Manage customer expectations too. If there's snow on the ground you're not going to get every twig and sawdust is a write off come clean up time. I've gone back to a few properties in the spring after doing winter work and it's almost embarrassing how messy the yard is.
Cold and snowy climbing/ working
- Thread starter Neill
- Start date
southsoundtree
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Olympia, WA
IDK. I've heard people mentioning moving snow in advance.
Sitting in a warm house by a box of fire...Sounds like a great time for JetSledding material, (thinking wood here mainly, but also equipment) with long ropes. Save a lot of walking if you set up a couple redirects to form a loop, if you have two people to load/ unload and control a winch if going uphill will loads/ POW if going downhill with loads.
Small debris will be harder to capture. Larger material can be skidded. Frozen ground is less divot-able.
Preheat the truck before breaks/ lunch.
Multiple pairs of everything. Swap into warm boots during a break after getting out of cold boots at the beginning.
Sitting in a warm house by a box of fire...Sounds like a great time for JetSledding material, (thinking wood here mainly, but also equipment) with long ropes. Save a lot of walking if you set up a couple redirects to form a loop, if you have two people to load/ unload and control a winch if going uphill will loads/ POW if going downhill with loads.
Small debris will be harder to capture. Larger material can be skidded. Frozen ground is less divot-able.
Preheat the truck before breaks/ lunch.
Multiple pairs of everything. Swap into warm boots during a break after getting out of cold boots at the beginning.
Hook looked extra helpful there,
Nice rigging they did there to save on slippery hand dragging labor on that slope
When it’s bitter cold, run a pair of nitrile gloves under your normal work gloves no more cold hands but be sure to let them breathe at lunch or between trees. A nylon windbreaker under a good hoody also when it’s real chilly traps the core heat and knocks the wind down, I can’t stand feeling like the Michelin man so I’ve tried to slim down my workwear as much as possible in the winter.
climbingmonkey24
Carpal tunnel level member
- Location
- United States
Staying moving can help keep you warm. Being stationary for too long is when the cold can start to get to you.
Snow could definitely be a potential hazard when climbing if it’s sticking to the bark or iced over. And even if only on certain parts of the tree, once your boots are wet or have snow on them it can be slippery at times. Just something to be mindful of. If you’re finding the slipperiness of the bark is making the work more hazardous, particularly with limb walking, etc., then it might be better to leave that tree for a day when it’s more dry if possible. Or perhaps you adjust your pace, give yourself more time to move through the canopy. I would also probably suggest factoring this in when setting rigging. Make sure the rope or sling won’t slide off, etc.
Other things to consider is depending how much snow there is you might prefer to clear the work area first. I once had a job where I had to snow blow part of a yard to create access for a lift to trim some hedges. Not only that, but there was ice on the ground as well. Aside from being careful not to slip and fall when walking, I also wanted to be careful to keep the machine / outriggers on parts of the yard that weren’t significantly iced over to prevent sliding and losing traction.
Also, goes without saying that heavy snow and ice can add stress to branches. So when climbing, it’s a good idea to keep that in mind as you’re stepping on branches and limb walking.
Snow could definitely be a potential hazard when climbing if it’s sticking to the bark or iced over. And even if only on certain parts of the tree, once your boots are wet or have snow on them it can be slippery at times. Just something to be mindful of. If you’re finding the slipperiness of the bark is making the work more hazardous, particularly with limb walking, etc., then it might be better to leave that tree for a day when it’s more dry if possible. Or perhaps you adjust your pace, give yourself more time to move through the canopy. I would also probably suggest factoring this in when setting rigging. Make sure the rope or sling won’t slide off, etc.
Other things to consider is depending how much snow there is you might prefer to clear the work area first. I once had a job where I had to snow blow part of a yard to create access for a lift to trim some hedges. Not only that, but there was ice on the ground as well. Aside from being careful not to slip and fall when walking, I also wanted to be careful to keep the machine / outriggers on parts of the yard that weren’t significantly iced over to prevent sliding and losing traction.
Also, goes without saying that heavy snow and ice can add stress to branches. So when climbing, it’s a good idea to keep that in mind as you’re stepping on branches and limb walking.
Yesterday I drove 40 minutes to this job only to find the driveway unplowed. Customer tried to assure me that the snow provided traction and I'd be able to get down to where the tree are (by the house). Had to tell them it's not the down I'm concerned about, it's trying to get out with a full load of chips or wood. With another storm hitting last night this one will likely have to wait until spring now.
Treezybreez
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Lancaster, SC
There was only one job here in the South that I remember cold changing the characteristics of the tree. We were taking down a Red Oak near a street and I was blown away by how brittle the branches were. Even though it was a live tree the branches were exploding like a dead pine. Made me respect all you Northern folks.
ATH
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Findlay, Ohio
I haven't seen anyone mention yet:
I put a bug tarp down and try to keep the climbing rope on that (and ground help knows to move rope to the tarp.
Plan to hang ropes to dry...if an unheated shop, probably have extra ropes so you can leave them in the shop a full day to fully dry.
If you are using battery tools, bring the batteries to a warm place overnight.
It's great to warm up over lunch...but that makes it unmotivating to get back out of the truck!
I put a bug tarp down and try to keep the climbing rope on that (and ground help knows to move rope to the tarp.
Plan to hang ropes to dry...if an unheated shop, probably have extra ropes so you can leave them in the shop a full day to fully dry.
