Cold and snowy climbing/ working

Neill

Neill

Carpal tunnel level member
Location
Michigan
I feel like this is kind of a dumb question, but having been in the south for the last 15 years has made me pretty unaccustomed to cold weather. Additionally I’ve never really climbed or worked in consistently below freezing temperatures or with snow

Anyone have any tips or suggestions for climbing or working in cold weather that goes beyond the basics of good cold weather gear?
I’m thinking things like, how much different will line setting be on a snowy tree?
Are limb walks even possible?
Does the cold impact wood strength and how do you compensate if yes.
 
A ground worker can help with limb walks where a slip would be injurius/ dangerous by giving a "belay" with the climb line tail by holding it away from the trunk/ towards the tips.


Handwarmer packs activated before the arrival at work.

Broth/ soup/ hot drinks...bring a camping stove.


Many pairs of gloves. The next pair to be worn fits inside your jacket.
 
Heated vest, keep your kidneys and shoulders warm- i also wear medium thick nitrile gloves under the winter weight atlas grippy gloves,or any gloves really. Vapor barrier keeps the hot air on your hands and keeps the insulation from getting wet from sweat
 
Man, it doesn't often get that toigh arpund here, but when it does, I've never been prepared to deal with it and just suffer through. I'm taking notes
 
Neill said:
Anyone have any tips or suggestions for climbing or working in cold weather that goes beyond the basics of good cold weather gear?
Click to expand...
Don't
Neill said:
I’m thinking things like, how much different will line setting be on a snowy tree?
Click to expand...
Miserable
Neill said:
Are limb walks even possible?
Click to expand...
Yes
Neill said:
Does the cold impact wood strength and how do you compensate if yes.
Click to expand...
It does, particularly conifers. The sap freezes and makes the wood prone to "popping" (as in it pops free way before you expect it to). Pine are the worst in my experience.
 
Also, hinge wood on pine in the winter is useless. It's going to go wherever the weight and gravity takes it. So rig everything and don't get too confident thinking you can snipe a tight spot.

For example, last winter I was taking a co-dom white pine down. Had a literal field in front of it. Not big enough area to drop the whole tree, but could comfortably take half. Went up in the bucket and eliminated a bunch of branch weight. The stem had a slight lean sideways which under normal conditions wouldn't have been an issue. Set a pull line nice and high. Set my notch compensating for the lean. Had an excavator pulling. None of that mattered. Got maybe halfway through my back cut when the whole thing "popped" and went completely sideways and landed on the chipper.
 
All of notes above, except white pine can play fine many days but def depends on the freeze (pic is 90 deg siz swing on a pine top). Warm back up after lunch, what was perfectly fine in summer may lead to injury in cold: don't jump down from anything, don't reach in weird positions, any jerking motions can easily make for a zing/strain. Adjust expectations for income and production/day. All of my old injuries flare so keeping up with pt is the only way I can reliably provide. IMG_4896.webp
 
Serf Life said:
All of notes above, except white pine can play fine many days but def depends on the freeze (pic is 90 deg siz swing on a pine top). Warm back up after lunch, what was perfectly fine in summer may lead to injury in cold: don't jump down from anything, don't reach in weird positions, any jerking motions can easily make for a zing/strain. Adjust expectations for income and production/day. All of my old injuries flare so keeping up with pt is the only way I can reliably provide. View attachment 100361
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I think this is what got me yesterday. I gotta adjust my thinking for the cold.
 
Lower your standards for production. Stuff does get more brittle. It's slippery. Everything is slippery. Ropes and hitches freeze, so constant monitoring is needed. I've had to swap hitch cordage through the day before, and have had my zig zag freeze while working. Good gear is important, but being dry is equally important. Lots of layers, as if you get too hot you'll get wet then your day is over. Plan for times to warm up if possible. Good safety glasses so they don't fog and freeze. Start saws and make sure they're running good in the cold before going up. Limb walks are possible, species dependent. Hinge wood varies on species in the cold. Good boots, keep your toes and fingers warm where possible. Other than that, it's like riding a bike.
 
