Circle of Death

"I would certainly agree with this. If you're really in doubt of the tree failing, don't climb it. Get a crane or bucket truck. If you can't get either to the site, walk away from the job."

Words to live by Chris. Gravity will eventually take the tree down. There isn't a tree removal in this world worth a life.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Has anyone had a spar split to the point of slamming them into the trunk or the choke system working and lived to tell about it? I would like to hear from them what they did or didnt do and what followed. It seams to me if the spar splits and you are choked off (with your lanyard), it will force the ropes down the spar anyhow. Or tighten the hitch so it doesnt move, and break something anyhow. So anyway I look at it Im falling in the end. I have never experienced it so I dont know what will happen, im just guessing with what little I know about physics and trees.

I agree prevention is the best medicine, when in dought piece it out.

[/ QUOTE ]

people die or get hurt bad by this all the time. It doesn't force the ropes down the spar like you would think, the angle isn't that steep usually.

I'm searching for the firefighter, that posted on here maybe 3 or so years ago, spar split on him, he did trees on his days off, he lost like 15 feet of intestine or something and he's permanantly messed up I think.

meanwhile, found this one that realates to this:

http://www.treebuzz.com/forum/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=269778&page=0&fpart=1&vc=1
 
Here's the thread I remember: Split Spar (surprise!)

And, here's the OP photo:

pZKfM.jpg


Day..um! close one ... too close
bigeyes.gif
 
Thanks Xman and singlejack. Thats great for learning. Thats the side of the story I dont want to do. I think If gord (picture) had been taking larger pieces that could have been much worse. I see what you mean about the angle though. In his situation if it were to split in a more violent manor (larger top) how far would it split? Smashing him into the trunk yes, but whats next? A pinned climber on the spar? or system failure and fall? Would a choked system stop the split at some point (by holding it together)? When useing a choked lanyard do you remove the stopper knot from the end?

Sorry for all the questions. Im trying to decide if it is worth switching up what I have been doing to choking the lanyard. It is sounding like I may have to set up a little controlled experiment. Thanks again.
 
What is supposed to happen...real field tests haven't been well documented...Is that the climber will not get crushed but is likely to be navel to the tree.

That is, if the load pushes the lanyard adjuster, and doesn't break the rope. Having a rope larger than the circumference of the spar will assure that.

If I were in a situation where I was going to rely on this method for my safety you can bet that I'd have a long lanyard...and NOT untie the stopper.
 
This is exactly what happened recently in NH.
The pressure actually split the man in half.
Legs and hips in the saddle....torso on the ground...
connected by intestine...30ft....

I met one of the EMT first responders at the pump station.
Gave me the details that didn't hit the papers.
EMT said it was the worst scene he's ever responded to in 20+ years.. all the responders lost lunch... hung tarps to keep the scene private...

Working alone... 30ft up a 70ft tree... tried to fell the 40ft top out of it.. it split... end of story.

Condolences to his family and friends... and the homeowner.

No pics that I know of...
No details posted in the press..
Maybe OSHA will have investigation paperwork...not sure where to look for that... or if I want to...

Like Chris mentioned.. climb high. small wood. use front attachment as SRT... And Tom.. you are totally correct to ride this horse!

This post has the right name.
 
Gord posted a pic or video a while back of, i think a striped maple, that split while he was on it. If I remember right it was really dramatic but didn't open waaay up. It wasn't a leaner, apparently that species is prone to big internal stress.
Just thought I'd mention it in case someone wants to go looking for it.
 
Chip, that's the pic of Gord with the link to his thread I posted above.

It was a Bigleaf Maple. Is that the same as a "striped maple"? They don't grow around here. I only ever worked one when I was visiting my son in Oregon

... I was overly cautious ...
 
Single Jack very visual pic. Trees split to release pressure. For every action there is a reaction. The Barber chair effect can happen at ground level or at 40 ft up. Up top your lanyard gets in the mix.
To save your life or someone you know. A ty above and below your cut will stop the split going either up or down. Timber or cow knot. Or what ever you choose. Just do it and stay out of the hospital threads. Been useing this ten years now. No more lanyard being pulled into splitting wood. On Flat limbs with long length. A deep undercut will pinch a saw quick. Do a shallow undercut. Ty both side of cutting area. Limb wont be allow to spit out as you cut through top side. This work for vertical or horizonal logs.
This should be posted in Jeff Epson book with picture illustrations. Save someones bacon - life...
 
Toppers in the old days would use chains and binders up top to prevent this from happening to them.

Considering there were no chainsaws, just misery whips and axes?

Pretty smart old geezers in my opinion!

jomoco
 
I'd just like to note that the spar that split on me had nothing to do with a typical barberchair scenario. It was a leaning tree of an easily splitting species that had an abnormally heavy crown. Cold weather may have played a part too. I attached a diagram of how I understand a split like this one happens.
 

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[ QUOTE ]
Has anyone had a spar split to the point of slamming them into the trunk or the choke system working and lived to tell about it? I would like to hear from them what they did or didnt do and what followed. It seams to me if the spar splits and you are choked off (with your lanyard), it will force the ropes down the spar anyhow. Or tighten the hitch so it doesnt move, and break something anyhow. So anyway I look at it Im falling in the end. I have never experienced it so I dont know what will happen, im just guessing with what little I know about physics and trees.

I agree prevention is the best medicine, when in dought piece it out.

[/ QUOTE ]

It would be a good time to have a cut-able link on your lanyard if you're using a steel core.

Something releasable under load would be good, as well (i.e. a friction hitch rather than a gibbs-type ascender).

Best is to mitigate the situation in the other ways presented, though the cut-able link is important for rescue.
 
Heck, take your wire core lanyard and use it alone to bind that circle of death together, then use your body line with climbing hitch as your lanyard, make the right cuts with a razor sharp saw, and either ride it out, or bail out.

Yahoo! Top oh the world Ma!

jomoco
 
Gord sounds famaliar. Leaning tree and heavy crown. The tentioning and compression wood plays a vital role. The large elm limb being removed for house expansion did the splits. 30-40ft out fully leafed \ heavy. No time for top chainsaw cut to meet bottom cut. Split 10-15ft down limb away from tree. 3-4ft split back to trunk. Lanyard not involved with this one. I knew it would split and lanyard above. This to me is a horizonal barber chair versus a vetical trunk style. Bascically wood movement can invade your personal space with bad results. Had there been a peice of rope tied above and below cut. Theres no chance of splitting in either direction. With this ty technique you can hing 30-40ft limbs over butt tied for lowering. Do this on smaller stuff until you get the hang of it.
 
[ QUOTE ]
This is exactly what happened recently in NH.
The pressure actually split the man in half.
Legs and hips in the saddle....torso on the ground...
connected by intestine...30ft....

I met one of the EMT first responders at the pump station.
Gave me the details that didn't hit the papers.
EMT said it was the worst scene he's ever responded to in 20+ years.. all the responders lost lunch... hung tarps to keep the scene private...

Working alone... 30ft up a 70ft tree... tried to fell the 40ft top out of it.. it split... end of story.

Condolences to his family and friends... and the homeowner.

No pics that I know of...
No details posted in the press..
Maybe OSHA will have investigation paperwork...not sure where to look for that... or if I want to...

Like Chris mentioned.. climb high. small wood. use front attachment as SRT... And Tom.. you are totally correct to ride this horse!

This post has the right name.

[/ QUOTE ] wow, that's terrible.
 
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