Climbing pine with spurs?
- Thread starter Mike Islander
- Start date
cerviarborist
Very stable member
- Location
- Florida, USA
With bags on both ends of the line, it's pretty easy to overshoot the whole tree (especially with an air cannon), and then manipulate the line backwards and forwards to eventually isolate a suitable union to climb into. A lot of newbies make the mistake of trying to hit the union directly. Sometimes a longer way home winds up being faster.
Mike Islander
Branched out member
- Location
- Lowcountry of South Carolina
I see that. Shoot up and over. Pull twice the height of line down. Add throw bag and pull up then lower straight down. Haul up climbing line.
Double bagging is the way to go in busy trees. but you need two throwlines, preferably 2 diff colors. 4 bags min. If you do not know this technique learn it fast. It is the bees knees for isolation....Learned it years ago at a comp. it really is the fastest way to isolate in busy ass canopies. Always use loads of weight when isolating to accommodate friction.
Mike Islander
Branched out member
- Location
- Lowcountry of South Carolina
I do thankfully have three throw lines and 4-5 bags.
Stumpsprouts
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Asheville
Ok no more talk go get it!
moss
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Carlisle, Massachusetts, U.S.
That’s not for a rookie/rec climber. Easy for a pro who makes their daily bread on removals.
Besides, great learning experience setting a line in that tree. Very doable, takes a lot of walking around in the brush looking for that alleyway to shoot for a high limb. It’s waiting to happen.
Treezybreez
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Lancaster, SC
Pine are some of the most susceptible to beetle infestation. Spiking it is most certainly a death sentence.
More likely than other trees but we've got tons of pines around here that get gaffed by line clearance crews pretty often and they're still alive, also given the time of year for many of us we're getting into a season when beetles are far less active, I wouldn't gaff it but I also wouldn't say it's "almost certainly a death sentence" either.
evo
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- My Island, WA
As Southsound said we come across many gaffed trees. Doug’s can take it fairly well until our beetle situation worsens.
I’d never consider spiking a pine, not claiming I know your pines but it’s just not worth the damage.
Like others have said looks like a easy tree with bomber unions.
Never really used a air cannon much, but with practice you can hand throw that high. A big shot might be a little easier to dial in for a straight up isolation shot.
Also as others have said a bare minimum of two throwlines and two throw weights is a must. I think I have about 6 throw lines and 8 bags on the work truck and I do not think that is excessive.
With a big shot I could easily clear a 100’ tree and be fairly accurate
I’d never consider spiking a pine, not claiming I know your pines but it’s just not worth the damage.
Like others have said looks like a easy tree with bomber unions.
Never really used a air cannon much, but with practice you can hand throw that high. A big shot might be a little easier to dial in for a straight up isolation shot.
Also as others have said a bare minimum of two throwlines and two throw weights is a must. I think I have about 6 throw lines and 8 bags on the work truck and I do not think that is excessive.
With a big shot I could easily clear a 100’ tree and be fairly accurate
southsoundtree
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Olympia, WA
I have two main cubes, one had a 75' line, one is 250'. 12 oz for the main ends, a heavier bag for the bottom ends.
Aim for the bottom of the upper constraint of your "window", not the bottom.
Aim for the bottom of the upper constraint of your "window", not the bottom.
Mike Islander
Branched out member
- Location
- Lowcountry of South Carolina
Aim just above the top of the tree that's in the way?
West coast/East coast-
southsoundtree
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Olympia, WA
The top of that obstructing tree is the bottom of your 'window', unless you're target crotch is even higher. The next branch above the target crotch is the top of the 'window'.
In my experience, it's much more likely to have you weight end up too low than too high.
moss
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Carlisle, Massachusetts, U.S.
yes yes yes
moss
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Carlisle, Massachusetts, U.S.
Pines in general use oozing pitch to clog up bark beetles trying "get in". During the growing season it's effective deterrent. In other months depending on what part of the world you're in a conifer can't mount that defensive strategy as well. But the real point (no pun intended) is there's no need to gaff this loblolly.
-AJ
moss
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Carlisle, Massachusetts, U.S.
Good discussion all the way around. Suggestion to spike it is totally valid, all the different comments bring in the nuance around making a decision towards a strong approach to the problem.
-AJ
-AJ
- Location
- MT & ID
It seems like the throw bag is the answer here but I have actually ran into a similar problem with a western larch, high branches with the potential for sudden branch failure. I didn’t want to spur it so I used a technique kinda similar to how some Earth First’ers got into trees (or a non-single line version of sit-stand method):
I have two short lengths of rope. Both are choked around the main stem. One is attached to my bridge and the other is essentially just a foot loop. You probably see where this is going… alternate weight between chokes. Set up on your foot to advance the bridge attached life support, sit back to advance foot loop.
It’s slow as sin and you’re pretty much humping the tree the whole time.
I have two short lengths of rope. Both are choked around the main stem. One is attached to my bridge and the other is essentially just a foot loop. You probably see where this is going… alternate weight between chokes. Set up on your foot to advance the bridge attached life support, sit back to advance foot loop.
It’s slow as sin and you’re pretty much humping the tree the whole time.
