Rope as a tool is direly underrated. Not literally, of course. And even moreso, the length of the rope in particular. Because of the vast array of tree architectures in terms of size and species, it is important to understand how a piece of rope can be applied to the crown of the tree in order to move through it. Too much rope and you're fighting a slack tending war and a sloppy tail. Too little rope and more moves are necessary to get out of the tree. Balance in rope length and application to a tree's specific character can lead to more efficient movement in the crown.
No matter the specific type of rope you run (double braid, 16-strand, kern mantle, etc.), think of the obvious height of the tree. Then consider the specifications of the work order. How many different areas will you need to establish a work position in so that the specs are satisfied? Have a vision for your movement from one task to the next, if you plan on leaving a redirect built from gear or natural crouching to an area for more work before descending, these things will determine how much rope is required to cover that space.
Consider the angles. Large, lateral redirects in the climbing system will eat up a bunch of feet, so give this kind of thing consideration when pulling a specific rope bag off the truck. Wide crowns, even though they may not be tall, can still require a lot of rope in order to achieve a comfortable working position that the tree's structure can handle.
The combination of different ropes making up a larger climbing system and retrieval scheme can certainly be an artful thing. Sectioning rope off either as a designated climbing line or designated retrieval line can simplify advancing a climbing system or creating an advantage for easier retrieval of the system once the climb is complete. Depending on what type of system is in use will determine how ropes are sectioned off and introduced into a plan.
As a contracting arborist it is important to be highly adaptable to wide array of situations in the field. Several different lengths of rope can make for an effective way at approaching different crowns. Experimenting with different systems can lead to more efficient work, and dialing in on just the right amount of rope for the job is definitely the sustainable choice when it comes to managing gear aloft. More planning to save on time and energy will go along way.
