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ARB CLIMBERISSUE 1 ARB CLIMBER ISSUE 1

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IT ALL BEGAN.......

It was the fall of 2008 andthe economy had souredto the point where I had no

phone calls coming in at alland I was starting to wonderabout how to make nextmonths rent. A large hurri-cane landed in Texas that falland a friend had a lead onsome work down there so IJoined him for the ride.

After a long drive I ended upin the town of Pasadena,Texas, a suburb of Houston.After I showed up at the treeoperations center I was set towork for somebody who wasworking for somebody whowas working for somebodywho was working for FEMAand my job was to clear haz-ardous hangers over a walk-ing trail in the local NatureReserve.

Thousands of miles fromhome and not knowing any-one, I agreed to $10.00/ treeto pay for me and a groundman to walk the nature trailand remove hangers from thetrees. We were accompaniedby a FEMA minder who tookpictures, GPS coordinates,

and notes of every tree thatwe climbed. I quickly learnedthat the standard practicesthat I was used to in residen-tial arboriculture would notserve me well in this type ofwork. I wanted 50 trees aday at least. One of thethings that slowed me downwas isolating my line. I hadto have an overhead tie inpoint but isolating limbs inthe thick and brambley treesof East Texas was too timeconsuming. I began to justthrow the line over and tieoff my line at the base of thetree. I also went out rightaway and bought a 20 footextension ladder that mygroundguy would set up anddismantle for me at eachtree.

I began ascending the treesingle line with just a hitchand then would place my fig-ure eight above my hitch todescend. This worked but itwas a pain because if I had todo any work positioning thenI could either only go up orgo down. When I could Iwould just climb only on ahitch but it was very difficultto manage and my hitchesgot fried and so did my

hands.Throughout the course of themonth I spent in Texas bat-tling brambles, insects, heat,thieves, and shady employers,I experimented heavily in get-ting around the tree with asingle line. Many advantageswere starting to happen forme. Even though I was strug-gleing with my hitch, I foundthat I could work laterallythrough the canapoy in a waythat I hadn’t been able towith dDRT. I could redirectmy line over branches andthus work my way down thetrail through the canopy,knocking out several treeswith hangers in them withonly one ascent and 200 feetof rope. I found that I nolonger had to worry abouttwisting lines, the effects offriction on my system, and Iknew exactly how much ropeI had with me at all times.dDRT is a 2;1 system and sotwice as much rope goesthrough your hands as youtravel.

About halfway through mystay in texas, I was fiddlingaround with my gear whichwas not very much butincluded a DMM revolver

carabiner and a figure eight.As soon as I started climbingSRT, I realized the need for bi-directional movement andthe moment I clipped therevolver through a bite ofrope in the big eye of the fig-ure eight, I knew I had justmade my life much easier.This was the birth of the Fate[F-8] Revolver System which Iclimbed with for manymonths after first comingacross it in Texas. Throughcommunication with like-minded people on the treeclimbing chatrooms I wasgiven a tip about the KongRobot, a descent devicewhich would do much thesame thing as the FateRevolver. I also found thatthe Conterra Scarab workswell as a single line enabler.The principle is to take a littleheat and friction off of thefriction hitch in order that itmay descend down the rope.The friction hitch is not adescent device; it is an ascen-der or a rope grab. It is flexi-ble and has bi-directionalmovement unlike mostmechanical ascenders butone is not able to slide itdown the rope without some-thing taking friction and heat

Singing TreeWrench

from the hitch. The problem with the FateRevolver system, is that it cre-ates a permanent kink in therope above the hitch. Thismeans that you still do nothave multidirectional capabil-ity if you have all of yourweight on the line. Whenclimbing the tree and yourweight is on your feet, youare able to tend your slack.You cannot ascend directly upthe rope when the device isattached to the line. Youmust then remove it andclimb the line with yourhitch as your ropegrab.

