Heli-Loggers

Hey Chris,

That show is pretty cool. I saw most of the first one. I have heard your name before. Do you work in the seacoast area? I work for Micum.
 
That show is awesome. Especially when the treetoppers tranverse from one to another using that grappel hook. That is sweet.

Derrick Hulsey
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Really like the show, finally some professionals that take safety seriously. I am tired of producers choosing unsafe tree workers that seem more dramatic. Climbing can be very dramatic even when done safely, AND you can do it again.
 
Nope it's not me, but I do know a couple of the guys in a roundabout way. I am glad to see the Canadian attitude towards safety represented. It seems to be a well put together show and maybe a little less dramatized than some of the other reality trade tv shows.
 
Gord, that's what I like about the show too. The PPE shown and used is much better, though I would use safety glasses underneath my faceshield. I like how they top out those big trees with a Stihl MS 200T.

One thing that I noticed, is the climbers wear corks on their boots even when climbing. Don't see that too often, but it makes sense when you have to hike in like they do.

I hope that more people watch this show and that it stays on awhile.
 
agreeed the show is awesome,and they do there best to be safe. cool show very entertaining i wish they would show a better shot of that topping cut maybe its the plunge cut big wood with 020.
 
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That show is awesome. Especially when the treetoppers tranverse from one to another using that grappel hook. That is sweet.

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One thing that I noticed about their traverse procedure was the notch that they cut in the spar tree that they topped out. They place the climb line in the notch as a TIP and then traverse over on the line that they threw with the grappel hook.

I have read that this technique is not an acceptable procedure for traverses due to the fall potentail. Does anyone have any experience using this method?
 
yes , I have used this procedure before and it can be done safely although it is not an approved or acceptable thing. This is because many people have fallen to their death or severe injury using it. The whole trick is how deep you cut your notch and what kind of angle you set up. Alot of people don't cut the notch deep enough and as your rope passes through it the rope rolls out and down you go. If you watched the clip on the show the guys notch is a good 10inches deep.I do not use this any more there are better ways. I prefer an adjustable friction saver it works very well and if you know how to splice you can make one out of any rated cordage and length that fits your needs. The adjustable friction saver is fairly inexpensive especially if you can make your own. There are other ways to attatch a dynamic climbing system to a pole without a croch like the rope guide but they are more expensive and I feel maybe more fragile.
 
So could the Heli-Loggers use an adjustable friction saver or a regular friction saver and still be able to retrieve it after traversing over to the next tree?

With the adjustable friction saver, are you saying that you don't cut a notch in the spar?
 
If it were me I would use a monkey tail. It is easily retrieveable in that situation and simple
 
Mark, would you use the monkey's tail knot in the tail end of your climb line and set it in the notch in the spar, then use a seperate line that has a grapple attached to it to snare the other tree?

Wouldn't there still be a higher chance of having the monkey's tail bind (or worse come loose) while traversing versus using a friction saver wrapped around the spar?
 
Theres some good footage on YouTube posted from one of the young climbers on show.
tried to see the show several times but it was always getting ousted by some other Dnet crap(dont get me wrong, love Discovery net.).
Anyhow do a search of 'Westcoast heli logging' and youll find some vids of these guys.
Cheers.
--G.
 
They are very good on safety too. The only infractions that I can see are using a chainsaw in a tree with only one attachment point (they do use wire core fliplines, but this is not sufficent) and they don't wear proper eye protection.

I guess they think the helmet visor is enough, but its not. Not sure what the regulations for PPE are in BC?

All in all I think its a great show and 100 times better than AxMen. IMO
 
Unless they passed some new reg I am unaware of, the visor is considered eye protection enough in B.C. .
While it doesn't provide the best protection, trust me I know, it is essentially a balancing act...
When wearing shades in cold wet climes,such as these boys and myself, and many of you work regularly, one has to balance the safety of being able to see clearly, it can be very tough to keep the shades from fogging over completely, I have tried all the tricks, seems they are just that, tricks, in the end the shades often get tossed out of sheer frustration.
Hence the screen is our primary PPE for the eyes. Its been a few years since I had a look at the regs so, so please do not quote me on this, and please do correct me If I am wrong. But I know working with safety shades in cool wet humid climes, when you are working up a good head of steam yourself, can be a recipe for disaster if one is not careful.
Best workaround I have found is having a pair of shades in a soft/hard holder that you can then clip to your belt, then you can slip em on, make your cuts, and when they start to fog over, slip them back in the case.
This way your not avoiding making cuts that may spray sawdust in your face, or god forbid closing your eyes as you cut.
Plus every cool climber needs to be seen in shades as they watch the top of the tree sail down to the ground......don't they ?
Safety first,
-Grais.
 
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