If you are using battery tools, bring the batteries to a warm place overnight.
It's great to warm up over lunch...but that makes it unmotivating to get back out of the truck!
Serf Life
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Maine Island
Couldn't make it up a steep paved hill with chains on yesterday morning hauling the 15xp, slick packed snow. Lowered expectation and $/hr with stressful rd conditions being the culprit is annoying AF. Drove the half hr back home and then we headed back via car with studs on to get part of the job done. K sarah sarah...
ATH
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Findlay, Ohio
Had to laugh when I opened Buzz and sorted for new messages...I think I found the answer to the OP question LOL
ghostice
Been here a while
So, waiting on some taps and fasteners etc. so yesterday afternoon went for a long walk in a Chinook at +8 degC - it was hot in the sun with a Carhartt jacket on. As I write this next morning, it's -19 degC and threatening snow. I wish it would make up it's mind what season it wants to be . . .
data farm 26
Been here a while
- Location
- Casablanca
We are getting a really warm wind here right now as well. Winter is basically non existent in the Colorado front range so far.
climbingmonkey24
Carpal tunnel level member
- Location
- United States
Had that experience yesterday doing an estimate.
Turn into the client’s driveway and start going down the hill and immediately think “oh sh*t” because it’s nothing but solid ice. After doing the estimate, try getting up and guess what, ended up sliding back down the hill even in 4 wheel drive. Kind of a scary experience when your brakes aren’t doing their job and you keep moving.
There were tire tracks going off to the right of the driveway that could’ve indicated it being a circular driveway with the other entrance not being a hill, but it was covered in snow so couldn’t tell for sure and didn’t want to just start driving across the client’s property if it wasn’t a driveway.
Knocked on the door to see if they had any sand and turns out it was a circular driveway and I was able to get out. If I end up getting the job and the driveway is like that I probably won’t be going in there with a truck and equipment.
Two points. Watch out for frostbite of extremities because the transition from discomfort to numb can sneak by you. Frostbite is a cumulative injury where every time you get it it does a little more damage to your circulatory system which makes you more prone for next time. Snow traction right near freezing - snow can near instantly transform to ice-like under compression resulting in an instant slippery layer. One time my pickup was stopped on the slightest grade and just started to slide!
Word - snotsicles!
Word - snotsicles!
ATH
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Findlay, Ohio
Snotsickles are a given on cold days. My sleeve or the back of my glove look pretty disgusting after a long day!
All the reasons listed are why many places shut down for the winter. Some of the bigger outfits with steady contracts keep going, but residential work dies off around this time of year. The rewards just aren't worth the effort at some point.
Real wool is your friend. I'm almost never too cold to work. I'm a cold hardy person at baseline but with thin wool layers I'm good with just thin gloves on all day and my feet are comfortable enough to keep working. Army surplus polypropylene long underwear are almost as good as wool, sometimes too warm.
Good stuff, I guess I should be thankful the phone has not been ringing because wow, winter is in full swing here. We have close to 12” of snow on the ground and plenty of cold temps to keep it there.
I’ve been cutting timber this week, it’s been exhausting walking in the deeper snow.
Jet sled has been clutch in toting equipment about.
I second a vest!
I’ve been cutting timber this week, it’s been exhausting walking in the deeper snow.
Jet sled has been clutch in toting equipment about.
I second a vest!
ATH
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Findlay, Ohio
Woods work is the best winter work, IMHO. (so says the flat-lander)
I had a couple contracts the last 2 winters to do some invasive species work. As tedious as that can be, I enjoyed a cold winter day cut, squirt, repeat. Very little equipment to mess with (sometimes it does get cold enough to cause some pains with the sprayers). Its great to be out of the wind. Down to about 5-10 degrees F its not hard to stay warm once you get going.
Wanna know what sucks in the cold:
planting trees. Last year dormancy set in late so the nurseries were late to dig trees. Then it froze pretty hard right after we took delivery. Not enough to freeze the ground, but the rootballs froze. Wouldn't be too big a problem, except the trees are always delivered too deep, meaning we need to excavate (FROZEN) soil off of the top. We were chiseling chunks of frozen soil to get them to the correct depth. Last one we did was out in the middle of a wide open area, single digit temps and howling wind. 3" caliper tree, so big root ball. Somehow we got wise enough to chisel that one to depth in the shop (unheated, but out of the wind!) before going out to plant it.
I had a couple contracts the last 2 winters to do some invasive species work. As tedious as that can be, I enjoyed a cold winter day cut, squirt, repeat. Very little equipment to mess with (sometimes it does get cold enough to cause some pains with the sprayers). Its great to be out of the wind. Down to about 5-10 degrees F its not hard to stay warm once you get going.
Wanna know what sucks in the cold:
planting trees. Last year dormancy set in late so the nurseries were late to dig trees. Then it froze pretty hard right after we took delivery. Not enough to freeze the ground, but the rootballs froze. Wouldn't be too big a problem, except the trees are always delivered too deep, meaning we need to excavate (FROZEN) soil off of the top. We were chiseling chunks of frozen soil to get them to the correct depth. Last one we did was out in the middle of a wide open area, single digit temps and howling wind. 3" caliper tree, so big root ball. Somehow we got wise enough to chisel that one to depth in the shop (unheated, but out of the wind!) before going out to plant it.
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Light 14 or 16" narrow kerf bar for 200t or 201t- Started by southsoundtree
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