Duringthis timeclimbing the FateRevolver and KongRobot, I became quiteadept at taking the rigon and off the line as Iworked through thetree. SRT, even withthe inconveniences stillseemed a more practi-cal way of approachingthe trees. I could setup a fast frog walking systemto get into the tree; I wouldreach my first limb and popon the Fate Revolver and go

to work. When Ihad to climb again Iwould pop it off. Therewere times that I becamefrustrated with this processand I was definitely still look-ing for an answer.

The answer came in the formof a 13 mm box wrench that Iwas laying on my work bench.It was kinked at an angle andI realized that it would pro-vide friction. I had a cat res-cue that day and decided Iwould employ my new ropewrench. I was amazed at the

results. The only problemwas that the teeth tore upmy line. I was pondering

how I could replicate theaction of the wrenchwithout tearing up mylines when my girlfriendsuggested that I trywood.

Wood is a great mediumfor a friction devicebecause it does not seemto absorb a lot of heat andit really replicates well whatI was trying to emulate, thefriction that the branch pro-

vides the hitch in dDRT.These wooden models werethe origin of the rope wrench,the limb that goes with you.

TheWrench has pro-gressed some sincethose early days, andwill continue to evolve,but the concept is thesame. SRT climbingand work positioningprovides climbers witha whole new set ofoptions not availablein dDRT:

• 1:1 interaction withthe rope, no mathinvolved• No Twisting,• Less hockling (backto 1:1 ratio)• Consistant friction, • Natural crotch redi-rects easy and practical•Ways to set up yourtie in point

When Climbing SRT itis very important toidentify the parts ofthe system. In dDRTthere is what peoplerefer to as the TIP (Tie-

model ZK-1

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loop. After a couple of redi-rects, so much friction will bein the system that the climberwill be stuck.

The Tie-In Point of an SRT lineis different. It is an actualTie-in Point and one end ofthe line is terminated on asolid object. The climber isattached to that line via aseparate rope grabbingdevice such as a friction hitch.Anywhere in the tree can bea Tie in point and it can befollowed by any number ofredirects.

The climber must understandthe forces created on redi-rects, depending on the angleand the amount of friction inthe system, the climber cancreate up to two times their

body weight on the redirect.By understanding theseangles as well as the conceptof compression wood, theclimber can create safer workangles and more secure redi-rects while working the treeSRT. Look at the VictorianTree Industry Orginazationpamphlet (Australia) for agood explanation of forces ofSRT.

The ability to use naturalcrotches to redirect gives agreater access to the canopy.In dDRT, there is always thebasic limitation of not beingable to pass through unlimit-ed redirects before the fric-tion added into the systembrings you to a standstill.There is also the advantage ofhaving a trunk belay rescue

option. [ED: this simple expe-dientrequires you to attach adescender or belay device,preferably autolocking, toyour ground anchor or base-of-trunk anchor and then run-ning the SRT rope throughthat descender. The descen-der is hard-locked while theclimber is working]. If you aredisabled in the tree, a groundworker can lower you to theground using a belay device.

Although there is no dynamicmovement at the crotch it isoften advisable to use a tubestyle cambium saver on thinbarked trees as damage canresult from the rope beingloaded and unloaded, espe-cially when the trees are veryspringy.

The Rope wrench makes SRTmuch safer than conventionalone way mechanical ascen-ders. Using a chest ascenderand handled ascenders thatcannot reverse direction canlead to risky changeoversespecially in moments ofpanic. Manipulating ascen-ders and trying to install adescending device while aswarm of bees attacks isrecipe for disaster. Havingeverything on the line at atime makes it simple todescend at a momentsnotice.

What follows is a discussionof appropriate technique forthe Wrench.

ISSUE 1

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ARB CLIMBERISSUE 1 ARB CLIMBER ISSUE 1

HOW to USEthe WRENCHThe Singing Tree RopeWrench is a simple yet effec-tive device that assists aclimber climbing up anddown in SRT, or Single RopeTechnique. The way theRope Wrench Works is byusing leverage to force therope into an S shape and pro-viding friction for a controlleddescent. When engaged, theRope Wrench acts much like aconventional descent devicesuch as a Figure eight. Whennot engaged, the RopeWrench provides no interfer-ence with ascending the rope.This allows the climber towork an entire tree using sin-gle rope technique.

