Have Rope, will Tyrol...

Guys,

I have a 200' static line that's been sitting in my bucket since I moved from CT to CO and stopped TRing. I'd like to donate it to Boulder Canyon, since I climb there the most. I also have a 200' dynamic that could be used for a tyrol (or 2) as well.

My problem is I have NO idea what goes into setting a tyrol, but would be willing to learn. The tyrol at Avalon is missing the sheath on one of the three strands. I'd really like to replace 1 or more of the strands there.

Also, if there are other places you think we could string a tyrol that does not exist, or if there is another tyrol that is particularly saggy, I would be happy to update those as well. I am uncertain how many tyrols we can do with 400 feet of rope, but something is better than nothing, and I am happy to also donate my time to do such a thing. I can even get my hands on a "bolt gun" if you have something that needs bolts in order to get the tyrol setup.

cheers.
-chris
chris@percious.com

how about a tyrol from tucson to boulder? i hate to spend all that money on airfare.

I can't resist...

Very cool thought, Chris.

I have a couple tired old lead lines I'd contribute too. But I didn't have the initiative to post an inquiry like this. If no one "official" posts up, I'm guessing Chris Archer on this site might know who the Tyrol Fairies are, or maybe someone at the Access Fund, or Ron Olsen, TonyB, WiledHorse, Malcom Daly, Jason Haas or others...?

On the other hand, I'd guess there's no shortage of retired ropes for the purpose. Maybe no one's jumping because the rope isn't the limiting factor...?

shawn is correct. at any given time i have about a half dozen or so ropes i use for fixing or to leave for tyrols etc. Your static line can be used definately! (in my experience, static lines work much better, and are a helluva lot easier to tighten than dynamic lines. when dynamic ropes get wet the tyrol sags obnoxiously. even though a trick is to soak em in the creek first then stretch em...) for example, eventually i would like to replace the Armory/Primo tyrol in CCC with a fat static line (like the one on Creekside), along with the grooved hardware on the bolts.

awesome that you want to donate/contribute!! i think the real factor for replacement is it just takes some work to do it right. i either use a z pulley mech advantage system or come-along to tighten them. of course it is easier to replace then to set up a new one, bc you already have a way across!!

but now that i think of it, i think a good system is to have the static line as the tyrol with a dynamic line strung as backup.

-darren (outted as a tyrol fairy)

EDIT: reread your OP and the rope you have is indeed static. Maybe you would want 50 ft or so of it to go to Primo? I would be willing to do that with you if you want to help/learn. i may be available tomorrow afternoon, unless you want to climb too!?

Justin Cantrall wrote:I can't resist...

who doesnt feel like that when they zip across a tyrol? seriously!

just dont let go, Gabe. youre not... gonna... die.

WiledHorse wrote: but now that i think of it, i think a good system is to have the static line as the tyrol with a dynamic line strung as backup. -darren (outted as a tyrol fairy)

ok, fairy, assuming adequate anchors, what do you get out of the system that you wouldn't already have with a mainline in good condition?

In other words, if you can fail a mainline in good condition with bomber anchors, what will that secondary line provide?

Buff Johnson wrote: ok, fairy, assuming adequate anchors, what do you get out of the system that you wouldn't already have with a mainline in good condition? In other words, if you can fail a mainline in good condition with bomber anchors, what will that secondary line provide?

ha! youre correct. you dont really get anything out of it other than some kind of sense of security i suppose. i have heard that the creekside one is "sketchy" bc its only one rope. but seriously, if you break a static line, the biner your attached to, pull the bolts, or uproot a tree, you have bigger problems and probably shouldnt be climbing!

EDIT: but, weighting two lines that are wet dont sag as much as just one...
EDIT (again): i just remembered an experience i had at creekside by myself where i dropped a rock and it nicked the tyrol and core shot it. kind of spooky going back! (this was before i replaced with the static line). what are the chances of that!!?

right.

There's no problem with Creekside, unless the line itself needs replacement, or the tree has a problem. It's just the exposure.

another idea is to use dual-tensioned mainlines, but the application here is unnecessary and overly complex to make it work as intended as fixed.

Buff Johnson wrote:right. There's no problem with Creekside, unless the line itself needs replacement, or the tree has a problem. It's just the exposure.

its in good shape. the tree climb is getting a little more difficult though, some holds have come off ;)

the exposure is killer isn't it!

