lifespan of a climber

[pro94lt]

how old and how long have you been climbing. My greatest question is if you've been doing this over 20 years how do you feel when you wake up, and are you knees and hips still ok... I understand if a guy does not take care of his body it will brake down but I'm late 20's and just started climbing and I'm honestly wondering.

 

[Pelorus]

I started climbing in '87, but only part-time till the late '90s.
Working on "Freedom 80" Retirement in only 29 more years.
Elbows/shoulders are shot.

 

[treeseer]

Like trees, tree climbers do not have set lifespans. It's all genetics and management; nature and nurture. I started climbing for pay in 1965; just had both shoulders redone, so I'll keep at it (half-3/4 time since ~2000) until i croak. Motorized ascender adds years to climbing life, and vice versa.

pelorus, fwiw, doing basic rotator cuff exercises takes pain away and builds strength. boring but effective.

 

[Nailsbeats]

You can dam near wheel any old geezer up into a tree these days. Do a 4 point sling pick from a wheel chair to a Wraptor with electric start and you're in business.

 

[tree md]

I have been climbing since 1991. I am now 43 and climb on a daily basis. I have all the minor aches and pains that go with aging I imagine but I am in overall great shape. My shoulders get a little sore at times and sometimes cause me to not be able to get a good night sleep. I attribute that more to times when I have to use a large saw for prolonged periods of time than climbing though. I am lucky to have only had one major injury throughout my climbing career. It sidelined me for over a year. I plan to climb into my 80's... Love it.

 

[superjunior]

started in 88 and full time in the air since 89. I'm 41 and my body ****** hurts.. got a couple guys climbing for me now and I f###ing hate it, they're taking all my fun away..

 

[beastmaster]

I turned 54 a few months ago, I started climbing full time around 1982, I got a day job as a groundsmen for a tree Company making min. wage, I heard the climber was getting 100.00 a day. Their climber wouldn't climb this leaner palm, I said for a 100.00 bucks I'll climb it. Been doing it every since.
I feel like I am the best climber I've ever been. I can't or won't do commercial production work no more, I use to knock out whole apt. complexes and malls and what not, then go to the gym, work out then jog 5 miles. On top of that only get a few hours sleep after partying all night. Don't have that in me no more.
Ive had a lot of close calls but have never been injured in the tree. My knees are good, my shoulders are fine, but there are times when I am running a big saw for hours on the ground my back starts hurting, and every once in the while I throw it out and have to rest for a few days.
I love to climb, I am not as fast as I use to be, but as fast as most will ever be. It's a shame, I am finely figuring out how to make climbing pay, and market what I can do, but wonder how much longer I can do it for.
My wife keeps tailing me to find a safer "normal job", but what am I going to do? All I know is trees.
I am working on my degree in Horticulture, and hope to move into a kushy management job, or start a small tree service, doing small jobs tell I kill over one day. Do I see my self climbing at 60? Yeap!

 

[derwoodii]

Started 81/82 climbing solid till about 2000 weaning off it to about 2 days per week since 2004 only once a month or so depends on the moons n tides. I'd say 18 to 30 - 35 your fit for purpose after that your skills are great but your stamina may start to fall away. Its not so much the climbing its the heavy timber handling in awkward positions that will wear out you body parts. I been lucky no injuries nor faults just fair wear n tear. Still enjoy a good time aloft in a nice neat tree.

 

[imagineero]

34 here, been climbing for myself for 4 years, industrial access and rescue work prior to that. Rock climbing and caving since my early teens. I'm noticing lately that I'm not as flexible, strong or thin as I was 10 years ago. I have weak wrists and I'm getting heavier. My back, knees and shoulders are still all good which is what you'd hope at 34.

The biggest thing I've noticed about climbers and their general health is the style they climb with. Lots of climbers who are hurt simply climb bad. Maybe they got taught wrong or just learnt by themselves, but once they get those bad habits formed it's very hard to stop it. Some of the stuff isn't that obvious... Like, watch a good vs a bad climber on spikes and the good climber will be a lot more fluid, using less effort and moving smoothly. The bad climber will be slamming the spikes in and putting extra stress on their knees.

Same story in the tree... Most of it is a bit of forethought. Having your ropes set in such a way that you are resting while working rather than straining in the cut, being in a good position to cut, planning your sequence out so you're not doubling back etc. Good climbers make the big trees look like little ones, and knock out just as much without strain or sweat in the same time as climbers who are busting their gut and chasing their tale. This is doubly true of cut/hold/throw work. Bad climbers will be twisting, straining, swing things over their heads etc.

