For the arborist, moving through a tree’s canopy is a highly skilled craft. It requires an understanding of physics, a trusting relationship with your gear, and a strategic eye for the tree’s natural shape. Traditional climbing methods, while effective, often use hardware that creates significant friction. This friction can make every adjustment a struggle, slowing down your work and causing unnecessary wear on your equipment. However, an advanced approach using natural redirects can change all of that. By using the tree’s own limbs as organic guides, you can achieve a level of frictionless movement that greatly improves your safety and efficiency.
In a stationary work positioning system, for instance, the rope’s contact with a limb does not create the kind of friction that can hinder your movements. This lack of resistance is a game-changer. It makes maneuvering across a long, horizontal branch a smooth process, not a physical struggle against a stubborn rope. This method doesn’t just make the work easier; it makes it smarter. It lets you use your energy where it matters most: on the job.
Positioning for Protection: A Safer Mindset
Beyond the benefit of a smoother ride, using natural redirects is key to a safer climbing practice. It’s about thinking ahead and planning your next move for safety, not just for speed. Imagine you are working on a large limb. The safest place for your rope system would be on the opposite side of the limb from your body. Why? Because if you were to slip, the limb itself would act as a powerful brake. This would prevent a long fall and a hard impact.
To achieve this ideal position, you must master the delicate process of moving your rope system safely. This process requires a brief but critical moment when you disconnect from your primary line. At this point, a strict safety protocol is essential.
Before you ever unclip, you must be securely connected to the tree at two separate points. This is not a suggestion; it is a rule. Your trusty work positioning lanyard, attached to your side D-rings, provides a good baseline of safety. However, it’s not designed to handle a fall. For true peace of mind, you should add a webbing sling to your central tie-in point. This creates a secure, redundant system. It puts you in a fall factor zero situation. With this dual-point connection, you are completely stable. You can perform the necessary adjustments to your primary rope system without any risk of falling.
The Art of the Redirect: A Seamless Process
With your redundant safety system in place—both your lanyard and webbing sling are connected—you are ready to reposition your rope. First, you will safely disconnect your primary suspension point. You are now free to work with your main rope. Carefully, you will guide the rope over the limb to the desired position and reconnect it to your harness.
Now comes the most important step in the entire process. Before you consider unfastening your backup systems, you must thoroughly test the new setup. Slowly shift your weight onto your newly positioned rope system. You must feel it hold you completely and securely. This test confirms that your new hitch is properly set and ready to support you. It’s a moment of truth that must not be skipped. Once you are fully confident that your new primary system is secure, you can then safely remove your backup lanyard and webbing sling.
After confirming your security, a final, small adjustment of feeding a little slack through the redirect can ensure your line is perfectly aligned for your continued descent or work. As you begin to move, you will immediately notice the difference: the absolute lack of additional friction. Your descent will be smooth and controlled. You’ll find yourself gliding effortlessly, your movements in perfect harmony with the tree.
The Professional’s Edge
Adopting this frictionless approach is the mark of a seasoned professional. It shows an understanding that the best way to work is not by fighting your tools, but by optimizing them to work with you and with nature. This method reduces physical strain. It also minimizes wear and tear on expensive equipment. Most importantly, it enhances safety by giving you absolute control and a redundant system you can rely on. It’s a powerful technique that transforms a challenging job into a fluid, graceful craft.
Peace on your Days
Lance
