From SRS to MRS or SRS Again: The Budget-Friendly Twinline!

Previous blog posts reviewed the Ropeguide TwinLine by Advanced RopeClimbing Technology (ART) and provided guidelines for setting an access line during a climb. This blog outlines a cost-effective option that aims to be both efficient and smooth. The following topics are covered:

1. How to set up an Alpine Butterfly canopy anchor for stationary rope system (SRS) climbing.

2. Methods for transitioning to a moving rope system, or to another SRS anchor while aloft, using a second rope.

3. Procedures for retrieving the entire system with the original SRS climbing rope.

Why choose the Alpine Butterfly for a Canopy Anchor

The Alpine Butterfly offers several advantages in tree climbing applications:

• Mid-line tie-in: Can be tied without access to either rope end.

• Multi-directional loading: Holds strength from various pull directions, perfect for canopy anchors.

• Ease of untying (climbing): After a full climbing session, it remains easier than many knots. 

• Retrievability: When paired with a ring and/or Pinto - Texas Tug – it allows the climber to pull the anchor out from the ground. 
  
  
  

Gear Checklist

• SRS climbing rope long enough for both ends to hit the ground.

• MRS climbing rope (or another SRS climbing rope).

• Friction Saver.

• Anchor Ring

• Additional carabiner meeting the ANSI Z133 standards. 

• Mid-line attachable climbing device to ascend and work on the SRS line - not necessary, just convenient. 

Set Up

As with any SRS climbing configuration, a throw line is necessary, and patience is sold separately! 

1. Once you have successfully isolated the desired branch union, install a DMM Anchor Ring onto your rope before pulling it into the crown of the tree.
   
   

2. Tie the Alpine with the anchor ring on what will be the retrieval leg of the system and insert the working end of the rope through the ring. But why the need for a ring, you might ask. I get weirded out by the rope-on-rope friction the loop of the Alpine may encounter, hence the anchor ring. 

3. Prior to sending the anchor aloft, tie a secondary Alpine Butterfly onto the retrieval leg below the primary. Attach the friction saver and the second climbing rope to it. This will shed the unnecessary weight experienced from dragging extra equipment on the climbing harness. Once all this has been done, send your system up, up, and away!

• If you believe your ascent rope is too short, marry the climb side to the bitter end of the retrieval side of the climbing rope. By doing so, you have created a continuous running loop, ensuring you can pull everything back down. 

4. If you aren’t going to immediately ascend, mark the climb side of the rope by tying a simple slip knot onto it. This avoids confusion and prevents you from attempting to climb on the retrieval leg. 

5. Test your anchor by pulling down in a “static” method and holding for 5 seconds, rather than bouncing up and down. As you test your anchor, listen and look up for excessive movement. 

If all the boxes have been checked, the ascent can take place. The beauty of it, the climbing arborist will be able to work the tree on the way up!

System Transfer: SRS to MRS/secondary SRS

Large trees may call for multiple redirects, or resetting the main anchor to a new location, and this is where this climbing method comes into play! 

1. In order for this to successfully work, you will need to have another anchor point close to the ascent anchor location. If it is too far, the retrieval can become entangled. 

2. After having reached the anchor point and the other gadgets, detach the second rope along with the friction saver and attach it to your harness for a brief moment. Locate your second working anchor, and if you must, utilize the second rope to advance or maneuver to it.

• Before I forget, the retrieval leg of the access line must travel to the new anchor location as well. 

3. Install the friction saver and the second climbing system as normal. Here comes the only modified step; rather than clipping the retrieval carabiner (Petzl Naja used in this example) to the running leg of the secondary climbing rope, tie another Alpine on the access line that was brought over and connect the retrieval carabiner to it. 

• If you plan to jam your friction saver in order to establish another SRS anchor, be sure to follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer. In the case of Petzl’s Naja, a Figure-8 on a bight is required on the jam/retrieval side. Further secure it by capturing the bight of the Figure-8 with a carabiner along with the retrieval leg.
  
  
  

4. Remember to weight test your new system prior to detaching your lanyard and/or the access line.

Retrieval 

After having finished the climb, just come down. There is no need to jump back out of the redirects taken (if any) in order to re-align a clean route with the friction saver. 

1. Disconnect the splice from the moving rope system and pull the rope. Don’t worry about attaching the retrieval cone to it. 

1. For SRS retrieval, detach the climbing system from the rope and make way to the retrieval leg. Begin by pulling on the retrieval leg and pull the entire rope. 

2. As you store that rope, pull down on the retrieval side of the original access line, this should pop the friction saver out and it will come down controlled because it has been attached to the access rope. 

3. Store everything and off to the next one. 

Conclusion

This is a technique I find myself utilizing quite often during extensive pruning jobs. It gets me in the habit of setting an access line either for rescue or allowing another climber to jump in and help prune the tree out – two is better than one! What is your favorite anchoring method?