First Climb ever Today

[Burvol]

Good for you man. Way to go.

About this tied in, setting a rope stuff, I could make some comments but I'll limit them. Thats the way hooktenders climb here as well, as do most tree guys. As long as your rope (lanyard, scare strap) has a steel core you do not need to be tied in as well, that is the WCB (OSHA equivelent) law here. Quit the crying folks, its the law.

I climb pretty much as you, but with a steelcore strap. I carry a climbing line coiled up and clipped to my saddle, its easier to come down on the rope. Also the rope doesn't get branches on it.

Yes, I know, its not good for trees to be spurred, admitted, but its a safe way to climb. I often drive by some firs I sidelimbed beside a powerline a few years back, they are doing just fine. When you are climbing, hold your lanyard with both hands, instead of the tree, if you gaff out you will not go far at all, been there.

And for what its worth, I have never set a rope in a tree, ever, and I have climbed thousands of trees. Some to kill, some to prune. More than one way to skin a cat. Make sure your spurs are sharp, get a steelcore and best wishes.

I kind of took the hook tender approach, just go up the tree. And yes, I was climbing with a steel core lanyard.

 

[ropensaddle]

I kind of took the hook tender approach, just go up the tree. And yes, I was climbing with a steel core lanyard.

Tie in twice a steelcore won't stop a chainsaw. Also if you are going
to learn the biz, learn the other techniques and save spurring for removals!

 

[joesawer]

Remember Hook Tenders are not Arborists. The world you live in and are starting to climb in is very different than the one most of these guys live in (They think of a Husky 55 as a falling saw). A lot of things cross over and a lot don't. To do that white fir by setting a line and ascending, then trimming the way some arborists do, would take 4 or 5 hours. I could do it in 30 or 40 minutes.
Get "The Fundamentals of General Tree Work" by G.F. Beranek. It is available from Baily's. This will get you a lot of common sense and practical advice that applies to your part of the world.
Then find some one in your area that has been doing residential climbing and work with him. If you are falling now, the last thing you want to do is go to work as a labor for a residential tree co ($$$). Try to find some one that will work with you on shares.

 

[safeT1st]

learn about safety after the fact ?

I am not a climber, but a friend of mine that I cut for wanted me to limb up a decent fir (30" dbh & 100' roughly) for a "view shed" to the river below his house. I grabbed some old spurs my dad had from way back, a belt & rope, and few things and decided to do it. Not too much advice from my dad, but how to climb and get down. I started up and down a few feet for the feel of it (10-15') then hooked up the little Husky and went up. I made it right to the desired 55-60' mark and was pretty stoked. Climbing is something I want to get into for side work from cutting timber and tree removals. I actually know a guy who climbs and thought about doing some training with him, like roping techniques, other methods, safety, etc. How much denaro are we talking for a decent set of spurs (that don't break your legs like antique logging spurs with rotten foam and indoor/outdoor carpet for supplimental padding) and rope?

[/IMG]

[/IMG]

Glad you got up and down without an incident . You really should have asked a few questions beforehand though . Someone else said it in this thread and my monicker echoes it ......safety first . A little late to be considering learning how to do it safely if you had "gone wrong" . Correct me if I'm wrong but those spurs look like they have aluminum pads and surely can't be that old . To me old is flimsy leather Tee pads that offered next to no support and the leg sleeve would creep and chafe across your calf . Also mho is your flip line is set too long and when you're at rest it should be slightly above waist height so you can lean back and lock your knees keeping the gaffs at a good penetrating angle . Glad you will get assistance from a knowledgable friend and hope you go far .

 

[treeseer]

I totally agree with clearance--a throw line is not needed. For most trees, like firs with many branches, that is a huge waste of time. Burvol could have climbed it without spikes by just throwing his snap end to the first branch and then double-lanyarding the rest of the way. Using two lanyards is quite safe and also up to ANSI standards as well.

The climbers who responded so far seem so obsessed with teaching/preaching their gear-intensive style that they forgot about good tree care principles. If the purpose was to open a view to the river, it looks like you cut off way too much. That, combined with the spike wounds, can stress a tree to death.

Limbs that small can be cut easily and efficiently with a handsaw and polesaw. The rush of climbing fades after a while, but the satisfaction of good tree care lasts a long time. Enjoy the work, and look to the future. Be safe, and if you want to be an arborist, learn a little about the trees that you take responsibility for when you climb them.

 

[Blakesmaster]

I just want to say that I really like your chainsaw lanyard.

 

[ropensaddle]

I just want to say that I really like your chainsaw lanyard.

Good gravy I need new eyes batman, a friggin log chain, poor kid
Seer was right about the two lanyards,however; I find being tied in from above,much easier on the ankles and back and faster as well, but it does not take me long to set a rope.

 

[mckeetree]

I totally agree with clearance--a throw line is not needed. For most trees, like firs with many branches, that is a huge waste of time. Burvol could have climbed it without spikes by just throwing his snap end to the first branch and then double-lanyarding the rest of the way. Using two lanyards is quite safe and also up to ANSI standards as well.

The climbers who responded so far seem so obsessed with teaching/preaching their gear-intensive style that they forgot about good tree care principles. If the purpose was to open a view to the river, it looks like you cut off way too much. That, combined with the spike wounds, can stress a tree to death.

Limbs that small can be cut easily and efficiently with a handsaw and polesaw. The rush of climbing fades after a while, but the satisfaction of good tree care lasts a long time. Enjoy the work, and look to the future. Be safe, and if you want to be an arborist, learn a little about the trees that you take responsibility for when you climb them.

Well he didn't have two lanyards and that crap clearance spouted out made me have to read it twice. That was just nonsense I don't care who you are.

