Recreational Tree Climbing - R.A.D. System DEMO
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 ส.ค. 2024
- Climbing an Oak tree using the RAD System.
Climbing System consists of:
-Hand Ascender
-Foot Loop
-GriGri
A very simple, yet efficient, and reliable, 'sit/stand' climbing method.
This is my preferred climbing system for backcountry climbing because of how minimal it is, and the fact that it can be done on a 9mm rope- which saves a lot of weight/bulk when hiking in. My RAD system setup weighs under 25 pounds fully packed (150' of rope) vs. around 40 pounds for the same rope walking setup. Your back will thank you later on long approaches!
To learn about the RAD system, check out my newer in-depth tutorial video:
• Recreational Tree Clim...
Here is another RAD Climb in the wild:
• Recreational Tree Clim...
Here is how I set my rope in the tree (base anchor):
• Recreational Tree Clim...
To learn more about the RAD System, check out my new in-depth tutorial which is designed for the beginner climber: th-cam.com/video/wAGa6hXt0S8/w-d-xo.html
I had the opportunity to scoot up and down my rope for about two hours this morning (RAD system) just for fun and practice. I am a new climber and was eager to get in some "alone time" to concentrate on what I was doing. It was wonderful to have the opportunity to play and experiment without other distractions. I never imagined I'd be climbing trees at my age, but I am having fun like a kid again. I really like the RAD system for climbing but intend to learn other techniques (DRT) too. I wish I'd learned about climbing like this fifty years ago!
Awesome! Good for you. Two hours is a nice session. I climb with many different systems, but RAD system never gets old. Keep it up!
@@judsonkimble I'll spend as much time hanging on a rope as I can this summer experimenting with different climbing methods and tools. This is just too much fun!
You said 50 years ago, was that an exaggeration?
@@donthefreeman No, I am an old guy. I will be 73 years old in a few days.
No BS… this, along with your other in depth explanation video on RAD is the best & clearest (most understandable) video I have seen on the topic. Thanks for doing these.
Thank you, Mark! I really appreciate the feedback, and I'm glad you got something out of them! Thanks for the comment.
So you're basically using a hybrid SRS but giving yourself a 2:1 advantage....it's a pretty sweet system to throw in when you're branch walking but other than that it's slow. Instead of that grigri try a akimbo or Rope runner which is also usable on a straight 1:1. You'll be up 80f in less than 30 seconds.
I would love to try to RRP or Akimbo one day. I do SRS with hitch/wrench and zag/chicane. But only for backyard climbs or jobs. I prefer the grigri rad system because it can be safely done on 9mm rope- allowing me to keep my 150' climb system packed up to 25 pounds, vs the 40 lbs my 11mm rope walking system weights packed up. I prefer to rec. climb in the backcountry and usually have a mile or two to hike in. My back doesn't like the heavier pack option....
Cool. I've been using this method for forest tree climbing for 20 yrs. I call it the inch worm method. Basically it's a cave climbing technique.
Awesome! Sounds great. You climb for recreation or work? I like that "inch worm" name.
@@judsonkimble Mainly for work. Climbing trees has been paying the bills for me for a long time...
I'll still get out for a rec climb though for sure!
@@kevindavis1281 Awesome! Sounds great! Do you ever find yourself using a RAD system while doing tree work?
@@judsonkimble Personally, only for ascent. I'll still switch back over to a dDrt when I get up there if I am doing work on the tree. Just my preference...
@@kevindavis1281 Makes sense. Thanks for sharing. Cool to know some tree workers still use it.... (no disrespect intended to ropewalking!)
A SRS is in fact a RAD system which stands for Rapid advance and decent
...and this system is not very rapid lol
@@treetramp8704 I agree with this statement! It should be 'reliable' ascent/descent. Still much better than body thrusting though....
@@judsonkimble yes hip thrusting is worse for sure. Most 2:1 are actually better for you body wise since you aren't straining in an awkward motion like straight SRS. SRS is just way way faster and time is money.
beautiful video !
Thank you!
Wow that looks easy, looking to saddle hunt with this, 60 years old. What equipment you using?
It is easy. I'm hoping to put together another video in the next few weeks going over the gear up close. If you TH-cam search for RAD system, there are some others out there who cover this system too, though, they can be hard to find for some reason....
The main equipment is a hand ascender (about $90 bucks). A Petzl GriGri (around $100). A foot loop (around $30 bucks or you can make your own using a webbing sling). I'm assuming you already have a saddle and a helmet). A few carabiners. A micro pulley (optional). And then just your climbing rope, and also a throw ball and throw line for installing your climbing line up in the tree (I have a video on this on my channel if you browse around).
"Tree Fool" has a good 3 part mini-series on this form of tree climbing: th-cam.com/video/MFONW3WGm94/w-d-xo.html
How is the rope used for climbing fixed to the tree?
I used a 'base' anchor, (or 'basal' anchor). If you search for it on youtube there should be plenty of arborist channels that have good video's on it. You could also use a 'canopy' anchor, but base anchors are easier. If you're not familiar with the process, you have a 'throw ball' (basically a weighted beanbag with a loop on it) that you tie a special really strong string to. You then throw the weight up and over a high strong branch or union in the tree. When it comes down the other side, and you've captured the branch/union you want to use, you tie your climbing rope to one end of the string (called 'throwline) and pull up your rope. When the rope goes up and over your desired branch/union, and back down to you, you tie off an anchor around the base of the tree and you're ready to climb up the free side of the rope. Somewhere on my channel I have a demo video of setting a line in a tree.
What method did you use to get the rope that high up in the tree? I use the same ascending and rappelling technique when I rappel into sink holes or just off a cliff that I wanna ascend back up...but I'm always at the top ready to descend first and then ascend back up, not the other way round lol
So I'm an arborist also I use many methods with tree care but there's one method to getting a rope into a tree its called a throw ball and throw line it's about 50 bucks for a good set the line is like 1.8 mill ... Look up throw lines for tree work and you can see it
@@mrgardner6405 I'll do that, thanks for sharing
I used an arborist throw-line kit. Basically a 12 oz beanbag (filled with metal shot), with a loop attached that you tie onto some thin/strong dedicated throw line (2mm) and then you launch that into the canopy using your preferred method. I use a one-handed underhand pendulum style throw (good for about 50ft). Arborists also use sling shots (100ft range) and air cannons (200ft range). You can also do pendulum style throwing two handed (70 ft range), or just pitch it like a baseball or a grenade (35' range). You get it up over a strong limb or crotch, and then then once it's in place you tie your climbing rope onto the throwline and pull it up and over, and then set an anchor at the base of the tree.
Here's a brief demo video of installing a rope I made last winter: th-cam.com/video/oHoYE_-kl0c/w-d-xo.html
@@judsonkimble lots of good information, I appreciate it bud! Cant wait to try this out🤙
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How safe is it to go hands free while on a grigri?
It's not recommended by Petzl, but as long as you understand how the grigri works, and feel comfortable with it, all you need to do is throw any kind of stopper knot in the tail of your rope just below the grigri for backup. Should the grigri cam slip, you'll just drop 6 inches or so, and the stopper knot will jam into the grigri and bind up the system (stop you). You can go hands free without doing this, and you'll most likely be fine, but always good practice (and easy to do) to just throw a knot in the tail of your rope below the grigri. I usually just do an overhand knot on a bight. There are more complicated ways to do a 'hard lock', but i've never bothered to go that far, because I've tested out the stopper knot approach, and it works great. The Petzl RIG however, does have additional safely features and you can 'officially' go hands free without having to add in any backup stopper knots.