Tell me something stupid you did!

Mine is short and sweet and happened yesterday. Super tight elm removal all the difficult limbs went as they should and negative block rigging the rest down took too long of piece scraped the roof and bent the gutter just a bit. It was 100 percent a f-it cut. Oh well no one got hurt and life goes on.
 
Here's one I almost forgot about. Small backyard with 6-8 white pine removals. We brush everything out and leave the 20' or so spars standing until last. Grounds get cleaned up and then we start dropping them. One of them hits an old pruning nub laying on the ground that was previously on the tree from the client. That little stupid nub shot out from under the timber and flew right threw a basement window. BULLS EYE.
 
Here's one I almost forgot about. Small backyard with 6-8 white pine removals. We brush everything out and leave the 20' or so spars standing until last. Grounds get cleaned up and then we start dropping them. One of them hits an old pruning nub laying on the ground that was previously on the tree from the client. That little stupid nub shot out from under the timber and flew right threw a basement window. BULLS EYE.
Man, that's poop! Murphy's law right-damn stubs........I thought limbs hanging up on stubs left on the spar were bad enough - Now I gotta worry about stubs on the ground! WTF?
 
I was pruning an Ash tree that was growing over a house. It was the last tree from a multiple day job. Mistake number one, we decided since there were only a few small branches that we would just natural crotch the rigging line. Mistake number two, the rigging line went through two crotches. Mistake number three, I decided to tie on to the middle of the branch I was cutting to balance it and keep it from brushing the roof. I cut the branch, the branch went spinning, the ground guy could not let it run fast enough. It swung back and tagged a nice large tempered glass window. Tempered glass is much more expensive (I quickly found out). :( The home owners did not like the bran new window that I had installed, so I had to take the old frame in to get new glass put in it. :muyenojado: Live and learn.
 
Stopped at a Runza Drive Inn for breakfast. Had gas so bad, I pretty much just had to hold onto the rope and jet assist up the tree. Should have charged the customer for killing all those termites and bark beetles for him. I was starting to wish somebody would just burn a fuggin' cat, or something, to cover up the smell. I'm either going to have to stop eating there, or add a gas mask to my PPE box.
:ROFLMAO::sorprendido3::ROFLMAO::sorprendido3:
 
Doing storm work this past winter and had to drop some ice loaded trees around backlot primaries. We had minimal equipment (two chainsaws, a push pole, a couple of wedges) and an 8-man contract line crew trailing us. I ended up doing all the cutting because the supervisor refuses to pick up a saw anymore and the other person had very little chainsaw experience and didn't feel comfortable dropping trees that close to the lines (even though the power had been killed). I'd dropped about a dozen trees, including a couple of bigger spruce, but was getting increasingly frustrated with the line crew because all eight of them were scurrying around gawking at the trees I was cutting. It was night time, the snow was flying, and there was piles of brush everywhere in the right-of-way, so visibility was already poor and now I had these goofs shining flash lights in my face and standing right where I wanted to fell the tree. I'd already yelled at them a few times to get out of the way and narrowly missed taking the heads off a couple of them with falling trees. Last tree was a big (20+" DBH) Hemlock with heavy snow and ice load and a slight lean back toward a pole. Supervisor thought we should wait and call the other crew to come with ropes. It was late, I was grumpy, and part of me thought I could actually get the tree to go where I wanted. Made my notch, started the back cut....saw pinched, clearly the tree wanted to go the opposite direction. I wasn't abut to let something as silly as physics beat me though; I got the push pole and with three guys on it we managed to open the kerf enough to get a wedge in. Kept cutting until I felt I had a comfortable hinge on it then start pounding wedges and heaving on the push pole. Then "pop", the hinge breaks, tree goes sideways and brings down two spans of primary wires along with the communication lines, thankfully missing the pole by about two feet. I'd already reached my "don't give a fuck point" so I looked at my supervisor and said, "Well, I guess that's all the trees" then turned to the line crew, who all had stunned looks on their faces and told them, "make yourselves useful and clean this up". I think it took them all next day to untangle the mess of limbs and wires and get everything restrung.

