I was almost killed by a "climber", although I am one myself

[Wolf Blitzer]

I tought my apprentice how to climb. A simple running boland did not seem to much to ask, however, I was pulled into the tree, but luckily the fence was spared.

These little 130 pound climbers may get up in a tree like a monkey, but they are high-school dropouts for the most part. That is my take.



OUT

SMT

 

[treeclimber165]

What's your problem? A bad night? Too many Bud-make-you-weiser's? Why don't you go sleep it off and come back when you sober up.

 

[Newfie]

Sounds like you didn't teach him well enough. A little patience from a teacher wouldn't be too much to ask in a dangerous profession. It's obvious that education hasn't made you a more tolerant person. Do you have anything constructive to offer?

 

[TheTreeSpyder]

Did someone say 130?
How are wee doing with the rigging and hinging posts?
Wow, that makes JP a genius !

 

[tshanefreeman]

I have found that it is easy to become frustrated with new groundies and climbers. This is largely due to the fact that we all expect them to know our next 5 moves, just like we do.............. the problem is that they don't and can't............... thus, how can we expect them to know everything. Afterall, we were once the arbor-virgins of the field!

I currently have my younger brother working for me. He's a hard worker, but lacks my ambition when it comes to trees. I honestly think that I am harder on him than I would be to anyone else.......... but I'm just trying to bring the best out of him.

Be patient........... everyone learns with time! Just remember not to rush new groundies/climbers.............. for this is when a knot will slip, untie, or even worse.

 

[treeclimber165]

almost 15 years experience and I still don't know what a 'boland' is. Do you mean a bowline knot? (pronounced BO-len)

 

[tshanefreeman]

treeclimber165,

You say that happiness is sawdust in your teeth...........

This may be true, but it definitely is not happiness when the sawdust is in your eyes................

Isn't it funny how a different location can change a person's feelings towards certain things!

 

[treeclimber165]

That expression came from a crane removal I did several years ago. Middle of summer, real hot. Huge dead oak and no shade. There were shrubs all around the tree about 4' high and I had to crawl under them with the big 3120XP to make the stump cut. I couldn't breathe under there with the exhaust and all, was gasping for breath with my mouth open. By the time I got it cut, I came out and Jimbo (the crane operator) mentioned that I was covered with so much sawdust I even had it in my teeth. I was feeling good about how well the job had gone and said "Happiness is sawdust in yer teeth" and laughed.

Speaking of sawdust in your eyes, I've had that all too often. It was so muggy today that I couldn't even see where I was climbing because my safety glasses were fogged up. After fighting them for almost an hour, I tossed them down to the groundie to put in the truck. Finished the tree without eye protection, but I still thought it was better than missing a step. I was totally blind with them on.

 

[Tim Gardner]

What kind of idiot does not use a friction device and gets pulled into a tree? I could understand the limb/block comming loose and KNOCKING you into a tree but it sounds like you ground like you teach.

 

[tshanefreeman]

treeclimber165,

I understand that safety glasses do serve a purpose, but they can actually hinder safe operation from time to time.

I too have thrown mine out of frustration...............maybe not the smartest thing............ but I figure that the face shield on my helmet will work well enough!

 

[TheTreeSpyder]

KC <-- Likes Sherrill's 'Bug Eyes' (#15682); and not just for scaring lil'kidz (when they are smaller than me)-no fogging, water running etc. been wearing'em for years, find them comfort-able.

 

[jhr]

Wolf, patience is a virtue!!!! The climber I have been working with still won't let me in a tree and I've been with him almost three years!!!! He makes me bring home ropes and practice my "Bowlines" actually I had to tie a bowline with one hand and my eyes closed before I could send a running bowline up a tree. Safety is his main concern and I appreciate this, I now have a better understanding of what he is thinking and I try to think 5 steps ahead for his sake. We rarely talk while he is in the tree and everything works smoothly. I even wrote him a groundman manual for his new hires so they know what is expected from him. I have heard a lot of accident stories but the worst that's happened with him (well other than pushing a tree over with an excavator onto his truck...wasn't me but I was ???? close to that tree falling on me, yeah all to save some flowers) was one line got caught in the chipper. (middle of a snow storm about 5 inches of snow and I just couldn't see it, I beat myself for that for months!!! He is feeling confident with my progress and wants me to be a partner

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

I tossed my glasses once in a cold rain that caused constant fogging. Then I bendt over into a sucker bud. Good thing it was silver maple and not sugar maple or beech!

Been around 4 years and my eye is just starting to not bother me regularly.

 

[TheTreeSpyder]

stop looking in the mirror, it will be fine!