in the fabric (was worried that he would shred it, but he literally just brought it to me...)... Now only if i could get him to do that with a drink every once in a while...