 

[hammerlogging]

I'm with Clearance and say way to go. Yes, spikeless climbing, top ropes have their mertits but this will not kill this tree and my heart goes out to the good ol days, cause hes not doing anything outright stupid. Like the one said, if his gaffs come out hes not going all the way down. I bet he'll improve one step at a time but its good to remember that,well in my opinion, theres the logger side and then theres the gear techie pretty boy stuff and we meet in the middle somewhere doing our work. I'd prefer to tend toward the logger and myself

 

[mckeetree]

I'm with Clearance and say way to go. Yes, spikeless climbing, top ropes have their mertits but this will not kill this tree and my heart goes out to the good ol days, cause hes not doing anything outright stupid. Like the one said, if his gaffs come out hes not going all the way down. I bet he'll improve one step at a time but its good to remember that,well in my opinion, theres the logger side and then theres the gear techie pretty boy stuff and we meet in the middle somewhere doing our work. I'd prefer to tend toward the logger and myself

Arboristsite. That's A-R-B-O-R-I-S-T.

 

[Mikecutstrees]

No one is perfect at first, But this newbie seems willing to learn and improve himself. Spiking a tree for pruning is not an accepted practice. There are many different ways to prune trees, not every tree is worked the same way. I have done trees like that by double lanyarding and going up the limbs then tying in and pruning on the way down. Or using a ladder, or throwing a throwline over a big limb, or using a long polesaw to set a line etc etc.... Save the spiking for the removals, Good job, keep learning and improving..... don't get to discouraged by some of the answers on here, everyone has their own opinion and some vary ALOT!

 

[Burvol]

Good gravy I need new eyes batman, a friggin log chain, poor kid
Seer was right about the two lanyards,however; I find being tied in from above,much easier on the ankles and back and faster as well, but it does not take me long to set a rope.

PNW Loggers are just tougher cats Rope.

 

[beowulf343]

Arboristsite. That's A-R-B-O-R-I-S-T.

Some of us have never called ourselves an arborist.

Frankly, i'm with clearance on this one. All my work is takedowns so i simply run up on spikes and fliplines then set my ropes when i reach the top. Trimming does call for spikeless but it's funny, everyone is saying "set the rope, set the rope, don't do it with spikes" yet no one is telling him that he needs to either learn a friction hitch or get his hands on an ascender. Frankly, i think that was probably his safest way up the tree for his first time with no experienced supervision. At least he won't have to worry if a friction hitch he's seen on the internet is tied right. Plus, is he experienced enough to tell if he has a good tip from 30+ feet away?
I say good job for a first time. If you liked it, hook up with an experienced climber and go to town.

 

[cwelvy]

Saw lanyard rocks! Get it Done! Nor Cal and Pac. Northwest rock...

 

[treeseer]

"Arboristsite. That's A-R-B-O-R-I-S-T."

Yes, and that is not G-E-A-R W-A-N-K.

Double lanyarding is a good ascension technique on trees like firs.

Throw lines are useful at times, but seldom required.

"Arborist" means a person who studies and cares for trees, not someone who embraces "progessive" gear and methods so tightly that they forget wtf they are going up there for in the first place.

A log chain for a flip line? That would technically qualify as a "steel core", wouldn't it? :jawdrop:

 

[mckeetree]

I'm going to print this thread and use it as a sales tool. I can show it to clients and say "See, they are out there. And this proves it. Now I think you can justify hiring us to do your work."

 

[beowulf343]

I'm going to print this thread and use it as a sales tool. I can show it to clients and say "See, they are out there. And this proves it. Now I think you can justify hiring us to do your work."

Is that a good idea? "Here's a guy who never climbed before doing a job that i will charge you several hundred to do." You are going to become the homeowner do-it-yourself capital of the world when it comes to treework.

 

[Burvol]

I'm going to print this thread and use it as a sales tool. I can show it to clients and say "See, they are out there. And this proves it. Now I think you can justify hiring us to do your work."

You're an A-hole. I never said I was climbing for profit, but for a friend because I wanted to try it. Thanks for making a spectacle out of it bud. I could take you to work with me falling big timber on highlead ground and poke at you, or watch you get into a bad situation, but I could give a sh!t less about that. Everybody wants to poke, that's fine. Go ahead, but I never claimed to be anything other than a faller that wanted to climb. I wish you could see PNW Hooktenders climb, then you would see where I am coming from.

 

[mckeetree]

You're an A-hole. I never said I was climbing for profit, but for a friend because I wanted to try it. Thanks for making a spectacle out of it bud. I could take you to work with me falling big timber on highlead ground and poke at you, or watch you get into a bad situation, but I could give a sh!t less about that. Everybody wants to poke, that's fine. Go ahead, but I never claimed to be anything other than a faller that wanted to climb. I wish you could see PNW Hooktenders climb, then you would see where I am coming from.

I admit I can be an A-hole sometimes but I was not referring to you or anything you did with the print it out sales tool deal but rather to the replies from some others who supposedly have been in the tree care business for some time. I simply pointed out that in the "tree service" business what you were doing has been established as dangerous through countless incidents of injuries. That's all. Nothing more and nothing else. It was some of the follow up comments by others that got me going because it was bad advice. I am big on safety, maybe too big, but I have seen people get hurt when it did not have to happen.

 

[John464]

I disagree with those saying he should not be tied. When I first put on a set of spikes many years ago. I kicked out and my tip saved me from getting hurt bad. Today I would not set a line on that if it was a removal, but I would not recommend someone just starting out to do the same. I would do like he is doing, spikes, and a flip. If it was a trim job, as it is, I would of tied into the lowest stable TIP. For someone just learning how spikes gaff into a tree he should have a back up.

For those who do this everyday we should not recommend to the beginner the same methods. For what works for you and me doesnt work for someone that is obviously a green horn.