Yale Poison Moon 11.7 mm, a Poison Ivy Rope Colorway

Yale Poison Moon is built on the same 11.7 mm, 24-strand design as the well-known Poison Ivy rope, in a different colorway. It is a light, supple line that runs smoothly through friction hitches and mechanical devices on both moving and stationary rope systems.

Poison Ivy design, different color

Poison Ivy earned its following because it is light in the hand, stays round, and works with almost any hitch or device a climber is likely to own. Poison Moon uses that same 11.7 mm, 24-strand design, so the handling is what Poison Ivy users already know. The change is the color, which helps when a crew runs several climbing lines and wants each one easy to identify.

At 11.7 mm, the rope sits in the middle of the common 11–13 mm range. That makes it easy to pair with a split-tail and pulley on MRS, or with a rope wrench or mechanical device on SRS.

Yale has made arborist rope for a long time, and its climbing lines are widely used by tree crews across the US. That track record matters with life-support rope, where consistency from one production run to the next is part of what you are paying for. Poison Moon gives you that consistency with a look that is easy to tell apart on a crowded job.

How it handles in the tree

The low-stretch build gives efficient ascents and a direct feel when you are moving laterally. Hitches set and release cleanly, and the smooth cover is easy on friction savers and cambium savers. The lighter weight is noticeable on long SRS lines and on big removals where you carry a lot of rope.

Like any thinner, slicker line, it can run a little faster through some hitches than a thicker 16-strand. Test your hitch and adjust wraps or braids low in the tree before climbing high. Pair it with a Petzl Zigzag or similar only if the rope is within the device's listed range.

On SRS the lighter weight is a real advantage. A long single line from a canopy anchor to the ground can be heavy to haul up for a basal tie or to drag around the tree. A thinner, lighter line makes those resets less tiring. On MRS, the smooth cover helps a micro pulley tend the hitch without hanging up.

For a crew that standardizes on Poison Ivy, adding Poison Moon lets each climber have a distinct line while keeping hitch cords and devices the same across the crew.

Inspection and retirement

Check the full length before each climb for cover cuts, stiff or flattened sections, glazing from heat, and chemical contamination. Keep it in a bag and away from saw fuel, bar oil, and battery acid.

Life-support gear must meet the applicable standard (ANSI Z133 and the manufacturer's instructions), be inspected before every climb, and be used only by trained climbers.

If you work around sap-heavy species such as pine, clean sap off promptly; it stiffens the cover and changes how hitches grip. Store the rope loose in a bag rather than tightly coiled for long periods, and keep a record of when it went into service.