ApprenticeCowboy
New Member
So first I will introduce myself since I am new to the boards but have lurked a little bit in the past. I am a 2 year guy in the tree business and have done pretty well. I have a great reputation as a hard worker and for learning fast and being mature. The kind of guy my boss never wonders if im working when he leaves me alone for a day or even several with no supervision (his words). Ive even been given crews to run on several projects mainly running heavy equipment because im an ace at operating. However, my interest has pushed me to climb within the past few months to further my skill set and keep me interested with the job. So Ive climbed very sporadically the past few months and it started with me buying my own gear teaching myself more knots and learning how a climbing system actually works. I more or less self taught at home and did a few climbs at work. Now, Ive been put on a full time climbing crew as one of the climbers two weeks ago. I did well. Everyone including my boss and the other senior climber said im really starting to get good and look great. First let me start by saying Im doing right of way work mainly Electric utility and now clearing for radio towers. I have no issues with heights or trusting my gear. I will go to the top in tiny wood and swing to another tree to work that one.
Unfortunately today I think I was in over my head or maybe I was living in my head too much. We had large pines to remove. All between 85-100' and 30" diameter on most. Ive been up in oaks and maples at roughly 70' and had no real issues. Earlier in the morning I did like a 5 stem birch that was all over and probably about 55'. Went up the middle stem tied in blew the top and then swung to the other 4 and did the same. So next were the "large" pines. I gaffed up one 30' and then was told to come down because I was too close to the climber in the next pine so I gaffed back down and it was lunch time anyway. After lunch I now went to a different pine this time and started climbing. I gaffed up and got to around 25' ish and for whatever reason my head wasn't in it anymore. I cannot stand in my gaffs for long periods of time. I understand its not comfortable but it was burning bad enough that I knew I couldn't finish the tree and I just did not want to try working this tree with my mind distracted like that. I came down and felt like such a failure. Granted Ive only been climbing consistently these past two weeks but I know what to do I just couldn't "deal" with the discomfort today. It didn't help that the other guy psyched me out the day before saying how we were gonna be doing huge pines and how I was gonna be feeling it.
I don't have steel inserts in my loggers boots so my foot is flexing around the stirrup the whole time. So any advice how to #1) alleviate SOME of the pain I feel on gaffs and #2 keep my mindset positive and focused on getting the work done. I know more time in gaffs doing removals is part of it but my confidence took a kick to the gut today. Also, I need to work on getting myself in better positions and more solid saw technique. My rotator cuffs are blown out from military service so running a saw is difficult at times. I have trouble holding even the weight of a climber saw up to make a nice cut at shoulder level sometimes yet I can bench press double my weight. Even using a handsaw will give my hands fits because of Im assuming some type of carpal tunnel. Maybe I am just not a climber?
Unfortunately today I think I was in over my head or maybe I was living in my head too much. We had large pines to remove. All between 85-100' and 30" diameter on most. Ive been up in oaks and maples at roughly 70' and had no real issues. Earlier in the morning I did like a 5 stem birch that was all over and probably about 55'. Went up the middle stem tied in blew the top and then swung to the other 4 and did the same. So next were the "large" pines. I gaffed up one 30' and then was told to come down because I was too close to the climber in the next pine so I gaffed back down and it was lunch time anyway. After lunch I now went to a different pine this time and started climbing. I gaffed up and got to around 25' ish and for whatever reason my head wasn't in it anymore. I cannot stand in my gaffs for long periods of time. I understand its not comfortable but it was burning bad enough that I knew I couldn't finish the tree and I just did not want to try working this tree with my mind distracted like that. I came down and felt like such a failure. Granted Ive only been climbing consistently these past two weeks but I know what to do I just couldn't "deal" with the discomfort today. It didn't help that the other guy psyched me out the day before saying how we were gonna be doing huge pines and how I was gonna be feeling it.
I don't have steel inserts in my loggers boots so my foot is flexing around the stirrup the whole time. So any advice how to #1) alleviate SOME of the pain I feel on gaffs and #2 keep my mindset positive and focused on getting the work done. I know more time in gaffs doing removals is part of it but my confidence took a kick to the gut today. Also, I need to work on getting myself in better positions and more solid saw technique. My rotator cuffs are blown out from military service so running a saw is difficult at times. I have trouble holding even the weight of a climber saw up to make a nice cut at shoulder level sometimes yet I can bench press double my weight. Even using a handsaw will give my hands fits because of Im assuming some type of carpal tunnel. Maybe I am just not a climber?