evo
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- My Island, WA
Well played? That was a bad call with a spinal injury fuck the saddle!
Rotten silver maple leader fails while I was climbing
- Thread starter Mike H
- Start date
Matias
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Butte County
You're not wrong. I was told when I cracked my back that I wasn't far from losing my ability to feel anything below my ribs.
Mike H
Participating member
- Location
- Boulder County
Probably a good point but I was going on autopilot trying to get out from under the drop zone in case other chunks were still hung up. I wasn't thinking much beyond my reptilian brain at that point
evo
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- My Island, WA
Totally can see how that can happen! It’s a natural instinct and I’d likely do the same unless someone pinned me down.
The survival instinct really is amazing. It will override just about every system. Logic and reasoning....gone. Pain receptors....suppressed. Adrenaline....heightened. The body doesn't care if it causes more damage. It just does what it feels it should to increase chances of survival.
Matias
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Butte County
I am definitely guilty of getting my friends out of the overturned car before laying down and asking them to call an ambulance. The instincts we have did not evolve suddenly when we learned that they don't always serve us
Matias
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Butte County
As for Chaos, it's part of an infinite continuum, at the other end of which is obviously Order. Neither exists in any pure way. Everything is somewhere in the middle. We do our best to manage things and keep to the one side, but the biggest lesson I have learned from chess and such, is that one simply cannot take the time to play out every possible move in their head. Even in a relatively simple game, there are too many variables that you can consider, and there's always elements that you can't ever know until the game is actually played out. Chaos is unavoidable, and the work is to manage it as best as possible. We must maintain as much order in our spaces and routines as possible; keep the variables limited as possible. For better or worse, the work we do attempts to expel as much chaos as necessary to achieve the desired results.
Treetopflyer
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Coastal N.J
when I sub contracted climbing over ten maybe longer years ago I was sent up a rotten previously topped maple for a company and around 40 feet there was severe decay on the final center lead, even though this was my first time with this client and I was eager to please .. I refused to climb past that point to reduce the height and the company owner got upset with me I would not go above that point after he returned from whereever he was all day. Lifts were coming on the scene back then and They had a spider lift on-site sitting on the trailer all day while I basically was charged with reducing the height this nasty rotten many lead maple get my ass kicked in the process with its very wide crown …the lift was just staring at me all day or rather I was staring at it wondering why it was not employed for this project and I was as many of the leads were suffering from structural stability issues. I had 2 even 3 climb lines going while I worked the tree out made good time , but that last center lead was not going to have my ass go up it.. needless to say by the time I went back and forth with company owner in regards he had lift finally set up , as it was obvious to him he was not going to push Me to do something I wasn’t feeling safe about.. by this time I was on ground retrieving my climb systems and redirects out and tree debris starts falling down as I herd his saw fire up while I was still in the gear retrieval process.. right over my head , that fucking asshole. I yelled up as I exit the drop zone and he just kept cutting, tangling hangers in my ropes as I stewed away …Needless to say I never worked for that outfit ever again. I did feel really good about saying No and this was rare for me as I was a yes man I can do it kinda guy. I learned lesson that day you gotta say NO and take No for an answer some days. I took my pay said shit in your hat have a nice day !
Mike H
Participating member
- Location
- Boulder County
This is a great post.
I was going to tell a story much like this if he said he was working g for somebody else.
No matter what, it still rings true. You may have to even tell yourself NO...no matter how bad you need the money or whatever the motivating factor is.
In my early days I pondered crappy structure failures and what I could do about it. Came up with a few partial solutions but later tip redundancy seemed the most effective measure. There's that conundrum, overload a tip to prove it will handle normal load but risk instigating a time delayed failure that would not have otherwise occurred by doing so. Or normal load test by bouncing a bit at initial ascent. Or don't explicitly test, just best setup and go (gentle smooth mode). For super sketchy tip you can increment a trunk lanyard (supporting, not buckstrap mode). Brings back a concept of fishing pole hooking your ascent line like a rock climber though base tied you'd hook the down side like a lower redundant tip gaining more security the higher you pushed that secondary. Definitely a wanting attempt at a solution. Bit better than nothing. Never came up with much to try to deal with upper spar failure and potential for it to drag you down. Only upside was base tied the top would slide down the down rope while you stayed in the tree, failing it swatting/grabbing you on the way by. Assuming the break after your redundant tip and/or secondary tie in as you advance.
Random thoughts for a rainy day. Get well.
Random thoughts for a rainy day. Get well.
- Location
- Plymouth County
Holiday miracle indeed Mike - You are meant to be here longer doing good things in this changeable life. Much gratitude for your posting.
Feeling guilty and stupid since last week (well, most recently anyway ) when I knowingly climbed past a big rotten hollow on a red maple lead, wondering how my secondary TIP would hold if the lead failed. I got lucky, but that only lasts so long.
Thanks again for posting a reminder of the potential/ likely consequences. Heal up well, and intelligently brother!
Feeling guilty and stupid since last week (well, most recently anyway ) when I knowingly climbed past a big rotten hollow on a red maple lead, wondering how my secondary TIP would hold if the lead failed. I got lucky, but that only lasts so long.
Thanks again for posting a reminder of the potential/ likely consequences. Heal up well, and intelligently brother!
Treetopflyer
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Coastal N.J
Hopefully this thread helps someone from climbing up into a predicament! How you holdin up , not the worst time of year to be laid up?
Mike H
Participating member
- Location
- Boulder County
Thank you for asking. Taking a walk for therapy in my hood. I have gotten off of my high horse about no narcotics and they are helping me to recover. Off of the walker and feeling generally positive
My parents have sent some money to my relief and the clients say they can wait until I am ready. Feeling lucky and grateful especially for the community here
Stumpsprouts
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Asheville
Is this Boulder as in Co?
Glad you’re healing up. Really scary story there.
Mike H
Participating member
- Location
- Boulder County
Yes the tree is in Old Town Lafayette, Colorado
Mike H
Participating member
- Location
- Boulder County
Back in the saddle again. Minus 2 points for one-handing.
Thank you again for all the well wishes.
Thank you again for all the well wishes.
Matias
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Butte County
Tshirt weather FTW!!!
- Location
- Plymouth County
Nothing like the feeling of climbing again after an "Is this it?" injury. Congrats and stay healthy and Mike!
