Rope got pinched in the crotch and my lowering line near took my head off

Working a big red oak in a backyard off Prospect Ave last month, I set my lowering line through a high crotch without checking for a hidden rubbing branch. When the piece dropped, the rope pulled sideways and yanked the whole setup, barely missing me as it recoiled. I stopped right there, put a second point of contact on the rigging line, and now I always run a quick hand test on any crotch before I trust it. Anyone else had a close call from a pinched line that taught them to inspect the whole path, not just the anchor?

1 comments

1 Comment

spencerfisher10d ago

Near took my head off" is EXACTLY the kind of thing that makes me re-check my own harness straps. I had a similar moment on a hackberry where the rope rode up a tiny limb stub and I watched my whole lowering line snap sideways like a rubber band. Only thing that saved my face was the fact I was leaning left to drink my coffee. Now I do that hand test too, but honestly my version is just me squinting at the tree and hoping. Glad you walked away from it, man.