Then there was the time I dropped a 30 foot pine top right on to the customers roof. It had a rope in it and we were just going to pull it in to the yard, but I guess the branch weight was more back toward the house so the two groundies couldn't get it to come over by themselves. I was just about to come down and set up a MA system for them when everything went sideways, literally. I guess I'd cut partially thought the hinge and as the guys were rocking it to try and come over the hinge broke. Luckily it only put a half dozen or so holes where limbs popped through. I was very surprised it didn't break any trusses.

First week with a new company I was driving out to a job with the bossman and groundie in the truck with me. We were just casually shooting the shit when I pulled down the customers laneway to drive around back of the house where the tree was. Next thing we know strips of siding and sheathing were being torn from the side of the house. Turns out our pole pruner, which was sticking up in a rack on the dump, caught the clothesline, which was bolted onto the house. Not one of us noticed it was there we were too caught up in talking. It looked like a Three Stooges skit, us jumping out, looking at the house, at the truck, back at the house, at the clothesline, back at the truck, trying to wrap our puny brains around what had just occurred. All the while the homeowner was standing staring at the gaping hole in the side of his house. It was an easy fix, and the customer was very calm and understanding, but I felt pretty foolish the rest of the day.

After dumping chips we forgot to hook the chipper up properly and while driving downtown hit a pothole which popped the chipper off the hitch and sent it under the truck. It broke the bell housing causing tranny fluid to leak all over the road and wedged itself under the axle. Took 2 bottle jacks to get the truck up high enough to drag the chipper out. I can still see the gouges in the road whenever I take that route.

Pulling my rope out after a climb I got it stuck about 100ft up a spruce tree. Rather than go back up and declusterfuck it I thought it would be a better idea to use the chipper winch and when that didn't work I used the chip truck. Honestly, I'm surprised I didn't snap the top of the tree out, but I did have to retire a perfectly good climbing line after that kind of loading.

Clearing brush around a chainlink fence with a saw I knew had a broken chain brake. I have a pretty wicked scar from that kickback.

I slingshot my groundie into a pile of bricks after telling him he should be able to handle the load without the porty.....it was a 6ft chunk of 20" maple...run though a pulley.

When I first started it was common for me to free climb or just use a lanyard.

I won't even get going on the stupid stuff I've done that luckily worked out, but could have gone very very wrong...like trying to hinge swing 80ft leads leaning over houses using nothing more a come along....done that a few times.

Thank you for your interesting stories and honesty; I've been climbing for 2 years (21 years old) and it makes me feel a lot better to know that other people make mistakes. Worst thing I've done so far was flip a chipper ... while making a left turn from a complete standstill. Paid my bosses for the damage and tried to forget about it since.
 
I was taking down a couple of small Douglas-firs. Limbed them up, dropped the tops and chunked them down to about 20' tall. Then fell the first stub and left a short stump sticking up about 8" above ground. Fell the second one beside the first one but misjudged the fall line by about 2' and hit the stump, at which point the trunk bounced in the air and flew sideways about 8', landing on my 200t, which I had left setting off to the side. Cost me a new handle and some wounded pride, but luckily did not do any damage to the motor or bar. Moral of the story is don't set your favorite saw anywhere near where you are falling and pay attention to stumps and other obstacles that can cause a tree to ricochet and go where you don't want it.
 
Thank you for your interesting stories and honesty; I've been climbing for 2 years (21 years old) and it makes me feel a lot better to know that other people make mistakes. Worst thing I've done so far was flip a chipper ... while making a left turn from a complete standstill. Paid my bosses for the damage and tried to forget about it since.

Bummer. Reminds me of when I put the 2" trailer hitch on the 1-7/8" ball and ended up with the trailer flying off the ball at 60 mph and throwing sparks all over as it swerved back and forth on the anchor chains. Luckily the chains held and I did not kill anybody.
 