Geir Hundal wrote:how about a tyrol from tucson to boulder? i hate to spend all that money on airfare.

It's been tried. The elevation gain made it too pumpy. But the zip-line back...that was spectacular!

Got abandoned after a spring rain; the sag caused too many cactus spines in butts.

It would fabulous to get some lines in the SSV outside lyons. Great climbing in that area and crossing the creek is really tuff to do. (Most of it is class five rapids).

Any chance your willing to put some there?

what would really b wild is a spires line;

(don't tell ranger mike --- did I just say that??)

Yep, I would help with the SSV project. It needs it badly.

Bruno Hache and I have done tyrolean maintenance in Boulder Canyon over that past few years -- Avalon, Cob Rock, Tonnere Tower, Sleeping Beauty, and Sherwood Forest in particular. I think we have enough static rope (donated by the Colorado Mountain Club) to meet our immediate needs. So if others can use static rope in Clear Creek Canyon or S. St. Vrain Canyon, please take Chris up on his offer.

The problem right now is that the water levels in most of the creeks are too high to wade, so it's tough to get across to set up new tyroleans. That is best done before mid-May. Existing tyroleans can still be upgraded, however.

Chris, if you would like to help Bruno and me upgrade the Avalon tyrolean, let's try to set up a time (perhaps during the week after work) to do it.

Ron, I don't climb enough in Boulder Canyon to know how needed additional tyroleans are. But does your post mean that chance is gone for the season? What about crossing at an established tyrolean and then hiking a mile or two to another desired point? (Of course it's easy for me to ask about someone else' time and labor.) But is that strategy not part of how it gets done?

As I think it out, it might be useful to clarify what I envision: one person hikes one side, while another parks on the other. Then, one throws a rock and string across, to pull the rope, and so on.

Shawn Mitchell wrote:Ron, I don't climb enough in Boulder Canyon to know how needed additional tyroleans are. But does your post mean that chance is gone for the season? What about crossing at an established tyrolean and then hiking a mile or two to another desired point? (Of course it's easy for me to ask about someone else' time and labor.) But is that strategy not part of how it gets done? As I think it out, it might be useful to clarify what I envision: one person hikes one side, while another parks on the other. Then, one throws a rock and string across, to pull the rope, and so on.

I suppose that's possible, Shawn -- but it would be a lot of work. Not only the hiking, but bushwhacking along the creek -- there usually are no paths that follow the creek. Bushwhacking a mile or two would be pretty brutal. You can do this if you like, but it's more efficient to put up tyroleans while you still can wade the creek. If someone really wants a new tyrolean somewhere -- go for it using your technique; but I'll pass, thanks.

Wow, you sure put a lot of work into the crossings, and they are free to the public? : ) I'd probably ride the Tyrol just for fun on my way to work if I lived there. I've climbed in your neck of the woods quite a few times, but haven't crossed via the Tyrol yet. The only zip-line I've ever been on was over the Mendoza River in Argentina a couple of years ago, which was a beautiful ride. We have a new zip-line just outside of Vegas in Boulder City at Bootleg Canyon, but it's an expensive tourist trap. They advertise it as "It's a ZipLine on Steroids!"

Tourist Trap Tyrol

I have a really old, single buckle Chiounard harness I'm just dying to try out on a tyrol!

Dirty Gig -- the tyrol is one of the coolest applications of solving a technical mountaineering problem.

Granted, what this topic discusses is relatively minor for crag access across a raging creek (which around here the creeks are not so docile. Rather, maybe it's better to say all the natural items within our creeks that instill a healthy amount of trepidation).

On a larger scale, there are a plethora of skill-sets involving climbing talent, planning technical systems, anchors & rigs, knowledge of equipment, and math to offend any disciple of the dulfersitz.

Buff John , I've started reading a pretty good book by J.E. Gordon, "Structures Or Why Things Don't Fall Down." I'm mostly interested in learning more about bridges, as I've always been amazed at the level of engineering that's required , and the superior engineering, and rigging skills involved in the construction of the Hoover Dam Bypass bridge especially; I've enjoyed on numerous occasions, watching it's construction, and progress (as much as I can see from the ground, anyway), and it's incredible!