It's a climbing thing, you'll never understand

[begleytree]

I thought I'd start a thread for us climbers here. From the guy who only does removals to the guy who climbs to snip dead twigs, from the new guy climbing his first tree to the seasoned veteran, we all share something that makes us not only stand head and shoulders above the crowd, but many dozens of feet as well, comfortably wielding a chainsaw at heights that would cause a ground pounder to swoon in fright and cutting wood so close to our own bodies as to make others gasp in fear.
We intimately know our charges, have caressed places only accessible to us and birds, we live our lives high above, tethered by a silky strand, understanding and manipulating forces of nature in such a way as to make it seem easy. Anyone can fell a tree, one only needs to cut it to accomplish this since gravity is still on, cutting wood to length while standing on the ground? childsplay, our students do this menial task hoping one day to accompany us to heights, to break free of their earthly bonds and walk with us where eagles fly.

So, here's to the climbers onsite, the upper echelon, the very ones this site was named for, the ones who can do everyone else's job, but only he can do his.
sound off climbers, how long you been above the rest?
-Ralph

Begleytree, climber, 20 years exp.

 

[OTG BOSTON]

Feelin' it

Wow Ralph, did you have a religous experience recently??

Seriously though I hear what you're saying.

This year will mark my tenth in the business. I've been certified for seven. I climbed full time for seven and now I run the show in a major east coast city. If not for my climbing skills and the confidence that comes with it I wouldn't have lasted three months in my current position. I am no longer required to climb for work but I do to let the people who work for me know I'm the real deal.

 

[frodo]

Two years, self taught, with the help of jepsons T.C.C. I've got a good ground man, (retired climber) helps me a bunch. I am studying to become certified. I would get alot more done if i could quit reading all the archives of this site, but I feel I am learning alot more reading these old conversations. Man this place is awesome!

 

[Sunrise Guy]

Man, well put!

Just two days ago it was slow around here so I decided to climb one of the red oaks, in my back yard. When I was up at around forty feet, a huge flock of Cedar Waxwings landed in the top of the tree. They hit Austin this time of year, every year, as they head south. I have never been so close to these guys before. The closest was only eight feet from me. I froze and watched them all for a while, then started whistling the Andy Griffith theme song. They perked up and listened but didn't say anything. Then I did The Adams Family and they seemed to look my way a bit more. I thought how cool it is to be able to be up there with these guys, in their territory, and I was thankful that I learned how to climb some four years ago. I will always seek the tops of trees for solace and a sense of serenity. Nothing can beat the feeling, and only we know that, intimately.

 

[dshackle3]

I take my hat off to all the people that climb and make it seem so easy. It is truly a gift. I just wish the customers could see you all in the same light. It never fails to amaze me the way people act like its a job anyone can do.

 

[D Mc]

Hello boys, been climbing now 38 years but since this is my first post, I get to be called the "newbie". Works for me.

P.S. Tree climbing is alot easier than keyboarding....

Dave

 

[begleytree]

D Mc, climbing for 38 years hardly qualifies you for newb status! maybe newb to the site.
Welcome!
-Ralph

 

[04superduty]

P.S. Tree climbing is alot easier than keyboarding....

Dave

lol, and i say the exact opposite.

 

[Timberhauler]

Fifteen years in the saddle for me.I have been blessed in the last year though to be able to now have two different crews and two climbers to handle it.I still do all of the difficult removals and all of the pruning.I wouldn't trade my profession for anything

 

[Blinky]

Well, what 3, maybe 4 months climbing trees; been climbing rocks, towers and buildings, on and off, since 1977. I've been lucky to train with some pretty fair tree climbers so far. Best job I've ever had... I still can't believe people will pay me to climb trees. I shoulda done this a long time ago.