The Rope Wrench is essential-ly a descent device that has aneutral gear allowing it toascend the rope as well.Because of this neutral gear,it is imperative that the ropewrench not be used without asturdy and trusted hitch.

The Rope Wrench is the “limbthat goes with you”. It pro-vides the same service toyour climbing hitch that theLimb or cambium saver pro-vides in dDRT.

The ZK1 is designed as a fric-tion assist tool. It is notmeant as a rope clamp or as afall arrest tool. It acts as aheat and friction sink, toallow the user’s friction hitchto adjust downwardly. IT ISNOT A CONNECTOR OR ANASCENDER. Without therope wrench, it is neveradvised to descend on a lonefriction hitch. The RopeWrench’s function is entirelydependent on the frictionhitch that the climber choos-es to implement. The friction

hitch is what the climber willrely on for life support.

ADJUSTING THE ROPEWRENCHThe ZK-1 is adjustabledepending on the rope thatthe user wishes to use. Athicker, arborist 16 strand willrequire the wrench to beopen. In fully open mode,the friction will be less; there-fore more weight will beplaced on your hitch. Thiswould be similar to climbingdDRT with a pulley. By tight-ening the wench, you canclimb with smaller diameterropes and less friction isplaced on the hitch. It is rec-ommended that the climberadjust the Rope Wrench sothe friction bushings arealmost touching the rope butnot so tight that it drags thewrench down during ascent.It is similar to adjusting awheel bearing or a clutch.Tools needed are two 13mmor ½ inch wrenches and a pairof pliers to hold the bushingwhile adjusting.

ASCENT:While using the Rope Wrenchduring ascent, it is veryimportant that slack alwaysbe kept out of the system.Regardless of the systembeing used dDRT or SRT, slackmust always be avoided andexposes the climber to adynamic fall. In order to dothis, the hitch must not fallbelow your waist. Theclimber can pull the hitch upas he climbs using a variety oftechniques. The sit standmethod ensures that there isnever any slack in the system.A chest harness or similardevice that holds the systemabove your waist can be usedin various rope walking con-figurations. The back of ropewrench can sometimes beattached to a chest harness

CHOOSING A FRICTION HITCH:Many different styles of friction hitch can be utilized. The importantthing is that it must be rated for the application. Use a hitch cord that issupple and doesn’t loosen from the rope when ascending or not weight-ing the rope. A stiff or overly long hitch cord can work itself open andnot engage immediately in case of a slip or a fall. It is recommendedthat the climber use hitch cord that can withstand some heat and notbecome compromised due to glazing. Visually and manually inspectyour hitch cord frequently. The rules regarding hitch use in dDRT shouldbe followed when using a hitch with the Rope Wrench. The hitchshould be inspected before and during each use.

ROPE SELECTION:There are advantages to having a thick rope as itis easier to grip with your hands. This allows theclimber to swing through the canopy and foot-lock the rope easier. The downside of a thickerrope is that it is heavier and does not accommo-date many other rope tools such as foot andhand ascenders. A thinner rope can be fasterwhen using other mechanical devices but can beharder to grip with your hands or footlock.Experiment with different ropes and levels offriction in the Rope Wrench.

LENGTH AND STYLE OF TETHER:The length of the tether should be long enough to allow the wrench fullmotion and not interfere with the hitch itself. An overly long tether canbe sloppy and twist around the rope. The climber must monitor andinspect the tether constantly during the course of a climb. Make surethat the tether does not snag on branches or become tangled in theRope Wrench itself. The tether can be made from any heavy duty cordand should be attached to the climbers hitch tending pulley and theRope Wrench. A hitch tending pulley is not required for the ropewrench to work but it is highly recommended. THE ROPE WRENCH ISNOT INTENEDED FOR LIFE SUPPORT PURPOSES and neither is the tether,however it is strongly recommended that you use the tether in adher-ence to normal life support guidelines as it is good practice.