I try to stay away from big trees this year too. Apart from their being not that much profit in them, they are hard on you. I knocked out a lot of big stuff last year and really suffered for it. Spent a lot of days up in the tree slinging a 3' bar on a 66 and was on the cusp of buying am 88 with a 5' bar but came to my senses. I don't want to go back there again. I did a couple of big trees this year, but mostly with cranes. It's not so bad that way.

Shaun

 

[formationrx]

....

...climbing since 92... 38 now... in the morning i m grouchy and my feet hurt...

 

[sgreanbeans]

Broken, Beat and Scared

Climbing since 99, 41 and completely wrecked. C 6-7, blown, need surgery. Both rotator cusp are torn, need surgery, lower back, 3 bulging disk, they want to put a 4" rod down there. Tennis elbow, both sides. Hips are shot and my feet and ankles hurt all the time. Tree work is not the reason for most of it, Marine Corps made most of it possible, but has helped aggravate .......everything, on a daily basis! Have determined that I no longer care to go up........at all. But.................(big sigh)..........I do, for now, prepping for the switch.

My life song

Metallica - Broken, Beat & Scarred (Studio Version) - YouTube

 

[mitchellmead9]

I started five years ago as the tree guy for my friend's landscaping business. We did everything, so I was not doing tree work daily. I broke out on my own last fall and got heavy in to climbing. I am 26 and other than swinging the kettle bell a couple times a week, work is my workout. I have a back issue known as spondylolisthesis from an accident at my Dad's sawmill in 2007 and I strongly advise the kettle bell to anyone with back issues. I feel sore after climbing, but it is always a good and rewarding soreness. Any advice on fitness for tree work from all of you more experienced guys is always appreciated!

A++ on the Metallica song, here's mine

Metallica - Motorbreath [HD] - YouTube

 

[mic687]

47 years old now diagnosed with MS 4 years ago been climbing for myself 5 years, 2 to 5 days a week depending on work load. My hands hurt when it gets humid and if it is 6 plus hours on spurs sometimes my hip joints hurt. I have to pace myself a little more now but still going strong.

 

[Treepedo]

44
climbing for over 10 yrs
rope n saddle climb mostly prune with once a month big ugly removal
principle arborist in my company and invested in good tools saws, grcs, Lj Sj Rw etc.
I struggled with shoulder and elbow and a bit of wrist injury for a few years.
Stop the colas, bad eating and eat a lot of fish in the Sardine family with alot of seeds and nuts.

Everything is good, just figure to be on the ground by 2 or 3pm and play it safe for the rest of the day.

Cheers

 

[arborjockey]

10 years in and I got the best news of my career last week from my physical therapist. She said the neck and shoulder pains are primarily from poor posture. 140% on rotation. Out did the yoga dorks that come she said. 6'2 and 165 lbs. I told her I burn 8000 calories a day and eat 5 sandwhiches + b4 dinner. Then I asked about being skinny and wanting protein shakes. She said NO WAY. That stuffs hard on your kidneys and your fit anyways.
I eat well stretch and swim in the ocean. I asked if my lifestyle is sustainable and she refused to comment......ah crap. Not to many desk jobs around here:eek2:

Posture has changed and I feel like a million bucks. 14hrs a day 8 days a week.

 

[Raintree]

I bailed out of the trees at 38 due to back pain, 17yrs of climbing was all I had in me. Have an Arborist Lic. so went into sales.

 

[jefflovstrom]

Never was a ground guy. Started climbing in 1977 and went to management 11 years ago.
Jeff

 

[arborjockey]

My OFFICIAL boss is 62 (hell maybe 64 by now)and out works 95% of the people I've met. Hard to explain but he has less techy toys but twice as many tricks in his bag. You may make it to the top faster, think that you tip pruned every piece, and maybe just maybe you beat him to the ground. GRADE TIME...he tells you what's this what's that. Very suttle differences, but still, there always in his favour. From there is where the rubber meats the road because the pastor loves to ground and pound. That's good for him. He knows I HATE it. So I jump in a tree or find something to do. His boss was the oldest consulting arborist in Oregon tell he recently passed. He climbed tell he was 72. What he pounded into my bosses head was never stop. He stopped for 1 year at 64-65 and came back 3\4 the climber he was. Beaing hurt is a hole different story. My prayers go out to those who REALLY can't do it anymore. don't be ashamed to pass a little knowledge to us greenhorns.:msp_sneaky:

Its not speed. Speed fallows technique. Use the right tools for the job and bid a price that allows a steady long pace.

 

[Zale]

Just turned 47 and been climbing full time for 20+ years. The body lets me know when to slow down and I don't seem to tolerate the heat like I used to. No major injuries just normal wear and tear. (stiches don't count).

 

[Rocko]

Been climbing since 54, the only problem with me is that my boys hang down past my knees and sometimes get caught on lower branches. Other than that I am in great shape.only had one accident, went through a chipper once.