Deep and dark...

Treetopflyer · Jul 29, 2015

macswan said:
I

nspection is always a weak point for me.

I have really been working on lanyarding in to something meaningful, before making cuts since I started this thread. I think I may be breaking my habit.

I've learned to love it. If I'm not climbing with two lines I try to tie in twice immediately for as long as I can until its time move. I just like one handing snaps and biners.

ARLO · Jul 30, 2015

Hanging your lanyard on your Caritool, then forgetting to switch it over to your D-ring when you flip the end around the trunk, clip in and lean back.
When I finally noticed it my throat got real dry because I realized that I could have easily died that day. After that I resolved to never again hang my lanyard from my Caritool.

Boomslang · Jul 30, 2015

TimBr said:
Unless guys start to find out that they can't hear their nagging wives as well, which might cause men all over the country to stop wearing hearing protection.

I tried this.....didn't go so well. She started by nagging louder and then got pissed off because she thought I was ignoring her. Wear your ear pro guys.....happy wife happy life and all.

Crimsonking · Jul 30, 2015

More and more I like the idea of binoculars (or drones, then you can inspect the fork right before you drop your line through it). I've had a few canopy anchors that weren't cinched by over a foot, and other TIPs that got my lanyard out quick as mentioned earlier. My favorite was a silver maple I ascended to find my anchor cinched around a 3" dead branch. The fork looked great from the ground.

Then there was the basal anchor that caught another branch I couldn't see, causing a 6' drop on my ascent. It waited till I was just over the roof.

As far as other bad habits, getting lax about making calls before handsaw cuts and letting the chainsaw speak for itself. There really is no reason not to call. Man, Mac, this is tough. Thanks, though.

One question, how far do you guys push your hitch cords before retirement?

Crimsonking · Jul 30, 2015

To clarify, I'm actually a little picky sbout cordage wear. At least I think I am, which is why I ask.

Gorman · Jul 30, 2015

Started using the figure 8 with a follow through for basal tie-ins. Had to stop using the bowline with a Yosemite. Had a stoke of bad luck the other day with a driveway and got nervous about it carrying through to my climbing game.

RajElectric · Jul 30, 2015

I usually replace my webbing bridge on my cougar once a year, not the 6 months they recommend......

MikePowers321 · Jul 30, 2015

Gorman said:
Started using the figure 8 with a follow through for basal tie-ins. Had to stop using the bowline with a Yosemite. Had a stoke of bad luck the other day with a driveway and got nervous about it carrying through to my climbing game.

Gorman, can you explain a little better? What happened with the bowline?

Gorman · Jul 30, 2015

MikePowers321 said:
Gorman, can you explain a little better? What happened with the bowline?

Oh nothing, yet... I needed a safer knot for life support. Why not use a safer knot if it's just as easy to tie?

macswan · Jul 30, 2015

Crimsonking said:
More and more I like the idea of binoculars (or drones, then you can inspect the fork right before you drop your line through it). I've had a few canopy anchors that weren't cinched by over a foot, and other TIPs that got my lanyard out quick as mentioned earlier. My favorite was a silver maple I ascended to find my anchor cinched around a 3" dead branch. The fork looked great from the ground.

Then there was the basal anchor that caught another branch I couldn't see, causing a 6' drop on my ascent. It waited till I was just over the roof.

As far as other bad habits, getting lax about making calls before handsaw cuts and letting the chainsaw speak for itself. There really is no reason not to call. Man, Mac, this is tough. Thanks, though.

One question, how far do you guys push your hitch cords before retirement?

I keep a pair of binoculars in my gear bag, and they come out whenever there is a question. Great tool to have on hand

JontreeHI · Jul 30, 2015

Me too, although I think I need better binos

Flex Abednego · Jul 30, 2015

Fished salmon for a guy in AK a few years ago who couldn't hear his first wife's voice from hearing damage (engine rooms are LOUD) she left. He can hear men's voices but not women's if they were high pitched. Spent $3g on hearing aids for wife # 2.
Hearing loss is never recovered and only gets worse. I'm only 36 and already have to work out what people are saying by quickly piecing together the words that I do hear way to often

ARLO · Jul 30, 2015

Binoculars are absolutely required for rigging big trees where it is often difficult to see where the Spectra line is laying when you make the initial shot. In addition, it is not uncommon for the rope to roll down a sloper as you pull it up with the haul cord. So what looks like a good rigging point when you make the initial shot turns to crap as you pull up the rope. The only way to see this is with binoculars. I always check several times with the binoculars before I decide to climb.

And the playing dumb part regarding hearing loss does not work with my old lady. She just rolls her eyes and quits talking to me for the next several hours.

moss · Jul 30, 2015

I have a problem where limbs that I'm going to remove look much smaller from the ground and high limbs/branches that I'm going to hang a basal anchored line over look bigger from the ground. Too many times I get up there and think "sh*t that's a lot smaller diameter than I thought!".
-AJ

Treezybreez · Jul 30, 2015

ARLO said:
Not wearing my ear protection. As a result I am beginning to miss out on the high frequencies. Can't hear the cidadas anymore.

Unfortunately I have worn top of the line peltor muffs religiously from the beginning and still have hearing loss in my right ear. I usually switch to my left ear while talking on the phone. I am considering wearing plugs and muffs together.

Jeff · Jul 30, 2015

ARLO said:
and quits talking to me for the next several hours.

So in other words, your plan worked? You're a genius!

Flex Abednego · Jul 30, 2015

Twice since I started srt I've become distracted setting up and adjusting ascenders etc only to realize 30+ feet up I'm not attached at the harness. No Bueno! Gave me the shakes hanging on while I wrestled to attach, which because I run a short bridge was fairly difficult.

Phew! That feels good to get off my chest