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ARB CLIMBERISSUE 1

and it subsequently pulls thehitch up the rope behind it.MAKE SURE THAT THE HITCHDOES NOT LOOSEN DURINGASCENT to the point that itdoes not grip the rope if theclimber slips or falls.

DESCENT:A well tied hitch will be veryhard to disengage unless thewrench is partially engaged.It is important beforedescending to make sure thatthe wrench has begun to

engage. DO NOT USE THEROPE WRENCH TO ACTIVATETHE HITCH. Descent shouldbe controlled and the hitchshould operate in a mannervery similar to the way it per-forms in dDDRT. To stop, letgo and maintain position viathe securely tied hitch.

WORK POSITIONING:In SRT, The rope is fixed atone end and does not move.Unlike the Tie In Point (TIP) indDRT, the TIP in SRT can beanywhere secure such as thetrunk of the tree, a solid limbhigh in the canopy, or a fixedremote object. The rope

between the TIP and theclimber must be visuallyinspected and kept fromharm. All cutting implementsshould not come near the lifesupport system. It is alsoimportant to analyze theforce generated on redirectsfrom the climber to the TIP.The climber must understandthe hazards involved inadopting any new climbingtechnique and practice “lowand slow before attemptinganything at height.

MIDLINE ATTACHABLEThe ZK-1 is designed toaccommodate a Ball LockQuick Release Pin in place ofthe Top Front bushing. Thisallows the Wrench to beattached mid line. Toreplace, remove all of thenuts from one side of thewrench and remove one sideplate and the front bushing.Tighten the other two bush-ings in place leaving the frontholes open. Use lock tight forextra security when tighten-ing the nuts. Adjust lowerbushing to desired locationand install Ball Lock Pin. Withthe Ball Lock Pin, the Rope

Wrench is midline attachable.The Climber should neverclimb without the ropewrench on the line.

not soFAQs:1. In a doubled rope climbingsystem due to the configura-tion of the climbing line theload on the friction hitch isapprox. half the climber’sweight minus friction on the

anchor point. Canyou make a state-ment in regards tothe percentage ofclimber’s weightbeing held by thehardware with thesystem? In case ofmultiple deviceswhich are config-ured in serieswhich device bearshow much of theload?

With the ZK-1 thefriction of thewrench isadjustable. Thisallows the climberto vary the frictionbased on the styleof rope, the friction

cord, style of hitch and theclimbers personal climbingstyle. With the bushings clos-er together, the wrench takesa large percentage of the losdduring descent and theclimber almost has to pullhimself down the rope. Withthe bushings in wide openposition, the wrench func-tions at a normal frictionration but with a 11 mm dou-ble braid it feels like climbingon ddrt with a pulley.

2. What percentage ofclimber’s weight is beingheld by the textile elements(i.e. friction hitch cord) with-

in the system?Again, this depends on howyou set the hitch but no morethan ddrt with a pulley as afriction saver. It can be set todry crotch level friction, cam-bium saver level friction, orpulley friction.

3. Are specific types ofcordage defined for climbingline and hitch cord in regardsto diameter and hitch cordmaterial/ construction?I find that the same rulesapply as to ddrt climbing. Ihave climbed with a split tailblakes hitch with much suc-cess.

4 Has any testing been doneof the configured system? Yes

5 If a rescue would becomerequired, what type of res-cue could be utilized? Inevent of a pick-off rescue(injured person transferredinto climbers system) whatrecommendation do youmake for your system inregards to managing friction?

The rescue of someone usingthe rope wrench is basicallythe same as a ddrt rescue,.The rescuer controls theclimbers climbing hitch andlowers him to the ground. Ifthe victim needs to be liftedduring rescue, the micro pul-ley underneath the hitchallows the rescuer to easilycreate a 3:1 mechanicaladvantage using the tail ofthe victims line through acrab attached above theclimber and his rope. This isa technique that the climbercan use during his climb tohelp return from steep limbwalks or back up a spar witha heavy saw.

AC