Cut kerfs for grip for feet and rigging. Eucs need kerfs to securely hold ropes from what I've seen.


Extra grip for hands for cut and chuck or positioning if removing that section.

A sling may make a better foothold or handhold.

I cut kerfs into the top of a slippery root that I needed to stand on fire a removal.

'Corks' if off pavement/ forestry style work can help.

Husqvarna makes insulated slip in/ tie-at-the-top 'corks'.
 
Re - hitch, device and rope interactions
What multicender do you feel most confident in during cold weather climbing?

I really just use hitches. I tend to run a shorter setup 24-26”. I’m thinking maybe a longer setup 28-32” could be beneficial, any feedback on that idea?
 
I've written about this before - big thing with my winter climbing is - I always use a nice big flat topped biner on my leg loop (Ceros?) and run the rope thru a Munter before a rope on descent will reach any hitch or mechanical. This is to strip any glop off the rope before it hits my friction device. Dry ropes will help with water logging but not with glop on the rope if it's just the right temp and you've been dragging the rope over branches and re-direct unions etc. I learned the hard way that goopy rope (not just frozen rope) is the chance for a fast trip down (even with an ATC and Shunt). Does it work? At times you may find a nice big pie plate of frost and glop on your leg loop - better the stuff didn't go into your hitch or mechanical and you get a yeee haww ! Stay safe out there. Just my two cents though.
 
southsoundtree said:
Cut kerfs for grip for feet and rigging. Eucs need kerfs to securely hold ropes from what I've seen.


Extra grip for hands for cut and chuck or positioning if removing that section.

A sling may make a better foothold or handhold.

I cut kerfs into the top of a slippery root that I needed to stand on fire a removal.

'Corks' if off pavement/ forestry style work can help.

Husqvarna makes insulated slip in/ tie-at-the-top 'corks'.
Click to expand...
I didn't know that. Slip on corks for the win.
 
Neill said:
Re - hitch, device and rope interactions
What multicender do you feel most confident in during cold weather climbing?

I really just use hitches. I tend to run a shorter setup 24-26”. I’m thinking maybe a longer setup 28-32” could be beneficial, any feedback on that idea?
Click to expand...
Are you srs or Mrs most of the time?

I run 32" 10mm on yale imari (last couple winters). Works fine unless it gets wet.

The heat from the friction of the rope melts snow, so if it's cold enough you get an ice layer on working parts of the rope. It's a pita.

Zigzag works most of the time better than a hitch imo. I can heat the zag/bust the ice loose pretty easy. Still rather unsettling but you get used to it.

I schedule jobs for the weather, which can help. Removals in shitty weather are easier than end weight pruning. Clients know that our schedule is malleable and depending on the weather we'll move things. Pruning can be done easier most of the time in slightly warmer weather. The trees dry off a bit and probably hand dragging most of the debris anyways. Removals for cold weather, ground is hard and I'm in spikes or can hurt the tree to get where I need to.

Staying warm and limber is a big deal. Strains happen easy in the cold.
 
Brando CalPankian said:
I didn't know that. Slip on corks for the win.
Click to expand...
https://www.husqvarna.com/us/boots/...tm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign={campaignid)&utm_term=&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23216895816&gbraid=0AAAAADkbBJ-2vy9_gsIen0CJogySAeH59&gclid=CjwKCAiA86_JBhAIEiwA4i9Ju_We5oRpMmb3EyRMTIwWqazJk3IU_E4T7TEsp1GwIWrAprfREVqTQxoCvHQQAvD_BwE


There are yakstrax (sp?) and similar that slip over boots, then strap on.



Consider snow melt or traction material for slick areas that might have ice.

My groundworker wiped out on ice while in his personal life and got a concussion. F**k falling!!!!
 
I switch back and forth a lot between srs and mrs, whatever the tree and work dictates.

Yeah falling is no good, anytime. I already went down once this year on icy steps, super lucky to come out without injury on that one!
 
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