Passing a branch or obstacle
A Ascend into the tree using spur climbing
techniques . Maintain two points of attachment at all times .
B Where a branch , bifurcation or stub is reached that prevents advancing of the
lanyard , install a third life support system around or above the branch or obstacle . This can be another lanyard or another MRT climbing system .
On smaller stems , and with smaller branches , it is safer and more efficient ( see note below ) to install the system around the stem above the obstacle rather than to the branch itself .
On larger stems or with larger branches , it may be easier for novice spur climbers to install the system over the branch itself ( as pictured ) so that they can more easily ‘ sit in ’ the system whilst advancing their original systems past the obstacle .
C One by one , the two original systems can be re-installed on the trunk above
the obstacle . Maintain two points of attachment at all times : only when the first original system has been satisfactorily re-installed and loadtested can the second be removed .
D With both spur climbing systems set around the stem above the obstacle ,
the third system can be removed and the climber can continue to progress upwards .
On trees with a dense branch structure that has not been removed by the arborist before their accident , the rescuer must either clear the branches as they climb or make frequent transitions between systems to advance past each branch .
An improvement in efficiency can be achieved by climbing with three lanyard systems , for example two MRT climbing systems configured as lanyards from Side-D to Side-D , and one normal arborist flipline .
The rescuer ascends with 2 of the three systems installed around the trunk . When they reach an obstacle , the third system is installed as a lanyard around the trunk above the obstacle . One of the original systems is then removed and re-attached above the obstacle . The second original system can then be removed and the rescuer is immediately ready to continue up the trunk .
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