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Messages 1 - 11 of total 11 in this topic |
deadherring
Gym climber
Bergen County, New Jersey
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Topic Author's Original Post - Sep 29, 2014 - 01:43pm PT
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Hey folks,
I have a number of large trees in my backyard and was hoping to find a way to get setup with some sort of climbing setup for my kids. I am not a climber myself, and of course safety is paramount, so I am looking for some advice in my initial research stage.
In an ideal case I would attach some climbing holds to the tree, let them climb maybe 20-25 feet up, then they could rapell down. Of course the setup would be such that if they fell while climbing they would be held up and not crash to the ground. Again, ideally, this setup could work without requiring a second person to have to control the rope on the ground.
Is there any way that what I am thinking about could work? If the no second person is not possible, is there a way to set it up with a second person in place?
Thanks!
Nathan
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ClimbingOn
Trad climber
NY
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Sep 29, 2014 - 01:50pm PT
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This is not recommended. If you screw in a number of holes it is very likely your trees become sick due to infection or bugs. Screwing holds into the tree is also not advised as they will twist and turn. You could theoretically lash a piece of tree or a 4x4 30 or so feet up and rig a system to toprope belay off that. This is all far more contrived than it is worth.
One option would be to build a climbing wall out of framed plywood and use your trees as the back-bracing, so that the wall does not need to be free-standing. With all of the lumber, holds, T-nuts and other materials, for something your children may or may not enjoy long-term, it is almost certainly better to buy a gym membership for them and yourself. Get the proper instruction, make sure they are started correctly, and learn in a safe environment.
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Clint Cummins
Trad climber
SF Bay area, CA
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Sep 29, 2014 - 04:22pm PT
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If it was an adult climbing, they could use a MiniTraxion on a fixed line
as their belay, and then switch to a rappel at the top.
But it seems high risk to me, to have a kid switch to a rappel and do the rappel.
Adults mess these things up themselves on a regular basis.
You might as well just have an adult belayer with a grigri, who belays
and lowers the kid.
If it is the right kind of tree, you don't have to add anything to climb it,
and there is no belay or rappel needed.
You climb up free solo, and downclimb the same way.
That way the kid learns risk assessment on smaller trees, and progresses
to larger if they are motivated.
At least that's how I did it when I was a kid.
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johntp
Trad climber
socal
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Sep 29, 2014 - 04:30pm PT
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Troll attack!
When we were kids we just climbed the tree. You fall, you break your arm..
Not too complicated.
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NutAgain!
Trad climber
South Pasadena, CA
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Sep 29, 2014 - 05:55pm PT
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Climbing trees with no gear and "do not fall" mission parameters was standard issue when I was a kid. But I never had access to redwoods that would have upped the ante.
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Paul Martzen
Trad climber
Fresno
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Sep 29, 2014 - 09:59pm PT
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Show us photos of the trees and the back yard. Advice has to be specific to the particular trees. Then, do you climb trees? If not, it will be hard for you to judge what is safe or not and hard for you to understand any advice given. The go to the climbing gym advice is sound. But many trees are awfully fun and educational to climb in.
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dave729
Trad climber
Western America
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Sep 29, 2014 - 10:44pm PT
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Maybe this idea could help. Simple enough to make your own version.
Non damaging tree climbing aids.
Climb Paws climbing steps are the most stable, lightest, portable, quietest, stealthiest, legal climbing system that work on any tree.
[Click to View YouTube Video]
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justthemaid
climber
Jim Henson's Basement
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Sep 30, 2014 - 07:36am PT
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bump
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deadherring
Gym climber
Bergen County, New Jersey
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 30, 2014 - 08:28am PT
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Thanks for the replies. For those thinking I am a troll, I am not, just a dad looking for some info on setting up a fun (and safe) backyard.
And, to the person recommending a zip line: I just finished putting one in, from the side of the house to a tree--the kids love it!
We have a number of large trees, so I was hoping to move on to the next project of some kind of climbing setup.
Sounds like the consensus is that what I am looking for can't really be done safely. Oh well :(
Thanks for all the replies.
Nathan
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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hey there say, ekat... this is a good bump... very interesting...
had not seen this...
say, johntp... yep, we climbed trees and so did all my kids...
was nothing like it...
well, hee hee, except for maybe rock climbing, ;)
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Messages 1 - 11 of total 11 in this topic |
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