SRT Method

Page Contents:

---

Overview

SRT is Single Rope Technique, a Stationary Rope Climbing Method. See Playlist: JRB SRT (Non Mechanical). This page is about the SRT climbing method, its principles and why and when we might use it. For SRT Climbing Systems, see:

---

Throwball

Most SRT use cases involve the use of a throwball or paracord preset:

---

Anchor Required

Unlike DSRT or MRS climbing, when using any form of SRT, one side of the rope must be anchored to the tree. There are three types of anchors for SRT, described below:

• canopy anchors
• basal anchors
• floating anchor

---

Canopy Anchors

A Canopy Anchor is an anchor which is above the climber, typically in a strong tree crotch, but can be anchored on the trunk or both. The canopy anchor must be retrievable, such that the climber can get the rope down after rappel. Leaving a climbing rope in a tree for any length of time is not recommended. JRB Recommends canopy anchors unless the situation requires a basal anchor. Options:

---

Basal Anchors

A Basal Anchor system is one where the anchor is placed at the base of the tree. A basal anchor configuration should only be used in situations where a canopy anchor is not feasible. See video for SRT Scenario 8 below. Details:

• Using the throwline or paracord preset, one end of the rope is pulled up and over a crotch in the canopy and back down to the base of the tree.
• A basal anchor is formed on the trunk with one end of the rope and the other side is used to climb. Basal anchor choices are described on the trunk anchors page:

• The rope must be of length more than double the height of the crotch. This is another reason to consider a Universal System.
• A basal anchor doubles the load on the crotch and should not be used on a questionable support point. See video below.

---

Floating Anchor

JRB devised a “Floating Anchor” as a type of Canopy Anchor, set on the trunk. Floating anchors should only be use on trees which will be climbed multiple times and have no natural crotches which are adequate for climbing support. See page:

---

Reasons to Use SRT

Wherever possible, JRB prefers to use DSRT given the advantages explained on the DSRT Method page. However, the following reasons are valid reasons or situations to use or consider SRT. (Some may not apply to you.) (Italic text represents a scenario not yet covered on video.)

1. Short Rope System. On a typical tree, using a canopy anchor setup, it is possible to execute an SRT climb with less rope than DSRT. Consider:
   • Some own a short (40′ or less) rope and want to use it.
   • Some prefer to carry less rope at the expense of rigging complexity.
2. Universal System in SRT mode. Consider that an 80′ universal system can be converted into SRT mode to climb a crotch at 45′. The system designer can leverage this feature by creating a shorter universal system. Consider: If 90% of the crotches are 30′ or less and only 10% are higher, a 60′ Universal System can be created, saving 20′ of rope at the expense of a more complex rope rigging for only 10% of the climbs.
3. Easier Ascent. Because we are moving one hitch instead of two, and running one strand through the Garda instead of 2, ascent in SRT is easier to execute than DSRT.
4. Horizontal branch. If throwball or paracord preset is over a sturdy, but horizontal (or sloping downward) branch, if an anchor is formed in the crotch, the rope might pull away from the trunk as the climb is executed. It is better that the canopy anchor captures the trunk. See Scenarios 4 and 5 below. If branches prevent the ability to rig that way, a long rope and basal anchor SRT configuration can be considered as well.
5. Position. In DSRT, the climber ascends directly under the center of the crotch. If we wanted to face a different direction:
   • As demonstrated in Scenario 8, a long rope system and basal anchor on a wide crotch allows us to position ourselves under either side or the crotch.
   • As demonstrated in Scenario 4, if there are no branches impeding the rigging, a canopy anchor which captures the trunk gives us control over where to set the anchor.
6. Branches between the lines. The throwball is over a crotch with one or more branches directly under it, causing the rope strands to be separated by those branches. In this situation, it’s easiest to execute a basal anchor with a long rope system and SRT climb. See scenarios 8 & 9 below.
7. Non viable first branch. See scenario 6 below, where the throwball is over the first branch on the tree, but it is not viable for support. Therefore, the trunk is captured and a Houdini Maverick is used to rig the canopy anchor.
8. Floating Anchor. When a throwball is not feasible (for whatever reason), a tree can be climbed the first time using another method and a Floating Anchor can be installed in the tree, for use in an SRT climb in the future. See Scenario #10 below. Note that this works on a tree with or without branches under it, where a Houdini Rig will not.
9. Houdini Rig on a False Crotch or Floating Anchor – This one has not yet been filmed. Note that it only works on trees with no lower branches.
10. Physical ability. See scenario 7 demonstrating how the principles of mechanical advantage can be put into work to create a non-mechanical 3:1 RAD system. This was designed for a physically handicapped hunter, but also might be of interest to a person of limited physical strength or capability.

---

Challenges of SRT

1. Rigging a system for SRT is significantly more complex than DSRT. Consider the canopy anchor, the retrieval cord, the friction hitch, etc.
2. Climbing on a single friction hitch is literally double the load on the hitch as compared to a doubled rope system. This brings greater risk of slipping and difficulty in breaking the hitch to initiate rappel.

---

Scenarios & Demonstrations

There are a growing list of SRT demonstration scenarios on the channel which illustrate the various reasons, situations and systems in which we might use SRT. This introductory video demonstrates that non-mechanical SRT is POSSIBLE and it can be EASY.

---

SRT 1: Knots tied in advance

This video shows the system which was used in the introduction, which is focused on eliminating the need to tie any knots at the climbing site. This system was constructed with a JRB Ascender Hitch and a Scott’s Locked Bowline, but the same system can be created with other options such as: a Longhorn Agile Hitch and a Bowline on the Bight.

---

SRT 2: Minimal Complexity System

If tying a Maverick Hitch or creating a JRB Cinch is not desired, a traditional canopy anchor with a sewn eye and a quick link can be used.

---

SRT 3: Maverick Hitch Anchor

The Maverick Hitch can be used as a canopy anchor an will allow passing the end of the rope through the hitch as it runs up the tree. This is how JRB runs his SRT systems.

---

SRT 4: Capture the Trunk

When the branch used for the throwball is the first branch on the tree and it does not have an appropriate upward angle, we can’t risk pulling our anchor away from the tree as we approach it.

---

SRT 5: Flip rope over the Branches

This is the same as scenario 4, but if the tree and the adjacent woods allows it, we can flip the rope over the branches to get it into position and capture the trunk.

---

SRT 6: Houdini Rigging

This use of the Maverick Hitch is quite useful with the Houdini Rigging, especially in pine forests. Note that this method will not work if there are branches lower down on the tree, impeding our ability to advance the anchor.

The video above used this rigging technique:

---

SRT 7: Mechanical Advantage System for Leg Disability

This video was made by request for a friend who does not have the use of his legs.

---

SRT 8: Three Situations for a Basal Anchor

The 3 situations which may warrant a Basal Anchor configuration are: 1) branches between the lines 2) can achieve a preferred position/direction in the tree 3) risk of getting a throwball stuck in a messy tree. Another is the case of a horizontal (or downward sloped) branch.

---

SRT 9: Basal Anchor SRT creates DSRT preset

When we have branches between the lines and cannot easily isolate them to be over a single crotch, it’s often easiest to use a Basal anchor SRT technique on the 1st climb and rig the retrieval to ensure that when the rope is retrieved, a DSRT preset is left in its place.

---

SRT 10: Floating Anchor, Rig and Climb

The floating anchor installed in a prior Hitch Climb was left in the tree, enabling future climbs using an SRT system, with a Maverick Hitch as the canopy anchor inside the floating anchor.

---