climbing: how much on rope - how much on spikes?

R

Ron

Location
Chattanooga
Background:
First, I'm not an arborist, but I love to climb trees, I love seeing you guys in action, and I do a litle tree work, primarily for myself, but I have done a bit for a neighbor and a friend - just for the fun of doing it. As a rec climber and also because I climb my trees a lot, I never use spikes. If I did, my trees would probably be shreaded by now. Anyway....

It seems that a lot of rec climbers use DdRT as a main climbing method, perhaps SRT in and switch over to DdRT. But, it seems to me that most arborists primarily climb on spikes and use the rope (DdRT, etc.) as more of a second tie or for swinging to a different position, that sort of thing, than for actual climbing.

Would you say that's an accurate perception?

So what do you guys think of DdRT for actual climbing and when would you use it instead of spikes?

Thanks,
Ron
 
I will use SRT/ DdRT for removals in conjunction with spikes.

DdRT/ SRT for pruning.

I'd use DdRT/ SRT with spikes if there are enough branches and I don't want to wear my boots for an easy and short take down, as I wear hikers for pruning and groundwork (too much unnecessary shock on tall heeled boots in my opinion for wearing all the time).
 
I dont wear spikes unless the tree is scheduled for removal. Even then I will not wear them if I can get away with it.

DdRT here any other time, I havent gotten the hang of SRT yet to make it a worthwhile climbing technique while on the clock.
 
Ron,


""But, it seems to me that most arborists primarily climb on spikes and use the rope (DdRT, etc.) as more of a second tie or for swinging to a different position, that sort of thing, than for actual climbing.""

Where do you live that you have gotten this impression?

My spurs don't come out unless the tree is a goner.

I'm working on dialing in Beraneck's DdRT rope-walking idea with the ascenders I've got.

Seriously, where do you live that arborists primarily spur?

Northwind
 
Well, I probably got the idea from watching tree removal videos here. I didn't make the connection that I was only seeing them used on tree removals. But...

I'm glad you asked - I still have spike marks in three ash trees and a maple tree from some tree work that I had a professional, licensed, bonded, arborist do. None of the trees were removed, and I expressed concern about them using spikes before they started the work.

He assured me in a year's time, there would be no trace of the spikes - HA!!! There're still there. According to him, they couldn't do the work for the price they charge if they couldn't use spikes.
 
Most of the outfits I saw working in coastal SC, Georgia and Florida were spike-dependent. It seemed to be a New England thing...most companies came down to clean-up after Hugo then stayed, most were loggers turned into 'arborists'.

Most of, if not all the "climbers" locally here are weekend-off utility workers using either company buckets or personal pole spikes. The rest are ladder folk with one exception.
 
A New England thing huh?

Please don't make generalizations about us, you know nothing about us New Englanders. IMO, we do some of the best Arboricultural work here in the Northeast!

Not looking for an argument either!
 
Re: climbing: how much on rope - how much on spike

i hate to say it but about half the prunes done in memphis are on hooks after the climber gets off the ladder at 40'.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I dont wear spikes unless the tree is scheduled for removal. Even then I will not wear them if I can get away with it.

DdRT here any other time, I havent gotten the hang of SRT yet to make it a worthwhile climbing technique while on the clock.

[/ QUOTE ]

X2
 
Re: climbing: how much on rope - how much on spike

[ QUOTE ]
i hate to say it but about half the prunes done in memphis are on hooks after the climber gets off the ladder at 40'.

[/ QUOTE ]


...as if carrying and setting up a 40' ladder is easier than jugging a rope.


There are Arborists... and there are tree cutters who want to APPEAR to be Arborists...
 
Re: climbing: how much on rope - how much on spike

Yeah though Boston, these guys were spikers. New Hampshire born and raised spikers. They knew of no other way to access a canopy or drop a top. Didn't know you were also a logger-turned-arborist-spiker-cum-laude unless you just completely misunderstood the profile of the post which I can understand if you did because you usually do - which I should know by now.

Knee-jerking is a condition from too many trees over too many years being spiked.
 
Re: climbing: how much on rope - how much on spike

[ QUOTE ]
i hate to say it but about half the prunes done in memphis are on hooks after the climber gets off the ladder at 40'.

[/ QUOTE ]

40' ladders?? Are you actually serious? That's scary, unless you were tied in from the ground.
 
Speaking of ladders: ladder horror stories

From my own personal circles:

A friend, happened to be named Ron, but not me, was working on a ladder and it slipped out from under him. This part hurts to even talk about. He landed on one foot first which turned his ankle and drove it into the ground. I have to pause now to cringe...........His ankle was seriously injuried and I can't remember how long precisely his recovery took but it was a long, long time.

A colleague was two rungs up on a ladder when some bees started buzzing. In his hasty retreat/escape, he landed on one foot and pretty much had the same thing happen that happened to Ron (again not this Ron).

This is the most interesting one I think. Another colleague wanted me to teach him to climb trees - don't worry, this isn't a tree climbing accident. He came out on a Friday evening and my wife and I and he and his wife had supper at Captain D's - used coupons of course, and then he and I did some climbing. It was Labor Day weekend and I begged him to come back on Saturday to climb some more and learn the knots, etc. He said he had to work on his deck and then made a life-changing decision that would affect him the rest of his life. He decided to work on his deck. Well, to shorten this a bit, the ladder slipped and he absolutely destroyed his shoulder. It was a year later before he regained some mobility in the shoulder. It will never 'right' as long as he lives.

Conclusion:
Ladders are dangerous!!!!
 
Re: Speaking of ladders: ladder horror stories

Srt up the tree. drt to move around the tree for prunning.
Spike for removals only with srt up and drt to move around.
 
I hate spikes and I hate ladders more!!!! even if I have to spike( a tree that is coming down) I never spike out of trees unless
I am chunkin wood munters hitch for me baby!!!! And by the way there is no such thing as a logger turned arborist, maybe a logger turned tree climber, arborists know better than that!!!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New threads New posts

Back
Top Bottom