Breakaway Lanyard/ Emergency Detach Options

[HolmenTree]

I have used a Buckingham chainsaw bungee tear away lanyard with one ring clipped onto the snap of my regular lanyard and with a biner on the other ring to my saddles opposite D ring. The Buckingham is rated to break at around 200 lbs . If you need to make it shorter install a small Beeline prussic onto the bungee side with a biner to the D ring. Your regular lanyard which its attached to can still be used for adjustment . Just make sure you don't put the prussic on the wrong end, the black part of the bungee lanyard is the tearaway link. The ring nearest it must be clipped to the snap of your regular lanyard.

Never used it where I had to break it but in those situations I feel a little more reassured.

Willard.

How about 2 Buckingham breakaway lanyards connected or taped together side by side with my idea. Then your good for approximately 400 lbs tearaway release under a tree failure, but strong enough not to tearaway if you spur out etc.
I can't see how someone can react fast enough to cut or release their lanyard or line when a tree fails under them.

Willard

 

[gf beranek]

Yeah, I used the belt loop once. It nearly pulled too, enough to see slight tears in the material around the stitching. Launched a Euc tree top in one big cut. Boy I got a ride out of that one! And I knew it was going to be a ride. A neighboring tree immediately behind offer an excellent TIP.

 

[gf beranek]

I aim to please

 

[Burnham]

I have twice used a brass boat snap that I took off my first New Tribe harness by cutting the ring with a hacksaw. I clipped the boat snap to my D ring and clipped my lanyard to the cut ring. I figured under heavy pressure the ring would bend open, just like it did when I opened it up to slip it off the webbing mount on the NT harness. Never had to test it, but I'm pretty confident it would have worked.

 

[gf beranek]

It's a tough call when we have to consider such options to keep alive, but it is in the nature of this business that we have to calculate every situation very carefully to.

 

[No_Bivy]

what about darkstars 20 penny nail trick?

 

[Burnham]

I'm pretty sure that would work OK, but I think it would potentially limit needed mobility, so I vote against that one.

 

[Brocky]

Butch probably has the best solution with some limitations. One problem is the possibility of the cut end of the lanyard getting stuck in a tight crotch or a small stub. Another is the time it would take to pull your saw out. Maybe short piece of rope on the center of your harness that both ends of the lanyard clip to with a sharp knife near by. A small retracting device could be pinned to your shirt. There are ID card holders that work this way. With a knife that opens onehanded, simply open the knife, zip it to the short tether, cut and the whole lanyard would move away from you with the falling tree.

 

[MasterBlaster]

I've the answer, but it's gonna cost!

Designed into the ascender, a big button gizmo you hit say, 2 or 3 times to sever the lanyard right there.

Gotta mental pitcher? Eyedear?

 

[Burnham]

All those set ups that require the climber to actively disconnect or use some tool to sever the lanyard would often take too much time, or be impossible to deploy because the climber is in a bad position due to the effects of whatever failure is causing the need to disconnect.

Don't fool yourself into thinking you can act instantaneously under any situation to save yourself.

 

[MasterBlaster]

I tellyawhut, when I sliced my lanyard it was an automatic, instant sorta thing for me. My Zubat was out in a flash and slicing rope. When I felt myself pulling into the tree my hand went to my saw immediately!
But it's true, you can't always rely on your instincts and there should be a better way, but what?

 

[HolmenTree]

All those set ups that require the climber to actively disconnect or use some tool to sever the lanyard would often take too much time
Don't fool yourself into thinking you can act instantaneously under any situation to save yourself.

You are exactly right Burnham.
How is it possible for someone to react fast enough when a tree falls from under them. If someone is forced to climb a unsafe tree in this situation he is going to be tied into another tree if possible, and being on pins and needles he will be sure a tearaway lanyard or device will not be positioned to get caught in a tight crotch etc for example. And keep that backup line tensioned.

If I can't do this, then if I have room I will shoot a pull line up to the top and start pulling down pieces or the whole tree. If I can't even do this then leave it for the crane guy.

On one final thought, while thinking of my family and myself sitting at the breakfast table this morning, I will never use a break away lanyard again or put myself in this crazy situation.

Willard.

 

[flushcut]

what about darkstars 20 penny nail trick?

What's that one about?

 

[Bounce]

I had a tree fail once while my flipline was still around it, and was able to cut the flipline before I got squeezed to death. It was a near thing though because I was using a steel-core flipline, which took a while to cut with my chainsaw. By the time I finally got through it, I was seeing sparkles in the edges of my vision. I like the idea of just untying the stopper knot and using a friction hitch adjuster that you could slide off the end. This would be cool because the knot would begin to slide by itself at 1500-2500 lbs of force, so you would not necessarily have to be conscious in order for that to let you down slowly.

 

[gf beranek]

Boy, Sean, that is a scary incident.

glad you stayed conscious.

 

[RopeArmour]

Some sort of shear pin, bolt in between the connector and the rope.
I had the face cut into a big elm limb and had this horse of a German crankin on the Goods before I had time to come around for the back cut he tore the limb off at its pt of attachement.
Pulled me along to the other side of tree. Managed to start the saw and crash the limb onto the fence below.
I was lucky and fractured a rib is all.
Tear away lanyard makes complete sense for that "just in case" stuff.

 

[No_Bivy]

What's that one about?

jerrys trick.....somewhat dangerous. 20 penny nail driven in at an angle. laynard on to that. never tried it.

 

[MasterBlaster]

It doesn't sound so crazy; a PITA though, maybe.

 

[RopeArmour]

20 penny nail, brilliant.
But can't quite figure out how it works best.
If I'm high tied in to another tree and whats the rest of the story.

 

[gf beranek]

If you're tied into another tree, and if it is a descent TIP then there should be no problem. I would think anyway.

Most of these scenarios where we might need a break-away lanyard should never be done without a good TIP to begin with.

 

[flushcut]

jerrys trick.....somewhat dangerous. 20 penny nail driven in at an angle. laynard on to that. never tried it.

Thanks!

If you're tied into another tree, and if it is a descent TIP then there should be no problem. I would think anyway.

Most of these scenarios where we might need a break-away lanyard should never be done without a good TIP to begin with.

I'll second that.

 

[sotc]

 

[stig]

Looks like ninja stuff!

 

[flushcut]

Nickname "The Claw"

 

[gf beranek]

getting pretty advance here. Maybe should ask the arborist..