Method 2 : setting remotely
Setting a redirect remotely simply means passing the rope through a natural redirect without climbing through the redirect union .
The best way to set a redirect remotely is to set it from the ground .
With practice , it is possible to fire a single line through both the intended redirect and the top anchor point .
In trees with dense internal growth or limited angles from which to fire this may be challenging . It is usually still possible to set both the anchor point and redirect separately , and then pull through the tail of a climbing line to install the redirect .
Setting the redirect from the ground is preferred as it reduces the task requirements for the rescue climber and allows the redirect to be adequately load tested by team members before it is climbed .
The rescue climber can also set redirects remotely by throwing the rope through the intended redirect point .
1 . The climber ties an open throwing knot ( see pg . 94 ) in the working end of the rope .
2 . The knot is thrown through the target redirect union .
3 . The climber descends the tree on their original rope until they can move laterally to reach the redirected rope .
4 . The climber installs a new climbing system onto the redirected rope and performs a load test .
5 . The climber disconnects from their original rope and begins climbing with the redirected rope .
It is strongly recommended that rescue teams practice the skills of identifying suitable redirect points and quickly establishing natural redirects . These techniques will be key to any rescue situation where the casualty is away from the trunk .
© Arboriculture Australia 2022 - 113 -