Linesman Adjustment Under Tension

[RilbyBins]

I'm just getting started, I've been up and down a few trees and I'm in the process of buying things and figuring out what works for me.

I'm climbing mostly pines trees with spikes/gaffs. I have a second linesman to pass branches. Both my linesman have prusiks to adjust their length.

I need to transition my weight from the lower lineman below the branch to the upper one above the branch in order to get the slack to unclip the lower one from my saddle in ordet to pass the branch.

I'm struggling with this. I can momentarily thrust my hips forward to unload both lines, but this isn't long enough to shorten the length of the upper linesman with a prusik. I can hug the tree with one arm, but then I need to adjust the prusik with one hand.

Instead of shortening the upper line to transfer the tension I can lengthen the lower line under load to achieve the same effect. However if I repeat this, my linesmen get 4" longer every branch I have to pass with no reasonable way of shortening them.

A ropeman or rollnlock would allow me to tighten the linemans under load. Are there other solutions I am not considering? I haven't found this discussed anywhere, which suggests to me that I am missing something in my technique.

Perhaps the JRB adjustable bridge could be tied as a linesman, although having two lines doesn't seem ideal in this application.

 

[Weldabeast]

Sounds like maybe u need some longer ropes?....
Maybe this helps u, maybe not.... If I'm leaning way back into my linesman and need to adjust it shorter but I'm past the point in gravity were I don't have the core strength to unload the knot I simply reach across, grab the rope above the hitch, and pull. My linesman if fixed to my left hip and the right side has the friction hitch. U gonna need a tender of some sort. So if I'm loaded on my linesman I'll reach with my left hand, across my body, and grab the linesman rope where the rope makes the bend and is coming around right close to the trunk on the right side of the trunk.....pull on the right side of the trunk rope with ur left hand in a motion like a "row" back exercise and that will unload it enough to make an adjustment...yank on the tail of the linesman with ur other hand and the tender does its job.....maybe sounds complicated cause I can't explain well but it's real easy motion. Try at ground level....keep ur footsies close to the tree, adjust the linesman way out and lean back real far, reach across and pull.

 

[RilbyBins]

Thank you, that's exactly what I needed, makes perfect sense. I'll give it a go.

 

[bowhunthard88]

Tying a directional hitch like a Distel/Michoacan/Klemheist/etc (dependent on type of cord/loop/prussic you have) would be an advantage if using a tender, as well.

 

[Brocky]

Sounds like maybe u need some longer ropes?....
Maybe this helps u, maybe not.... If I'm leaning way back into my linesman and need to adjust it shorter but I'm past the point in gravity were I don't have the core strength to unload the knot I simply reach across, grab the rope above the hitch, and pull. My linesman if fixed to my left hip and the right side has the friction hitch. U gonna need a tender of some sort. So if I'm loaded on my linesman I'll reach with my left hand, across my body, and grab the linesman rope where the rope makes the bend and is coming around right close to the trunk on the right side of the trunk.....pull on the right side of the trunk rope with ur left hand in a motion like a "row" back exercise and that will unload it enough to make an adjustment...yank on the tail of the linesman with ur other hand and the tender does its job.....maybe sounds complicated cause I can't explain well but it's real easy motion. Try at ground level....keep ur footsies close to the tree, adjust the linesman way out and lean back real far, reach across and pull.

The ”traditional” way that you set up the linesmen’s doesn’t seem logical to me. Why not have the hitch attached to the saddle, and put a carabiner on the other end, and only have to move that around the tree, instead of a carabiner, hitch, and the rest of the rope?

 

[Weldabeast]

For me personally I like the extra weight on the end so when I'm off balance standing on tree roots and vines in my face I can swing my rope around the trunk easier

 

[bowhunthard88]

A ropeman or rollnlock would allow me to tighten the linemans under load. Are there other solutions I am not considering? I haven't found this discussed anywhere, which suggests to me that I am missing something in my technique.

Specifically, these mechanical devices will allow you to reduce slack "under load", but will cause a similar issue when attempting to increase length.

 

[Brocky]

For me personally I like the extra weight on the end so when I'm off balance standing on tree roots and vines in my face I can swing my rope around the trunk easier

A steel carabiner helps a lot with that. Tree workers go up the tree at times by throwing the carabiner over a higher branch and wriggling the rope to get the carabiner back.

 

[RilbyBins]

OP reporting back...

I've tried a few things and have had success with the JRB ascender hitch in soft bridge mode, tied directly "permanently" to the harness on one end and a biner on the other end. I am running two of these, one on each side.

They self tend sufficiently well for the time being, and I really appreciate how quiet it is having a single piece of metal on each hip which reduces noise. If the friction when tending it becomes irritating with time, I'll consider a mechanical device, but for the time being I'm hopeful.

I can run the linesman around the tree, or the other way around behind my back when unneeded, either way, one carabiner stays on my left side and one on the right... and never the two shall clank.

Thanks for everyone for your input.

 

[bfriendly]

OP reporting back...

I've tried a few things and have had success with the JRB ascender hitch in soft bridge mode, tied directly "permanently" to the harness on one end and a biner on the other end. I am running two of these, one on each side.

They self tend sufficiently well for the time being, and I really appreciate how quiet it is having a single piece of metal on each hip which reduces noise. If the friction when tending it becomes irritating with time, I'll consider a mechanical device, but for the time being I'm hopeful.

I can run the linesman around the tree, or the other way around behind my back when unneeded, either way, one carabiner stays on my left side and one on the right... and never the two shall clank.

Thanks for everyone for your input.

Nice! Not the simplest to tie, but I doubt you’ll change it out it works so well!

 

[Old Man Hunter]

If you prefer a pursic hitch and want to tend it to take up slack just run the tag end of you rope through the carabiner you use to attach the hitch to your saddle and pull the tag end of you rope outwards about and slightly towards the tree. You have to run the rope from your body out through the carabiner I believe then the carabiner becomes the tender for the hitch. If the direction I gave as to running the rope tag end through you carabiner doesn't work just run it the other direction and pull the tag end towards the tree and outwards. I've done this for years using a lineman's rope. It works great no extra equipment needed.
And you are correct when using a second rope to get around branches just attach the carabiners on the opposite. another thing to try is to just use your tether above the limb then attach it to you bridge. This way you don't have to carry an extra lineman rope. I use a swabich hitch on both my tether and lineman now due to how easy they tend and how tight they hold.
Example of what I do and works for me. When on the bottom steps of my top stick I attached my tether as high as I can reach so that I can attach my platform level or slightly above my top stick. The reason for the tether is I then remove my lineman rope, step to the top of my stick, tend my tether slightly and step on the platform. Same when I go around a limb. Multiple ways to do it, multiple of devices to use but I try to use as few ropes as possible and no mechanical devices. It's just they way I prefer it, it's not for everyone. Good luck with it, you will find what works best for you.