Best state for climbers?

S

ShortnStumpy

Location
Utah
Hey guys, so a bit about me; I'm 27, been climbing for three years now. I'm a certified arborist and really want to get out of Utah before spring and into a state with much bigger trees. I have all my own gear, saws, etc. Currently, since all my time in the tree industry has been spent here in Utah, I'm unsure what a typical day would look like for a climbing arborist out on the east coast, or roughly in that area. Around here, it varies wildly. But most of my work is spent in small to medium-ish sized trees, with anything over 50ft being rare. With it being winter, I have spent the last four days pruning 2ft tall bushes and shrubs, with a few 10ft tall Honeylocusts tossed in. I rec climb most everyday just to get my climbing fix in, but even that can be tough as finding a good sized tree is harder than you'd think out here. My hope is to land a job somewhere where I can climb everyday, with 70-80% of that time being spent in large trees, i.e., falling from the lowest limb would kill or severely injure me, if that puts it into (a rather blunt) perspective.
The biggest trees we have growing around here would have to be Siberian Elms and various cottonwoods. Most of these are simply craned out. (Btw, sorry if this seems a bit rambly, I'm very tired as I write this.)
Anyway, if you guys have any suggestions or could impart some wisdom, I would love to hear it! Thank you!
P.S.- I would really like to avoid conifers if at all possible! One reason why I'm looking at the east instead of west coast. :)
 
Pretty huge swath of the eastern half of the US doesn't have lot of native conifer.
Vermont south to Charlotte, NC, west to about Oklahoma City, north to Nebraska/SD border then a straight line to about VT again. Sure, there will be patches of conifers, but most of that area would have been hardwoods (or prairie - the towns will now have a few trees). There are also areas outside of this with hardwoods. Probably only the very west portion of this will have few big trees, otherwise, plenty of opportunity to find those.
 
Being that I live here, I am rather partial to Pennsylvania. We have a wide variety, there are some conifers, but as a rule most of what we work on are hardwoods. I’ve never really done a formal survey, but here in eastern PA it seems most trees we work on are at least 60 ft, with the majority in the 80-120’ range. At times we get into trees in the 140’ range, but there’s not a great many of those.

Conveniently we are also looking for a climber at present, so I would be happy to speak with you if you wish to consider PA as a destination.
 
I’d go Left Coast. I think the Bay Area has the most gnar if that is really what you are after. Massive amount of diversity and massive trees. Really the whole Cali Coast has some impressive trees, deciduous or otherwise.

Also, the green East has some real beauties too- way bigger and more diverse than Utah and I say that lovingly because Utah rocks, no pun intended. @Reach could give you more big trees than you know what to do with. Good luck
 
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You could get on the fire clean up and electrical line clearance crews in a heartbeat doing gnarly climbs in CA - Mowbray's, P31, Mountain Enterprises, Atlas, Wright are all doing prevention and cleanup where crane can't access and are all hiring all the time. They can't keep up. I think most climbers are making 3k or more a week, 60-72 hour work weeks, daily per diem, and benefits.

Big trees - Ponderosa pine, gray pine, douglas fir, live oak, black oak, valley oak, sequoia, eucalyptus, sycamore.

I doubt there will be a lack of work anytime as forest fire and pine beetle are a persistent source of destruction.
 
If you looking to challenge yourself and get into some big trees give NorCal a serious consideration..Some of the largest urban and rural trees on Mother Earth. Of the outfits arborabdearth just listed Mountain Enterprises would be your best bet.. Some highly skilled folks to learn from, and trees that are gonna test your metal....
 
Boston area has some really incredible tree preservation oriented companies. Many big spready hardwoods, but smaller than the mid Atlantic region. NJ to VA have some monstrous hardwoods.

Maryland has these incredible American Beech that look like a dream to work in, just beautiful trees
 
The biggest stuff seems to be from N Ca to Washington, and predominantly big conifers.

over here on Long Island we are climbing big oaks and tulips in the 80’-115’ range regularly often every single day; measured with a forestry laser or estimating based on our 200’ rope. And these are wide spreading trees and can be quite challenging and rewarding climbs. This has been my first winter climbing full time (everyday) and you learn quick in the right crew and situation (like our bucket trucks being simultaneously out of commission for over a month). The markets also pretty hot so if you land with the right company you’re climbing everyday all year. That being said there’s a lot of competition so while there’s a lot of companies to chose from I’d definitely be smart as to who you work for. Both from a safety standpoint and a scope of work standpoint. I like pruning and preservation, so I’m very happy where I am. Some of the urban work, particularly in NYC, has its own set of challenges when you get a bigger tree to work in. Some people thrive in that environment, others break under it.
 
I live in santa cruz, and we are finally getting paid what we deserve as climbers. Union 40/hr & medical & 9/hr retirement as a climbing line clearance foreman with cdl. And as much double time as you want. On the fires I was pulling 4,600k gross a week. And we have the best trees, just sayin.
 
Squirrelofdeath said:
I live in santa cruz, and we are finally getting paid what we deserve as climbers. Union 40/hr & medical & 9/hr retirement as a climbing line clearance foreman with cdl. And as much double time as you want. On the fires I was pulling 4,600k gross a week. And we have the best trees, just sayin.
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Plenty of big trees to keep a fella happy and challenged in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Where u at and who you working for/with, if you don't mind me asking?
 
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New England has some killer areas and trees. And th regional e pay is solid for a strong arborist.

Mid Atlantic states have some absolute monsters, too. The work doesn't seem as steady down that way tho in a lotnof places.
 
“These trees aren’t big enough!”
Ahhh to be young.......

Go get em bud, just pace yourself, be smart and take it easy on your body, that way you can enjoy a long career
 
Minnesota has some very fun wide burr oaks. Cottonwoods are generally the tallest. This mid-atlantic talk has me dreamin, the more enthralled with SRT I become the more I wish for a smorgasbord of extremely widespread hardwoods
 
Lupin_IV said:
Minnesota has some very fun wide burr oaks. Cottonwoods are generally the tallest. This mid-atlantic talk has me dreamin, the more enthralled with SRT I become the more I wish for a smorgasbord of extremely widespread hardwoods
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Come on out, we’re looking for another climber right now.
 
I think your criteria is backward. As is evidenced by the responses above, each state offers unique, worthy challenges, with beautiful trees. One of the true benefits of arborculture as a trade is that with a good skillset, solid work ethic and a willingness to be a part of a team, you can get a good job anywhere.

The question you should be asking yourself is how do I wish to live? Taxes, local and state laws, living expenses, schools, weather, hobbies, population, community and many others are far more important considerations, as there are great trees everywhere.

Your future in the industry is also to be considered. Do you just want to climb until you are too stove up to do it anymore? Or do you see yourself building a career, either on your own or with a company? What happens if/ when the day comes you no longer want to do straight up production work?

Choosing a place to thrive and make your mark in this world as an arborist solely based on the trees you want to climb is much like trying to become a chef by looking for a really good oven.

my .02
 
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