Climb it?

[Raven]

Mark I think you're asking would you climb this tree by itself without an alternate safe TIP? Based solely on your pics I would say yes BUT, no heavy rigging. The customer would have to expect some turf damage, maybe get a little landscape work outa the deal.
Like Jerry says, it looks like one of those that gives you a queasy feeling in your gut on your way up and you don't really relax til you're down past the defect on a solid spar.

BTW, Jerry, I didn't know the beetles were that bad out west too, I've heard they are killing trees left and right in the south. Sounds way worse than EAB but without the hype. We can't stop 'em huh? just keep doing hazardous removals. Loggers must love it, I imagine there's alot of timber up for sale.

 

[Mark Chisholm]

I am very glad I asked this question- great replies!

Yes Riggs, the price is always important. Hard to do a good job if you feel like you are being taken advantage of.

Todd, I am tied into a pulley. Nothing fancy.

I decided to use this TIP because it was there. That's all. Why not use it if there is ANY doubt?

You are all right to me. I would've climbed it too if I had to. I wouldn't rope large pieces or maybe even no rope at all if it was real bad. But, this wasn't really the case. I just saw the hollow, surveyed the scene and decided that a quick throw into the large oak was best.

Jerry, you bring up a very interesting point. That is, why is it that after all fo these years we still wonder if we are pushing the envelope every now and then? You certainly have seen more things than I, but how can we not just "know" that we are doing the right thing? I have bucket truck removed sooooo many scary trees and never had one fail, yet I still wonder every so often. Why? Is it healthy or do we just wonder on certain jobs because of how we feel that day? Are we just less confident that day for other reasons?

 

[Teti]

Gimme a break!!!

 

[BigJon]

Climb it yes. Use the other tie in poing absolutely if it's there. Having a strong fail safe tie in takes almost all the stress out of the job.

Nothing like standing at 50 60 feet or higher on dead pithy wood and saying a prayer before you LOWER the top out. I find I bite my toungue and watch the bad language when I get trees like that thinking it's too easy for god to strike down at me that moment when I am most vonerable.