I have a hard-on for board and bat siding. So I got the bright idea to cut some 18ft hemlock logs and haul them 25 miles to the sawmill on my neighbors running gear ..... Well 2 flat tires later I got tired of buying him new shit and i grab my 10 ft trailer. I figure I'll just hang the boards off the front and back a little and I'll be good. Turns out with my poor little trailer that the boards would be tipped up enough to be dragging on the ground if I laid them over the front. So I'll just lay them flat hang 8 ft out the back untill I get the stack tall enough to hang them over the front. All loaded up 8ft out the back 8 ft out the front figure I got er balanced perty guud I take off. 98 chevy 1500 short bed hauling this btw way. Over loaded on the trailer no trailer breaks and a tired ass Chevy. Was doing all right untill I came to the first big hill. I grab some clutch and let er free wheel. The trailer starts whipping I hit the breaks and it gets worse so I let them go .... I hit about 60mph when this all went to shit. Trailer is whipping so bad the tires are squealing like cut pigs. I look in the mirror and see the thing is just ripping sideways. It's ripping the whole back end of the truck back and forth with it like a rag doll .... I'm playing hell trying to keep this shit-show between the ditches when I notice this teal Chevy Geo looking thing in other lane that I'm now commendering its pulled over past the white line flashing his lights at me like I don't know what's going on. I held it together somehow to the bottom of the hill and started up the back side it straightened right out I waved to the geo like a pro as I passed him he was still all white faced jaw hanging open.... 2hrs later and no more than 30mph I made It home. Pile of boards never budged apparently I r did good with the ratchet straps
 
I have a hard-on for board and bat siding. So I got the bright idea to cut some 18ft hemlock logs and haul them 25 miles to the sawmill on my neighbors running gear ..... Well 2 flat tires later I got tired of buying him new shit and i grab my 10 ft trailer. I figure I'll just hang the boards off the front and back a little and I'll be good. Turns out with my poor little trailer that the boards would be tipped up enough to be dragging on the ground if I laid them over the front. So I'll just lay them flat hang 8 ft out the back untill I get the stack tall enough to hang them over the front. All loaded up 8ft out the back 8 ft out the front figure I got er balanced perty guud I take off. 98 chevy 1500 short bed hauling this btw way. Over loaded on the trailer no trailer breaks and a tired ass Chevy. Was doing all right untill I came to the first big hill. I grab some clutch and let er free wheel. The trailer starts whipping I hit the breaks and it gets worse so I let them go .... I hit about 60mph when this all went to shit. Trailer is whipping so bad the tires are squealing like cut pigs. I look in the mirror and see the thing is just ripping sideways. It's ripping the whole back end of the truck back and forth with it like a rag doll .... I'm playing hell trying to keep this shit-show between the ditches when I notice this teal Chevy Geo looking thing in other lane that I'm now commendering its pulled over past the white line flashing his lights at me like I don't know what's going on. I held it together somehow to the bottom of the hill and started up the back side it straightened right out I waved to the geo like a pro as I passed him he was still all white faced jaw hanging open.... 2hrs later and no more than 30mph I made It home. Pile of boards never budged apparently I r did good with the ratchet straps

Grabbed the miniskid for a Saturday job. It was already loaded from the Friday job. Just hooked it up and left. Forgot to check to make sure it was tightened down. Got up to 60 on the highway and it started swerving like you talked about. Ass end of the truck getting jerked around. Finally finally finally got it over to the emergency lane and looked and it had the straps on, but loose, where they'd backed it up to the balancing point on the trailer, to handle the trailer by hand, and not have to unload it to manipulate the trailer into the shop. Should have known it was setting about 10" further back than it was supposed to be.
 
