Climbing pine with spurs?

[Mike Islander]

We have a huge pine I need to climb. It's on a fence line and surrounded by trees. Almost impossible to to get a rope into.

I need to climb it to remove a light that my asshole neighbor put up before moving. Yes, he put it in my tree...good riddance.

For one short climb, will spurs cause significant damage? I don't actually own any but am thinking of getting pole spurs.

 

[zlarborprotc]

I’m short, yes. Any wound of that nature can negatively effect a trees health in a variety of ways. Creating multiple wounds of that nature, only increase the probability. If you care about the tree, spend the time trying to set a line. I haven’t encountered a tree yet, that without some effort, you can’t set a line in from the ground, and that’s in a production setting. If this is at your house, you have all the time in the world.

Could you use a tall ladder, choke the trunk with friction saver or running bowline, and advance from there?

 

[Barc Buster]

I wouldn’t spur the tree if I cared about it. You just have to get to the bottom few branches and it’s usually pretty easy to advance your system from there. If the neighbor got the light up in the tree without spurs, you should be able to get up there and remove it similarly. If you don’t have a tall enough ladder you can rent one.

 

[cerviarborist]

Just smile and think of how "leveled-up" your throwline skills will be after you figure this out! If you're having difficulty throwing to the height you need, you can experiment with different throwlines and different sized weights

 

[Mike Islander]

I wouldn’t spur the tree if I cared about it. You just have to get to the bottom few branches and it’s usually pretty easy to advance your system from there. If the neighbor got the light up in the tree without spurs, you should be able to get up there and remove it similarly. If you don’t have a tall enough ladder you can rent one.

My bottom branch is about 70 feet up.

But based on the answers here, I'll try and find a path through the brush or climb a nearby tree and shoot a line over with my air cannon. It's just a huge jungle in my back yard.

 

[Barc Buster]

My bottom branch is about 70 feet up.

But based on the answers here, I'll try and find a path through the brush or climb a nearby tree and shoot a line over with my air cannon. It's just a huge jungle in my back yard.

Well I guess if it’s that bad I’d take it as a personal challenge to be at least as smart as your neighbor was in getting the light up there in the first place

 

[Mike Islander]

Well I guess if it’s that bad I’d take it as a personal challenge to be at least as smart as your neighbor was in getting the light up there in the first place

He paid good money for a picker and an electrician. Did it while I was out of town. Didn't want a fight with a neighbor, but the dickhead moved out last week. Happy day!

I think something like this will work just fine if I can't get a line in the tree. And I've been wanting to try something like this anyway.

Thoughts?

 

[Jehinten]

How high is the light? Would removing the light damage the tree more than disconnecting the power and leaving it in place?

 

[Dan Cobb]

You have confirmed the power to the light is off, right? Seems like having that sort of light on a photocell with the power always on would be a common arrangement. Not that you couldn't work it hot, just something to be aware of.

 

[Mike Islander]

You have confirmed the power to the light is off, right? Seems like having that sort of light on a photocell with the power always on would be a common arrangement. Not that you couldn't work it hot, just something to be aware of.

Yes, I've got many years as an electrician in my checkered past. No problem working it hot, but I'll actually disconnect/isolate it at the base first.

Here is what I'm working with as far as getting a line in. It's a loblolly that is about 100' tall.

 

[Stumpsprouts]

Wow look at those wide open unions! I wish all conifers would have such clear tie in points. Great throwline practice! You can do it!

 

[Mike Islander]

Wow look at those wide open unions! I wish all conifers would have such clear tie in points. Great throwline practice! You can do it!

As you may have guessed, I am a total rookie, purely recreational climber about to do a tiny bit of "tree work". But I sure appreciate everyone's support. I'm sure you pros have all been there and done that. No time like the present to learn something new. I will do my best and report back.

 

[Dan Cobb]

I'd either double bag it or tie another throwline to the weight after it initially (hopefully) comes to the ground to reduce the chances of getting things stuck. Keeping both ends of the throwline on the ground after the initial shot can prevent problems, especially with loblollies surrounded by a bunch of other trees.

 

[AP1017]

 

[Mike Islander]

View attachment 84578

 

[Barc Buster]

He paid good money for a picker and an electrician. Did it while I was out of town. Didn't want a fight with a neighbor, but the dickhead moved out last week. Happy day!

I think something like this will work just fine if I can't get a line in the tree. And I've been wanting to try something like this anyway.

Thoughts?

Sure you can make something like that work safely. Hard to say from a picture but with an air cannon you should be able to get a throw line up in there. The most important thing is to be safe and stay within your comfort level.

 

[Mick Dempsey]

Just get some spikes and a flip line and run up there and get it.
You can have it done in minutes.

Tree will be fine.

 

[Bart_]

If your throw lining gets foiled, you could do like the hunting guy gizmo but with two cinching SRT systems and two pantins or whatever, one per leg. One SRT, a regular long line, other short. Stand on one while you reach up the 2nd higher up the trunk. Step up, hang/stand on the higher system, raise the lower system. Stand/hang on the lower system while you raise the higher system. Wash rinse repeat. Probably more comfortable with a lanyard. Maybe not (?) Switch the long system to DRT come time to descend so you can get your rope back. Two benefits 1 you'll realize how painful slow and awkward a bulletproof method with tons of equipment is 2 you'll get a true understanding why throw lines and SRT can be so good to use.

 

[southsoundtree]

I see years old spur wounds in doug-firs from far away.

Can't say how much impact it will have.

Doesn't abruptly kill the tree; certainly, the wounding isn't helping it.

 

[Dan Cobb]

Just SRT up the wiring going to the light and use a lanyard for a safety.

More seriously, along the lines of what @Bart_ mentioned, there are several ways to inch your way up a spar. I've used:

Two webbing or rope loops girth hitched around the trunk. Clip the upper one into your saddle, use the lower one for a foot loop. Stand in the lower one, move the upper one up as far as you can. Sit. Repeat. Sucks on rough pine bark.

Use 2 etriers that you can attach to the trunk with choked or girth hitched ropes/slings. Attach 1st etrier. Climb up to top of etrier using a lanyard to keep you upright. Reach up and place 2nd etrier as high as you can reach. Shift feet over to 2nd etrier. Take 1st etrier off the trunk. Repeat.

Use 2 ropes, foot ascender, knee ascender and lanyard. Choke 1st rope to tree as high as possible. Climb up as high as possible and place 2nd rope on the spar as high as possible. Move ascenders over to 2nd rope. Take 1st rope off. Keep repeating.

None of those methods are good, but if the distance between the reach of your extension ladder and the light isn't much, they could be less headache than throwline.