Plasmech
Addicted to ArboristSite
This past weekend I did my first SRT ascents using the yo-yo technique with a Petzl I'D (L). Thought I'd share my thoughts and have a safety question...
Setting up the yo-yo was a breeze, you get very quick at this right off the bat. The very large size of the ID becomes a very miniscule issue at about 2 feet off the ground...it just doesn't matter and you get used to it very quickly. Kind of like when you buy a new vehicle that's a little bigger than your old one and for a few days it feels huge and feels like you're taking up the entire road but that quickly goes away and it feels the same as your old one...
The technique and coordination required to make the yo-yo work properly come very quickly too, within a few pumps it just feels natural. It's *really* easy to do too, the 3:1 advantage on the hand pull feels almost effortless. I like a foot loop a lot better than a foot grab too. With a little practice your foot stays in the loop pretty good.
Shot right up an ash tree on the thing with no issues except for one: there seemed to be a lot of twisting of the rope which caused some bunch-ups around the re-direct pulley. This was annoying and I had to stop and un-tangle the mess a few times. Any ideas as to how to avoid and/or manage this? That was really the only thing I didn't like about the yo-yo.
I really like how you are alway tied into your primary saddle connection point with the I'D. Switching from ascending to descending takes seconds and does not require disconnecting from the saddle. Descending on the I'D...it doesn't really get much better than that I don't imagine. VERY smooth and controlled. I tried out the anti-panic feature a few times; it works.
It does take a little while to come up to speed on the various control lever positions. Eventually you can do that blindly.
I do have one safety question though: is it considered safe practice to rely 100% on the I'D (or gri gri)? I did not use any back-up Prusik or grab. Is this a bad practice?
Anyway was hoping to get a few comments of suggestions here. Thanks guys!
Setting up the yo-yo was a breeze, you get very quick at this right off the bat. The very large size of the ID becomes a very miniscule issue at about 2 feet off the ground...it just doesn't matter and you get used to it very quickly. Kind of like when you buy a new vehicle that's a little bigger than your old one and for a few days it feels huge and feels like you're taking up the entire road but that quickly goes away and it feels the same as your old one...
The technique and coordination required to make the yo-yo work properly come very quickly too, within a few pumps it just feels natural. It's *really* easy to do too, the 3:1 advantage on the hand pull feels almost effortless. I like a foot loop a lot better than a foot grab too. With a little practice your foot stays in the loop pretty good.
Shot right up an ash tree on the thing with no issues except for one: there seemed to be a lot of twisting of the rope which caused some bunch-ups around the re-direct pulley. This was annoying and I had to stop and un-tangle the mess a few times. Any ideas as to how to avoid and/or manage this? That was really the only thing I didn't like about the yo-yo.
I really like how you are alway tied into your primary saddle connection point with the I'D. Switching from ascending to descending takes seconds and does not require disconnecting from the saddle. Descending on the I'D...it doesn't really get much better than that I don't imagine. VERY smooth and controlled. I tried out the anti-panic feature a few times; it works.
It does take a little while to come up to speed on the various control lever positions. Eventually you can do that blindly.
I do have one safety question though: is it considered safe practice to rely 100% on the I'D (or gri gri)? I did not use any back-up Prusik or grab. Is this a bad practice?
Anyway was hoping to get a few comments of suggestions here. Thanks guys!