I have a hard-on for board and bat siding. So I got the bright idea to cut some 18ft hemlock logs and haul them 25 miles to the sawmill on my neighbors running gear ..... Well 2 flat tires later I got tired of buying him new shit and i grab my 10 ft trailer. I figure I'll just hang the boards off the front and back a little and I'll be good. Turns out with my poor little trailer that the boards would be tipped up enough to be dragging on the ground if I laid them over the front. So I'll just lay them flat hang 8 ft out the back untill I get the stack tall enough to hang them over the front. All loaded up 8ft out the back 8 ft out the front figure I got er balanced perty guud I take off. 98 chevy 1500 short bed hauling this btw way. Over loaded on the trailer no trailer breaks and a tired ass Chevy. Was doing all right untill I came to the first big hill. I grab some clutch and let er free wheel. The trailer starts whipping I hit the breaks and it gets worse so I let them go .... I hit about 60mph when this all went to shit. Trailer is whipping so bad the tires are squealing like cut pigs. I look in the mirror and see the thing is just ripping sideways. It's ripping the whole back end of the truck back and forth with it like a rag doll .... I'm playing hell trying to keep this shit-show between the ditches when I notice this teal Chevy Geo looking thing in other lane that I'm now commendering its pulled over past the white line flashing his lights at me like I don't know what's going on. I held it together somehow to the bottom of the hill and started up the back side it straightened right out I waved to the geo like a pro as I passed him he was still all white faced jaw hanging open.... 2hrs later and no more than 30mph I made It home. Pile of boards never budged apparently I r did good with the ratchet straps
You really paint a picture there, hombré. Post more. I'm still laughing.
 
Winter snow shut down, boss is gone on vacation, everyone is laid off. I got a call that I had to come in and move 1 of our dumpsters off a jobsite. Since no one else is there, I didn't bother parking in the employee lot but just ditched my truck beside the shop. Get a hook truck, backed out of the shop, crank the wheel over to turn her around, no need to look because no one else is here, CRUNCH! I'll tell you, that hook lift, flipped over and ready to grab a dumpster, went thru the passenger door of my Dakota easier than any can opener I've ever used. :muyenojado:
 
Winter snow shut down, boss is gone on vacation, everyone is laid off. I got a call that I had to come in and move 1 of our dumpsters off a jobsite. Since no one else is there, I didn't bother parking in the employee lot but just ditched my truck beside the shop. Get a hook truck, backed out of the shop, crank the wheel over to turn her around, no need to look because no one else is here, CRUNCH! I'll tell you, that hook lift, flipped over and ready to grab a dumpster, went thru the passenger door of my Dakota easier than any can opener I've ever used. :muyenojado:
Aww damn! I bet that was a horrible feeling g.
 
Winter snow shut down, boss is gone on vacation, everyone is laid off. I got a call that I had to come in and move 1 of our dumpsters off a jobsite. Since no one else is there, I didn't bother parking in the employee lot but just ditched my truck beside the shop. Get a hook truck, backed out of the shop, crank the wheel over to turn her around, no need to look because no one else is here, CRUNCH! I'll tell you, that hook lift, flipped over and ready to grab a dumpster, went thru the passenger door of my Dakota easier than any can opener I've ever used. :muyenojado:
Were you able to just get a new door or did it screw up the frame too? I feel for you. Backed a trailer into the front bumper of a car behind me, because I was trying to get off some train tracks. About the time I asked my helper if he heard anything, the kid who owned the car came screaming up to my window. Later the passenger of the car lied to my insurance company that he had been injured. That was the thing that urked me the most.
 
My first day as a GF- ice storm-took the plunge- my Jaraff crew was doing manual work. Took a ride with my new supervisor to see all the crews and everything went well. He says "let's go to the power office". We pull in and the Jaraff crew foreman is asleep in his truck. I pull up.and start to back in, m ty supervisor says" don't hit my fucking truck!" I assure him I won't - Shiiiitt I'm a bad motherfucker". Anyhow, I'm backing up...nervously watching my side mirror...not to back into his new truck when...Bam! I look in my rear view and there's the Jaraff crew foreman's truck! I smashed that shit! So fucking embarrassed and scared! I jump out and dude is steady backing up- I'm like" where are you going? " and he says " you obviously wanted to park here- so I'm moving" I apologize profusely and my supervisor says" don't worry about that piece of shit". I'm blown away- I again apologize and say I will pay for the repairs. He says" Don't worry about that shit" and laughs. I am friggin mortified! He calmly says " take a look at the side of the truck". It was a brand new truck...except for the huge gash running from the front quarter panel to the bed. It had been sideswiped by a drunk driver! Thank gawwwd!
 

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