Resource Trees to use for hanging - from a tree expert

[Someone123]

So this is going to be my method. Ordering rope and carabiner clips this weekend. Only question I have is if anyone has tried and failed full suspension before. I guess I'm just curious what I'll physically feel. I'm not scared of heights or dying as ive almost died accidentally multiple times and felt nothing.

If you have a place where you won't bee interrrupted it is a guaranteed methdo if it is set up right, not everyone cna get this situtaion.

 

[dieTagesindkalt]

Thank you for this.

 

[hamleic]

thats why im using partial hanging. its hard to find an isolated location

 

[purplesky9]

i realized i left out that part of the instructions, hang tighht, i will reply to all of you with diagrams and detailed info on how to do exactly that easily
So, once youve thrown your rope over a branch, youre probably wondering "how to i secure it? what am i supposed to tie?"

With the rope now thrown and hung over the branch of your choice, you will take the tail/thrown end and use it to tie a Running Bowline to the rest of the rope on the other side of the branch. Once this is done, you will tighten the knot until it cinches up at the base/crotch of the branch. This is a VERY solid and strong knot, ive used it thousands of times to pull entire trees over without fail. It is also a "running" bowline because it can be loosened or undone very quickly if you need to change your mind, even if you've been pulling on the knot for hours, it is easy to undo.

Once the anchor is tied/secured, youll want to use the rest of the rope to tie, preferably, a slipknot. I'd recommend having a knife with you in case you must cut extra slack off and adjust the length of the rope to suit your partial/full suspension length needs.

Below ive supplied pictures in order of 2 easy steps on how this should be done to more easily understand:


1) Throw your rope over a branch you have selected, remember, ALWAYS do this over the base or crotch of the branch
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2) With the tail end you just threw over, use that to tie a Running Bowline to the rest of the rope
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With this, there is ZERO need to climb any tree if you have thrown the rope correctly into the right crotch, everything can be done safely from the ground. Hope this cleared up some confusion

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Just to reassure any of you who doubt that a small live branch could support your weight, here are some pics i took while at work, look at the feet of the men, and where they are standing. They are standing securely in the CROTCH/BASE of the branch (they are stubbed off because we had to cut them)

Little branches like that could support you for days at a time as long as you leverage it and know where to put the weight. Hope this helped clear any anxieties. These trees were large cottonwoods, alive.
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What length rope would you recommend?

 

[inconstantprayer]

Length is also of great importance.

I've seen the numbers for this all over the place, and would appreciate some more realistic estimates.

Too much unnecessary length can really add up in weight as well as price, but too little necessary length can literally leave you short.

 

[rainw3rld4ngel]

Am I overthinking it, or would it be possible for someone to fail (or prolong it) by grabbing on to the trunk of the tree when the anchor point is as close to the trunk as suggested here ?

(so maybe u just need a better angled tree ...? or maybe the act itself would make the above difficult & unlikely in the first place .... ?)

 

[Gustav Hartmann]

Am I overthinking it, or would it be possible for someone to fail (or prolong it) by grabbing on to the trunk of the tree when the anchor point is as close to the trunk as suggested here ?

(so maybe u just need a better angled tree ...? or maybe the act itself would make the above difficult & unlikely in the first place .... ?)

It depends on your physical fitness. When I was younger I was able to climp up the rope put my legs over the branch and remove the noose. If you use handcuffs you will avoid this risk. My handcuffs are ready for use.

 

[lawlietsph]

thank you. i hope i can use this method soon.

 

[PixelatedPixie0]

Thanks for this! Great resource that saved me a ton of work and anxiety.

 

[OzymandiAsh]

Great thread, I'm gonna take some notes here for my own use.

The noose knot is a slip knot, as usual

Anchor knots:
Heaving Line
Monkey First
Running Bowline


Can a constrictor knot/snuggle hitch knot work?

 

[Exhausted546]

This thread is ONLY for those who 1) must do partial/full suspension hanging, and 2) can only resort to using a tree.

I was a professional tree climber and trimmer for 5 years, i trimmed/felled trees away from powerlines all over Wyoming, Utah and Idaho. Just thought id give my best insights for those who feel they must use a tree for their exit strategy. This is to prevent accidents, unneeded pain and give knowledge.

When choosing your tree, the 2 most important things to know is the species, and if it is dead/dying. There are some species of trees that are incredibly soft, weak and prone to bending/snapping. But even if you choose the right species, it doesnt matter much if it is dead or has a giant crack down the middle now does it? Just like you and me, spotting a dead tree is all about inspecting the outside. The hardest part about knowing if a tree is dead/dying is if it is fall/winter and the leaves are dead and falling off.

Below is a list of things to look out for in a dead tree:

• Dry, discolored and dead leaves. A tree in decay will show this at the very top or outside of its branches.
• Peeling, cracked bark. A dead tree will almost certainly have a few holes/cracks that are leaking with sap or water, or have become a home for a bird/squirrel.
• Is it hollow? Knock on the bark, and if it sounds like a low rumble instead of a light dense knock, dont use it.
• Root decay. To test this, push the tree hard in several directions, if the entire tree shuffles or leans, its a no-go.

Next, lets talk about your anchor points for tying your rope off. A good rule of thumb to follow is if the tree is alive and healthy, and the right species, any branch as big or bigger than your wrist will give you a solid anchor point. Almost as important is that you ALWAYS tie off at the base or crotch of a branch. Simply tying off right in the middle of a branch is gonna snap the wood unless youve chosen an especially hard/thick wood like and oak or ash. But even on a healthy hard Ash tree, be sure to choose a crotch of a LIVE branch, not one of a dead branch, for the risk of the crotch splitting goes up ten fold with your weight on it. Below ive supplied some photos that illustrate my point.

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Some trees thrive in different parts of the country. An Oak is native to the east coast and grows very well there, thanks to plenty of humidity, more water, less wind, and soil composition. An aspen or cottonwood is the opposite, where they thrive more in the west. Its good to study these things if you are worried about the tree youve selected, or just have questions. All of the listed below are soft woods that are soft/weak, prone to breaking, dying, bending and snapping.

TREES TO AVOID:

• Willows
• small Cottonwoods
• Aspens
• Lombardi Poplars

TREES TO USE:

• Any Evergreen - Spruces, Pines, Firs
• Ash
• Oak
• Locust
• Elm

ALSO, if you cant reach a good branch, and dont have a ladder or means to reach, learn how to tie a Monkeys Fist knot. Its a simple and easy way to turn the end of your rope into a throwable object with weight to fall back down to you, just toss it like a grenade or swing it in circles to gain momentum and practice your aim. If the monkeys fist is too complicated, just google "rope heaving knot" there are tons of variations.

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This isnt a definitive list/infodump, its just the best advice i can give based on my experience and put in a way that hopefully anyone can easily grasp. If you got any questions, please feel free to ask here in the thread.

Thank you

 

[Forveleth]

I love this site has some of the most random knowledge on it. Just learned a lot about trees.

Great thread, I'm gonna take some notes here for my own use.

The noose knot is a slip knot, as usual

Anchor knots:
Heaving Line
Monkey First
Running Bowline


Can a constrictor knot/snuggle hitch knot work?

I have seen the snuggle hitch frequently suggested as an anchor knot.

 

[Exhausted546]

There's a park I wanted to hang from but as I searched the park's name + suicide, I came across dozens of news article from the very same suicide. I'm worried my death will get that much coverage