climbing live trees with spikes

[tomthetreeman]

Nice new avatar. You and Eric I assume? Y'all look like you sayin "S'up dog?"

Eric and Mac, no excuses TCIA mailer. I am thinking of photoshopping it to look a bit more RUN-DMC. Whaddya think?

 

[wyoclimber]

They look so badass. Like, all gangsta and shit.

 

[TreeLogic]

Eric and Mac, no excuses TCIA mailer. I am thinking of photoshopping it to look a bit more RUN-DMC. Whaddya think?

Great idea. I always take the chains off my stump grinder trailer, put 'em around my neck and do my best Mr T impression. "Rrrrrrr....I pity you fool! Balboa's scared! I ain't gettin' on no airplane Hannibal!"
Of course this worked better when the chains were new and had that golden color.

 

[wyoclimber]

All I can hear is "Dun da na na, na na, na na, Can't touch this"

 

[SRTsteve860]

Great idea. I always take the chains off my stump grinder trailer, put 'em around my neck and do my best Mr T impression. "Rrrrrrr....I pity you fool! Balboa's scared! I ain't gettin' on no airplane Hannibal!"
Of course this worked better when the chains were new and had that golden color.

heres one of my guys doing his best Mr. T

 

[ontheropes]

Does it take other guys longer to climb withoutout spikes than with on large trimming jobs also?

It shouldn't if you're a competent climber. In my opinion mutilating a tree with spikes while trimming is not the same as pruning a tree without gaffs. If your gonna spike a tree its a removal period. Pruning with spikes negates the benefit of pruning youre doing more harm than good. My 2 cents.

 

[islandarb]

Must be talking about Wes. Tell him hi.

Now Wes is one awesome treeman met him at Geezers what a dude....that man knows trees and life...can say he is a nice friend to me....gives really good advice in the most sincerest of ways...you have a proper mentor Jeff......

 

[Paulin]

here is a trick i use to inch my way up awkward leaders that might be too steep to do a conventional limb walk and no favorable TIP to be able to position myself with 2 climb lines:

take a 1" loop runner, (i argue every climber should go into the tree with at least 2 or 3 on their saddle cause they are so damn useful for holding cut pieces, redirects, etc) and put it around your feet. I keep the 2' and 3' lengths on my saddle all the time, so i just double it up to make an approx 12" loop, next put a half twist in the loop, so it looks like a figure 8, and put a foot into each loop, with the crossover happening between your feet. with proper body position, you can press your feet against the trunk, the loop runner keeping your feet together, and inchworm your way up, when you get good at it you can find the sweet spot for loop length so it will actually cinch onto the wood giving you a secure work position.

you work your way up the leader by hopping your feet up, then flip up your lanyard and then repeat (kinda like spiking). it sure helps for those really awkward spots where you have few other options.

i can post pictures if anyone wants to see what i am describing.

-Steven

SRTsteve - Hi ... would you mind posting up a pic or two showing this? I think I understand what you are describing, but it would be great to see it.

Thanks!

 

[TreeLogic]

here is a trick i use to inch my way up awkward leaders that might be too steep to do a conventional limb walk and no favorable TIP to be able to position myself with 2 climb lines:

take a 1" loop runner, (i argue every climber should go into the tree with at least 2 or 3 on their saddle cause they are so damn useful for holding cut pieces, redirects, etc) and put it around your feet. I keep the 2' and 3' lengths on my saddle all the time, so i just double it up to make an approx 12" loop, next put a half twist in the loop, so it looks like a figure 8, and put a foot into each loop, with the crossover happening between your feet. with proper body position, you can press your feet against the trunk, the loop runner keeping your feet together, and inchworm your way up, when you get good at it you can find the sweet spot for loop length so it will actually cinch onto the wood giving you a secure work position.

you work your way up the leader by hopping your feet up, then flip up your lanyard and then repeat (kinda like spiking). it sure helps for those really awkward spots where you have few other options.

i can post pictures if anyone wants to see what i am describing.

-Steven

of course you can just girth the loop runners around the stem for footholds too, which I always tend to forget...and then feel so proud of myself when I remember

but that's a cool idea Steve! it's more like a foot flip-line. traditionally, we have to use our hands to move the loops, but your style you do it with your feet. can't wait to try it.

do you find it's less effective the more vertical the limb?