Fundamentals of Climbing SRS

Tree climbing is not just a job, career, or hobby…it’s a way of life! All you tree lifers know what I’m talking about. Climbing trees is an exhilarating activity that combines physical exertion, technical skills, a love for nature and if I am being candid – the adrenaline rush can be intense! An efficient method of ascending trees, especially for professional arborists and recreational climbers, is Stationary Rope System (SRS) or as it was called before; Stationary Rope Technique (SRT, which is what I’ll be calling it for the duration of this blog). Understanding SRT’s application in arboriculture can significantly enhance an arborist’s ability to perform tasks such as pruning, inspections, and removals effectively and safely!

What is a Stationary Rope System?

SRS allows us to ascend and descend using a single leg, stationary rope. Unlike moving rope systems (MRS) or as it used to be known; Doubled Rope Technique (DRT) or DDRT climbing, where the rope is doubled over either through a friction saver or just by placing it over the branch union itself (strongly recommend using a friction saver), and the climbing rope travels up or down with the climber. Whereas SRT’s nature, the climber physically climbs up or down on the rope. SRT also offers several benefits, including reduced fatigue, efficient maneuvering, precise positioning, and consistent friction when redirecting.

A huge misconception I repeatedly hear; “SRT is dangerous, you’re only climbing on one rope and if that gets cut, you’re going to fall” …hmm, ok! Which is not true! Most climbing arborists only climb with one rope, unless you are in a region where you are mandated to climb with two independent ropes. As stated before; with DRT, the rope is just placed over the branch union and connected back to the climber. If either the working or standing leg of rope were to be severed, kaput! To those first laying their eyes on SRT, it’s like an optical illusion at first because the climber only has one leg of rope in front of rather than two. 

Tree Climbing Gear Needed

1. Arborist climbing rope. Typically, recommendations across the board are low-stretch static ropes; this style of rope offers a less fatiguing and stable ascent because of the reduced elongation. Each rope will have different characteristics that sets them apart from others, if you are curious to see how much elongation the rope will have, review the manufacturer specs. For example, the stats on elongation may read, 1.3% elongation at X-amount of weight, or at 10% ABS. However, there are those that prefer or don’t mind elongation on most ropes, I know this to be true as I prefer my ropes to have stretch but not an insane amount of stretch. How much is too much, you might ask? Well for me, if I have to tend my system more than three times to pre-tension prior to ascent; way too much! 

• Rope construction: 16-strand, 24-strand, 32-strand, or 48-strand – which one to pick? What about cover dependent, core dependent, or split load ropes?  The higher the strand count, the better. Although a 16-strand may meet all the criteria to climb SRT, most are cover dependent (a few ropes are the exception) and since ascenders may pick or severe strands – in the learning stage, we don’t really recommend them for this style of climbing. Double braid ropes share the loads almost equally between cover and core and may be better suited for the climber that would rather single up, and double down. Static ropes will consist of a 32- or 48-strand cover; better suited to handle the abuse of ascenders. Static ropes also have other properties that set them apart from the regular “dynamic” ropes in the tree care industry. For one, lower elongation means less fatigue on those long and grueling ascents. Another, most static ropes are a core dependent rope, meaning the core sees the majority or all of the load. One more, the tighter braids help shield the core from contaminants.

2. Ascent System

• A mechanical prusik or hitch based system is necessary to get up and move around the tree. Which now leaves you with the dilemma of which to choose.

• Petzl ZigZag (plus) paired with the Petzl Chicane, or “the chicken” as some call it, is a fantastic and buttery smooth climbing system! No need to adjust friction, just pair it with the appropriate rope and you’re climbing like a boss. The most common complaints: too big and not midline attachable.

• Rock Exotica Akimbo, at the time of release, was the shit! Compact, mid-line attachable, and friction adjustment… people were just raving over it. It is a nice climbing device; however, I was never really too keen on it. But don’t get me wrong, I still have an Akimbo and I prefer to use it for smaller trees or if I ascend up and switch out to a different system.

• Rope Runner is my go-to mechanical for SRT; to put it in perspective, I have owned two of the standard models and three Rope Runner Pro’s – all different colors of course! I definitely prefer the Rope Runner Pro but only on pruning jobs. Yes, it does have an adjustable friction setting but, on the downside, an Allen Wrench to adjust; some advice, find a climbing rope you like and stick with it or designate it as your Rope Runner Pro rope.

• Hitch based system which consists of a micro pulley (DMM Hitch Climber, Petzl Mobile, Omega Pacific Octavia, etc.), prussic, Rope Wrench and a tether, and at least one fully ANSI Z133 rated carabiner. There is nothing wrong with a hitch-based system, in fact it is ideal to learn this system prior to advancing onto a mechanical climbing device. 

• Tree Climbing harness or tree climbing saddle (however you choose to say it); you can climb SRT in DMM Kinisi Max or a Weaver Wideback; it really doesn’t matter, so long as you have the correct climbing gear! But the comfort and adjustability of a higher end harness will be absent. 

• Foot and knee ascenders come in different makes and models, but they are all meant to do one primary thing, assist the climber in getting up the rope. Yes, some foot ascenders are compact, others have a pulley integrated to help reduce drag, webbing straps, etc. 

• Knee ascenders- basic ready to use out of the bag and you have your adjustable versions; pretty much it. If you are particular about gear, like me, research on your behalf may be necessary. 

3. Most importantly....

• Throwline! I have mentioned it and will continue to mention it, throwline is the most critical piece of equipment needed to climb SRT; without it you would have to throw a Monkey Fist and advance until you get to a higher tie-in point but if that’s the case, you might as well be climbing on a moving rope system. In this case practice makes you better, not perfect and I say that because it seems that no matter how good you are, you will have those off days. I tend to have more off days than anyone. Check out our YouTube channel, we have a detailed guide/tutorial that may assist paint the visual when it comes to throwline. 

4. Anchoring System

You must know when to Canopy or Base Anchor, along with the benefits of each.

• Canopy anchors involve a little bit of finesse with throwline as you still are required to isolate your chosen tie-in point and can be super basic or intricate with the use of a friction saver. This anchoring style doesn’t tend to double load the branch union but advancing your system higher might not always be so simple, unless you decide to involve more tools into the mix. Redirecting with a canopy anchor can be difficult (depending on canopy anchor) due to the increase in friction. 

• Base anchors see an increase in force at the branch union, so tree species and the location of tie-in will be of the utmost importance – if you are doubting the integrity of the branch union, aim lower and advance it when you get there. Advancing on base anchors is quite simple, no need for extra tools and you don’t fight too much friction on retrieval, unless too many redirects are taken and/or a redirect with a sharp bend. Base anchors can be made to lower a climber who is aloft but require more equipment, even with a lowerable system, other factors come into play that must be thoroughly assessed:
• Has the crew been properly trained in rescue techniques?
• Does the climber have a lanyard in place?
• Is there enough rope to safely bring the victim down?

These are some things to think about. 

Climbing with a Stationary Rope System offers numerous benefits, including efficiency, safety, and the ability to tackle challenging routes. By understanding the fundamentals of SRT, you can enhance your climbing experience and ensure you remain safe and effective on the rope. Whether you're ascending to conduct tree work, explore new heights, or simply enjoy the thrill of climbing, mastering SRT will serve you well on your vertical adventures.