An odd question.

R

rangerdanger

Location
Lexington, Kentucky
Alright, I know this may be an odd question, but here it goes.

I have no fear of heights or anything like that, so climbing high is no problem for me. What I don't like is when you're up in the tree, and the wind blows, moving the tree around some. (Especially if you're up near the top, or in a tree with many stems, not one central leader) For some reason, this just totally freaks me out. I was wondering if you just eventually get used to it, or just something you have to overcome (in your mind I guess). Thanks and sorry if it's a weird question.
 
you get used to it, i promise, i had this problem when i first started climbing, thas what got me studying different tree strengths and what not. it eventually turns into a respect, not a fear. i was affraid the tree would give out, something would break, etc, and somehow i would find myself sailing towards the ground, but, if you do your job right, you inspect what your climbing and dont tie into too small of a tip, then the odds of you falling are drastically reduced.

i bet you were on your spikes doing a removal, i lost a trainee because he couldnt get used to the sway of the tree and not being tied in except for his lanyard, like i said before, you get over it, just respect it and be safe and enjoy the view
 
It happens mostly in the Pin Oak in the front yard I climb almost daily. (Also working on pruning it and it's twin by myself. A project for the summer. Little bro is the ground man. Nothing huge in there though. This is their third pruning in 2 years, so just small stuff)

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i bet you were on your spikes doing a removal, i lost a trainee because he couldnt get used to the sway of the tree and not being tied in except for his lanyard, like i said before, you get over it, just respect it and be safe and enjoy the view

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I wish!!! I won't be doing that until next year. That's my goal for next year, is to start trying to do a removal with spikes. Still learning in tree chain saw use. And as far as the trunk swaying goes, I don't think it'll bother me much. For me, it's when I'm up near the top of the tree, afraid of the limb breaking and falling the 50 or 60 ft to the ground.

I'll probaly also start studying different tree strenghts now like you did ft. For me, when I know more about something, I'm not nearly as scared about it if I knew very little to nothing about it.
 
You SHOULD get used to it, some guys don't. But even when your comfy up there, theres always that one tree and that one gust of wind, to put some toenail marks in the bottom of your boots!
 
At times it is unnerving. Being tied into the same lead that I'm standing in only moves my in one axis. Now, lanyard to another lead, use a second TIP and you have two, non-synchronous gyrations. This can get me seasick. When I get the hint of the feeling I stop, find the furthest horizon line and focus my attention on that line. It might be a roof ridge, curb on a far street...anything to get the gyroscopes in my brain back on track.

A little tree surfing can be fun at times though. Especially when the wind is blowing your cutoffs away. What a hoot to see them go floating away!
 
I love it, it keeps the mosquitos off me!


<font color="green">The TreeHouse</font>
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The swaying feeling is alot like being at sea in a small boat. You either get sea sick, or don't.
But you can get used to it.
I know a few very good climbers who have been doing it for a long time who back down on jobs when the wind is blowing...
 
I have been climbing for 20 plus years. You will get used to wind sway in limber tops.Just like you will get used to the dynamic forces effects on stems being topped out and pieced out with or without wind.What the hell would life be without these exciting moments?
 
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What the hell would life be without these exciting moments?

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That's the right attitude. It was incredidbly windy this weekend in Minneapolis. Gusting 45-50. I climbed two trees that I knew had taken higher winds and felt pretty comfortable. Did not compromise on the tie-ins though.
 
I was trimming a 30' locust this weekend and I was swaying all over the place in the 25+ wind. It's relaxing if you can just let yourself go, so to speak. Learn to move with the tree; don't fight it.
Don't become complacent, however. Be sure of your TIP and the branch on which you're standing.

Then, later, you get the secondary effect when you're lying in bed and you're still swaying. It's the same effect as when you spend some time on a boat, then dry land seems to sway.
 
I'll second having sea-legs several hours after tree surfing in higher winds. Kinda different compared to the usual feeling of being just dog tired at the end of a day.

The sensation is from your inner ear. Don't fight it. Comes with thousands of years of moving around only on the ground.
 
At first it freaked me out too. Sometimes I would just shut my eyes for a minute and imagine being on a boat(I am very comfortable on water). The swaying of trees is a lot like the movement of large bodies of water, as others have mentioned.
 
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It's relaxing if you can just let yourself go, so to speak. Learn to move with the tree; don't fight it.
Don't become complacent, however.

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Love the wind, I simple imagine myself aloft in a tall ship. Often I stop for a break and close my eyes for bit focusing on the motions and what/where they are acting.
 
Yuh get used to it. If it's too windy, one can't prune for holding on, you prune another day.

Joe
 
I always keep a little bourbon in the truck for when i have to climb on windy days.....keeps me from tensing up. I am only kidding. My guess is that you will get comfortable over time. In my case, you dont see yourself getting comfortable in those situations. One day you find yourself swaying a bit in the wind and think, "Damn, a few years ago I would have been hugging this tree and preparing to do a Peter Pan."
I also think that as you get in more and more trees you will come to see which trees you can be comfortable in in the wind, and which trees you know are best left alone until tomorrow. Just my thoughts.
 
I love swaying with the wind, buuuuut...

I hate gusts when I am cutting with a chainsaw. I hate how it messes with throw line shots. I hate trying to throw branches down into a safe area and the wind takes it into a fence or something. I hate the wind for pushing saw dust in the eyes.

Did I mention I hate working with the wind?
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I live in a windy town, last week we had 85mph gusts (but its only when they go past 110mph we ever get any work out of it) Still days are unusual, in fact people comment on the lack of wind if we are lucky enough to have a calm day.

You get used to it, you have to. Limb walks when the limb your standing on is moving differently to the one your roped into can be differcult. Gotta get those sea legs.

I have climbed in over 70mph winds in emergencys. Not fun, but this town gets on average 173 days of over 60kmph gusts.
 
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