康樂攀爬 挑戰《人在野》
小記每逢星期三晚都唔逛夜街,點解?因為要追睇《人在野》(Man Vs. Wild)。每集主角Bear深入不毛,表演絕地求生真人騷,見佢手腳並用抱樹幹、爬藤蔓,真係一步一驚心。講起求生,攀樹確實係其中一項必學技巧,而香港樹木學會便有專人教授康樂攀爬(Recreational Tree Climbing),一嘗猶如《人在野》主角般挑戰大自然!
Tree climbing is a recreational or functional activity consisting of ascending and moving around in the crown of trees.
Free solo climbing
Use of a rope, helmet, and harness are the minimum requirements to ensure the safety of the climber. Other equipment can also be used depending on the experience and skill of the tree climber. Some tree climbers take special hammocks called "Treeboats" and Portaledges with them into the tree canopies where they can enjoy a picnic or nap, or spend the night.
Tree climbing is an "on rope" activity that employs a mixture of techniques and gear principally derived from rock climbing and caving. These techniques are also used to climb trees for other purposes: tree care (arborists), animal rescue, research, and activism.
Many different techniques (free climbing, self-belayed climbing with a Doubled Rope Technique, Single Rope Technique, and lead climbing) are used to climb trees depending on the climber's individual style, purpose, and preferences. Generally though, climbing is performed by lapping a long rope over a limb and ascending the fallen end using a friction knot tied from initial tie's excess "tail." The difficulty of any particular climb depends on many factors: the regularity of branching, the brittleness of dead wood in some species, whether the bark is rough or smooth, the width of the trunk and branches, the height of the tree, the location of the tree, and the weather are all factors. How to Tie a Blakes Hitch for Tree Climbing
Doubled Rope Technique
The Doubled Rope Technique (DRT or DdRT) is used to self belay the climber in such a way that the rope can be retrieved without going back up the tree. One end of the rope is fastened to the climber's saddle (harness), from there the rope passes around the tree and back to a friction hitch which is also attached to the climber. This system allows the climber to easily adjust the rope to provide a belay if free climbing, or to go up or down if hanging on the rope. As long as the climber is below the anchor and there is minimal slack in the system, any fall will be restrained. This system can be placed into the tree from the ground or the climber can advance the rope up the tree over the course of the climb. Ascending - Frog Type Systems
Single Rope Technique
The Single Rope Technique (SRT) is used mainly for getting to the top of large trees which cannot be easily free climbed. With the adequate hardware, a throw line, an attached weight, and a launching system (e.g., a bow or slingshot), a climbing rope can be anchored to a branch very high in the tree. This is done by launching the weight (with the throw line attached) over the desired limb and tying the climbing rope to the unweighted end. The climbing rope is then hauled over the branch by pulling on the throw line. The line is anchored to the trunk or to the high limb itself by running one end through a closed bight made in the other end. The climber then ascends the rope using a set of friction hitchs or mechanical ascenders) to obtain the desired limb. With practice this method is typically fastest and requires the least amount of hardware. One drawback is that it does not necessarily involve directly ascending the tree itself, as the vast majority of the time spent climbing is ascending the rope, and not the tree itself. Additionally, it can provide greater safety to a climber over DRT or lead climbing techniques as the climber can rig the rope over multiple limbs when using a ground-level trunk anchor. In the event that one limb breaks, the lower limbs may stop the fall. Anchoring in the Tree
Lead climbing
Lead climbing is employed by climber where points of protection are formed by girthing the tree's limbs with slings. Once the lead climber ascends the tree, he or she may create a belay or top rope anchor or else simply rappel down. In the event that an anchor is created, other climbers can subsequently climb the tree on belay without having to lead. Drawbacks to this method include the probability of hitting a lower limb or the main trunk in the event of a fall. Due to this risk, climbers typically wear climbing helmets.