SRT Climbing - Anchors, Hitches, Configurations

[MNFarmHunter]

Thanks @Brocky, never heard of a cow hitch before.

Following the diagram above as a template, this appears to be doing the same thing, correct?

 

[Brocky]

No not same thing, that is more like a clock hitch, doesn’t cinch down like the cow hitch when loaded, might slide up the tree if tapered.

 

[MNFarmHunter]

Okay, so something like this?

 

[SNIPERBBB]

Since everyone is impressed by my computer mouse drawing skills.

When there are multiple limbs close together, a canopy anchor can be difficult as you have to fish your line through the limbs so that it only wraps around the single limb:
View attachment 50987

A base anchor resolves this since it doesn't matter how many limbs are in the way. However, this comes at a cost of needing more rope:
View attachment 50988

The hybrid way I showed in the pictures borrows from both. By anchoring at a low, easy to reach limb, you effectively move you "base anchor" higher up in the tree. Then, you throw your line up and over your target height limb without having to worry about fishing it through the limbs:
View attachment 50989

In hindsight, I'd probably do what I did in reverse. I'd throw over the lower limb and set my anchor first then throw over my target height limb. That way, my throw line should stay on the same side of the tree I'm on with less walking around.

If you use a DACA poles, you can use it to fish the throwball around the limbs if you're doing presets

 

[Brocky]

Almost, the half hitch is attached to the section going down in your picture, the eye.

 

[gcr0003]

Almost, the half hitch is attached to the section going down in your picture, the eye.
View attachment 51117

How are you liking that rope?

 

[MNFarmHunter]

I'm a moron. I tried tying it repeatedly and it kept slipping on me. Guess I'll stick with the 2-3 turns and the safety.

 

[Brocky]

I like how the Elite stays flexible unlike other static ropes, but there are times when that is a negative feature, linesman’s belt and tether, when doing something like one sticking where it needs to easily slide up the tree.

Think of it as a girth hitch, once both ends are through, the long one gets tied to short one with eye. It will fall apart until it is completed, the half hitch is necessary for this.

 

[MNFarmHunter]

This is why I also call this a hobby. I'm always trying new things, changing things around and generally wasting time while getting some exercise.

Canopy anchor SRT is still my preferred method with presets.

I still suck with a throwball (neighbors probably think I'm certifiable by now) but did learn I'm more accurate if I aim for a group of limbs instead of "that perfect" limb. Having typed that, I'm not sure if that actually qualifies as accurate but I digress.

I am however much more confident using a throwball on public land or other areas without presets now. If it works out that I can canopy anchor, great.

My basal anchor setup fits in a MILSURP 3 mag pouch consisting of 25' of C-IV with a quicklink on one end and a figure 8 w/ a carabiner on the other. If the peak limb is about 35' +/-, I should be able to use my 50' of climbing rope with the basal anchor.

If however, I cannot, I have the hybrid anchoring which should cover it.

As with all things, final setup subject to next week, tomorrow or the next time I get bored.

 

[mtsrunner]

How do you set a false crotch?


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Several ways to do it. You leave a tether girth hitched around the tree with a prussic and hang a large carabiner through the prussic. Next, run a paracord loop through the carabiner to the ground. Now, you have a paracord preset. Instead of pulling your climbing line through a crotch or over a limb, you are pulling it up through a carabiner.
I’m not crazy about that way because I’m worried about rodents chewing on the tether. I think a better way is to hang a carabiner or rigging ring from the backside of the tree and run your paracord loop through it and then walk it around the front of the tree so that when you pull up your climbing rope it actually girth hitches the whole trunk of the tree.

 

[FrankNess14]

Several ways to do it. You leave a tether girth hitched around the tree with a prussic and hang a large carabiner through the prussic. Next, run a paracord loop through the carabiner to the ground. Now, you have a paracord preset. Instead of pulling your climbing line through a crotch or over a limb, you are pulling it up through a carabiner.
I’m not crazy about that way because I’m worried about rodents chewing on the tether. I think a better way is to hang a carabiner or rigging ring from the backside of the tree and run your paracord loop through it and then walk it around the front of the tree so that when you pull up your climbing rope it actually girth hitches the whole trunk of the tree.

