No.20 Midline Drift Anchor
The midline drift anchor is an easy way to move tree sections over a long distance.
It works by winching the section up to an anchor and then releasing that anchor toward the next one, continuing on until you reach your drop zone.
We moved the small trees in the middle of the photograph, through the air, to point G.
We chose to rig this system because the slope was steep and slippy and we felt that, although the trees were not large, it would cause an excess amount of cutting with unsure footing. This system gave the team less effort, less exposure to the chainsaw on the slope, no dragging and throwing and only 1 cut to remove each tree.
Components
Portable Winch and Hitch System
3000 Portable Winch
Portawrap and sling, 10mm class 2 double braid rope, Pinto Pulley, Karabiner and 10mm prussik loop.
Anchoring
Small Impact block/16mm deadeye
2 x small ISC block 16mm deadeye
X Rigging Ring deadeye
Friction
Portawrap
Natural
Re-directs
Sling, Pinto pulley and steel oval karabiner
Rope
1/2” double braid - winch
1/2” double braid - drift anchor
1/2” 16 strand - control rope
A Portable winch
B Drop Zone Anchor
C Drift Anchor
D Drift Anchor Friction Point
E Control Rope
F Control Rope Friction Point
G Drop Zone
Drop Zone Anchor
Drift Anchor
Winch line running off to left and drift line is attached to lowest block.
Drift Anchor Friction Point
Control Rope
Control Rope Friction Point
The winch rope is pretensioned and then left to hold by the prussik only.
The winch should never be shock loaded.
The tree is pulled toward point C. The long distance is controlled at point E.
Point D
The tree is lifted by the winch and then drifted at point C/D toward the drop zone.
Once the tree is in the drop zone the drift pulley is reset and the rigging is repeated.