Tying off to a tree

by Skorch
(Ventura County, California)

90 Feet of Pure Adrenaline!

I am an avid cliff diver and want to leap off a 50 foot cliff at a place I jump. The problem is that climbing down or up, though not impossible, are both beyond my skills as a ropeless free climber.

The anchor tree sits on a ledge 20-25 feet over my head. The way up the cliff is actually over-vertical so hand over hand rope climbing is the only way. My plan is to throw rope around the tree, loop it ( that's where I get fuzzy, vague and scared ) and then climb the rope to re-tie it for my friends. What would be the best way to do that without falling on my ass for the first ascent? What anchor would be best for the rest of the climbs?

My idea is to repeatedly throw the rope around the tree and then "braid" the two ends together but would hate to find out I'm an idiot the hard way.

I've tied helper ropes, on difficult descents, before but this is a different animal.

Answer

Honestly I am not quite sure what the best way to do that would be as I have never tried anything like that. As far as the anchor goes you need to set up a webbing system on the tree. Your best option is picking up a book on climbing anchors so you can be sure you do it correctly.

Anyone else have any suggestions?