Had a rope get stuck 60 feet up on a red oak yesterday

Was pruning a red oak in Brookline when my throw line got tangled bad in a tight crotch. Had to climb up and cut it free with a handsaw, wasted a solid 45 minutes. Anybody got a trick for avoiding crotch locks on skinny branches?

2 comments

2 Comments

amyh2115d ago

Respectfully, I see this different. Crotch locks like that are usually a setup issue, not a climbing issue. If you're throwing into skinny branches with a tight V, you're asking for trouble. Try aiming for a wider crotch or a single branch instead of a fork. Also, a heavier throw bag with a smoother line makes a big difference in avoiding those snags. Saves you that 45 minute headache every time.

robert_smith3615d ago

totally agree with you on the bag weight thing @amyh21. last season i switched from a 12oz to a 16oz and it stopped getting hung up on those tight splits way more often. the extra momentum just carries it through the branch instead of bouncing back. also if you're really stuck on a V that's narrow, try walking the line around to the other side of the tree a bit. sometimes changing the angle by like 15 degrees lets the bag slip through clean. but yeah, picking the right crotch in the first place saves you the most headache for sure. once you've done it a few times you can spot the bad setups from 50 feet away.