It seems like it would just be a much cleaner fell if I were to remove a few limbs first. It may be hard to tell from the picture, but at least one branch is growing directly towards the desired drop zone.
What are some good rules of thumb for testing the strength of dead limbs before you attempt to climb them, aside from the bounce test? Any good rules of thumb for rigging points, or is it always better to rain in dead limbs? Will it hurt the grass more or the gravel driveway if I opt out of...