That makes a lot of sense with the carabiner or ring. The tether left in a tree sounds sketchy and expensive! Thanks


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[MNFarmHunter]

I've got a scouting trip planning over Labor Day weekend and unless @DanO needs help paying next months Tesla bill, I may be done spending big $$$ for this season as I already have my presets established.

That being said after playing with it this weekend, I do see an advantage to the base anchor, with or without presets. As I said earlier, I know I skipped doing presets in trees because I couldn't isolate a limb which is what makes the base anchor so effective. However, there is also an advantage to having less rope to pull up once at height and store somewhere.

So, the question is...Since I already have 50' of C-IV, does it make more sense to get a longer, single rope or get 40" of Resc-Tech and use that as the "base anchor" line and connect it to my climbing rope? Then again, I already have 50' of Resc-Tech so why not just use that?

 

[DanO]

I've got a scouting trip planning over Labor Day weekend and unless @DanO needs help paying next months Tesla bill, I may be done spending big $$$ for this season as I already have my presets established.

That being said after playing with it this weekend, I do see an advantage to the base anchor, with or without presets. As I said earlier, I know I skipped doing presets in trees because I couldn't isolate a limb which is what makes the base anchor so effective. However, there is also an advantage to having less rope to pull up once at height and store somewhere.

So, the question is...Since I already have 50' of C-IV, does it make more sense to get a longer, single rope or get 40" of Resc-Tech and use that as the "base anchor" line and connect it to my climbing rope? Then again, I already have 50' of Resc-Tech so why not just use that?

TESLA??? You should know I'm 100% a truck guy!

 

[Brocky]

Might simplify things if you used a separate rope for each of the high and low branches, since you already have two, and connect them in the middle?

 

[3lilpigs]

Alright, new question, hopefully some of you smart folks are still following this thread. I've only got a couple of saddle hunts under my belt, but lots of practice climbs. The videos that "taught" me SRT just used knots for their anchors-- one guy used an Alpine Butterfly, another used a Bowline with Yosemite, and I've used that bowline/yosemite without any problems. But then I did some more reading and found that I'd probably prefer a Figure 8, and also that professional arborists never use rope-on-rope to tie off, because of the risk of abrasion causing a failure. So then I figured ok, I'll tie a Fig 8 and clip it on with a carabiner, final answer.

But now in this thread, I don't see anyone using a carabiner, just friction rings. Would a 'biner be safe? Am I inviting disaster? I'm using Platinum line, so small knots are tough. Think I'd have a hard time attaching to a ring.

 

[MNFarmHunter]

Might simplify things if you used a separate rope for each of the high and low branches, since you already have two, and connect them in the middle?

That's what I'm going to go with for this year, especially since the Resc-Tech packs down in such a small area. My C-IV is my climbing rope with the Resc-Tech being the base anchor if needed and that's even assuming I hunt someplace where I don't have a preset.

Mostly because I have the patience of a 2 Y.O., I'm already thinking to next year and everything I'd do different even though I haven't tested out the areas I'm hunting this year...

 

[bj139]

I use the KISS climbing system while I'm out hunting. The time to be injured is in the local park where someone can call for an ambulance.

 

[mtsrunner]

I’ve been messing around with this method and I really like it.

 

[MNFarmHunter]

I've been playing around with base anchors but since my climbing rope is too short, I have a 2nd anchor rope. 15' will give me 2-4 wraps around the trunk, 25' will give me the same number of wraps with a long enough tail for a higher peak.

I'm really liking the simplicity of setup and was thinking about getting a single, longer rope but then it dawned on me. Several of my presets required a trunk girth hitch at the peak. If I got a single, long rope, I'd have close to that entire length to deal with once at height which is a PITA.

As such, I'm fine with a 2-part system (subject to next weeks ideas). Keep the 50' of climbing rope as a multipurpose rope and specialize on the base anchor rope. 25' seems to be the most multipurpose for this but still have to do more experimenting.

 

[MNFarmHunter]

Question on the alpine butterfly.

Does it require loading on the standing and working end if a load is put on the loop or can you load one with just the working end and loop?