 

[Manco]

16 years for me. Started climbing, worked out of a bucket on various Asplundh models and had a skidder with an LR50 mounted on it for a while, and now climbing again.
The tree tops are a place where you really have to have personal experience to know the feeling you are describing so well. I love the outdoors and can't think of anything I would rather be doing. It really is something that makes me think how good it is to get paid for something you love to do. There are the really tough times but there are tough times in anything you do.:jester: Chainsaws-trees-sawdust-sweat-blood-the various smells-the various sights-sounds-silence. A very infectious combination.
Things I like: a sharp chain that cuts faster than it does out of the box because you sharpened it just right, a new saw, the amazement of a homeowner after a technical takedown, the smell of fresh cut wood, spring time, poplar trees, being outdoors, the sound a large tree makes when the hinge-wood fibers seperate, feeling the ground shake when dropping a large trunk from the ground or in a tree
Things I don't like: hitting a nail with a chain you just sharpened the chain, a saw that isn't running properly or is just a piece of crap, homeowners who try to tell you how do do your job or what they think you should do with no apparent concern for safety, the smell of sycamore trees, cold cloudy days, having one of the large sticker vines get caught in the teeth of the chain and slam a large thorn into your knuckle, being stuck inside, the sound of hinge-wood fibers seperating before you expect them to, feeling your chain come to a halt when a tree or top sets back:taped: What a job. I remember having one of the toy chainsaws as a kid. I remember chopping trees in the woods pretending to be a lumber-jack. I remember of wanting to go out West and climbing and topping one of the giants and eating lunch on top of the stub, hell, I'd still like to do that.

 

[Stihl 041S]

Gotta

It was about 47 years ago i guess. I 'd climb a tree about 70 feet up, til my 8 year old weight would cause the tree to bend and tie a heavy belt to the tree. when a wind storm would come up, , climb up, strap myself in ,back to tree, arms straight out, and enjoy. My mom never found out, as I'm alive today.

Smart? no.

Wonderful. OH Yeah

Take big bites out of life, moderation is for monks-Lazarus Long

Ralph, great post

Rob

 

[treeseer]

Professionally 41.5 years, to seek my refuge and my strength about 50.

The site's named for arborists, and there are a few good arborists who are terrestrial. But I agree, as we were told to Touch Trees to know them, we who touch them all over can know them best.

I can go a day or two without climbing but if it gets close to a week I'm way out of sorts. I need to get off the ground to feel grounded.

Climb to Live, Live to Climb.

 

[boo]

I'm not sure I can describe it in words.
The things we've done, places we've been, and things we've seen.
So different yet, so the same.
15 years on a rope
nice thread btw Begleytree

 

[elmnut]

15 years for profit, 30 for fun, lost out on 3 years right off the get go due to parental supervision. Raking sucks.

 

[Night Owle]

In A Word "Envey"

I would see guys in the tree's and think "Wow That Is So Cool".
I'm not the kind to sit on the bench as it were,this was something
I HAD to learn.
But it looked so hard to do, How dose all that gear
work...? All those terms they use.....And so on....

But little by little (with some exhalent instruction) it
seemed to come together.Now I look forward to the next
Job.I love the feeling I get tieing My friction hitch and
clipping it on My saddle and UP We go....

Now I get to watch other people as They are Amazed
at what We do.This Truly is a Unique Occupation...!

Night Owle......

 

[Thillmaine]

Licensed for 2, climbing for 2. Loving it since I was a little kid. Remeber a time when my father and I climbed a blue spruce up about 70 feet when I was just a lil fella, treework is in my genes, my grandfather was a logger in the south, and my great grandfather was from the rich agricultural section of Germany (Rhine River Valley) where he as well was a logger. Myself I am a little more refined I like the PHC and clibing rather then just felling. Awesome thread.

 

[Sparko]

Been training since September. Pruned my first tree from a rope with an MS200T today

 

[BonsaiJedi]

great post...I've always been jealous of you acrophillic types but my own fears (and 10 year old snowboarding injuries!) keep me grounded...alas...

 

[diltree]

Ralph, I really enjoyed the way you composed your post, it was articulate, creative, and may I go as far to say poetic! I Climbed my first tree when I was 15, I recall having problems putting the saddle on the right way and learning to tie the taught line hitch, but once I made my way to the top of that 40 foot maple, I felt a unparalleled sense of accomplishment, one might think the top of that 40 foot maple was the top of the world! Recently, I have enjoyed climbing recreationally; subtract the noise of the equipment and the pressure of rigging and cutting, and tree climbing really becomes a wonderful recreational activity. I climbed a huge Rock Maple with fellow arboristsite member Jeff B yesterday, Jeff always has some new tricks to work on, it was a great time!