Throwball and Paracord Presets
The use of an arborist throwball is the preferred way to get a rope in a tree. If the tree will be climbed again, leave a loop of paracord in the tree as described in the following video.
This video show how to deal with the situation when you don’t have quite enough paracord left on the spool to rig a preset.
JRB End Loop
The JRB End Loop was created for rope rigging. It works not only in a tree crotch, but also in a False Crotch or Floating Anchor, described below. Version 2 is more versatile, sleek and stable.
Attaching Climbing Rope to a Cord
The following video shows options for using the JRB End Loop to rig a rope into the tree.
If there is no JRB End Loop and we simply need to attach a climbing rope to a throwline or paracord, use two bull hitches in series.
False Crotch and Floating Anchor
A false crotch is an artificial rigging point installed by the climber to substitute for a non-existent crotch. The materials used to create the false crotch take load and therefore are subject to deterioration from the elements, which could jeopardize the climber.
A floating anchor is similar, but represents a location on the tree where an anchor will be installed around the trunk. The materials used to create the anchor do take a load, but because the rope is rigged around the trunk, a compromise of the anchor will not jeopardize the climber.
Stuck Throwball Recovery
If a throwball gets stuck, one way to get it down is a hitch climb. If you try to pull it down, be aware that the throwball can get dislodged and come at you hard causing injury. Protect yourself by pulling AROUND the base of an adjacent tree, ensuring that you are not in the line of pull.