How is a Tree Climber Wired?

Years ago I hired a fellow who did treework for hsi day job and music the rest of the time. A great matchup for both of us. After moving to Austin he worked for Bartlett for a while then hooked up with Guy LeBlanc, Texasmothball @ TB. Kinda funny how things are tied together.

The first lines of Colin Leyden's second CD are:

Sumthin, thing happened when we fell out of the trees,
Took a look around and we straightened our knees.
Found a future in an oversized head,
Ambitious monkeys who bury their dead.

-Miracle of Mine
***Colin Leyden
 
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At least that is how it was when I was climbing as a kid. My mother likes to tell the story about when I was a little over a year old and my crib was next to a tall bureau in my nursery, I would climb out of my crib and open up the drawers so I could get in them and climb to the top of the bureau and sleep there instead. It used to scare her so badly to find me up there, that my dad finally starting putting a fishing net over the top of the crib to keep me in at nights. I got back at them my mom says, because I would end up crying myself to sleep while keeping them awake!

I was obviously wired differently than some kids.

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That is freaking hilarious! The mental image I drew as I read those words are scary. Sounds like the ole man should just invested in some ppe for you.


Gord "In person, I don't at all come across as a "crazy" person, yet I hear it all the time on the job. I'm not crazy, I'm confident in my knowledge and ability. And when you're in that position you get to push the boundaries, that's when it gets fun."

I've taken on some extreme challenges in my life and always prepared for the physical strain. And in 9 times out of 10 it was the mental strain that proved to be the challenge. Climbing trees is for sure for me more mental strain then physical. Physically it relaxes me, mentally it exhausts me. How's that for wiring?
 
I always liked storm work because of the many challenges it created. I don't know if it is wiring or not, but I like the challenge of trying to figure out how to take apart the "tree puzzle," then seeing if I have the stones to work the plan.
 
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I think every tree climber today, was the kid who loved to climb the tallest tree that they could find when they were younger. Sometimes they would do it alone, sometimes with their friends. Usually the ones that were wired to be future tree workers would feel a thrill as they were climbing to reach that high perch, while their buddy was below them complaining about how high and dangerous it was to be up this tree.


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That wasn't me. I was the kid who was the first one to jump off the cliff into the river...

Guess that means I go my wires crossed somewhere along the way?
rolleyes4.gif
 
Wow, great topic. I am definetly more cautious. If I don't have to rig it, and can drop it, I drop it. Probably due to not having had a good enough groundie to keep me from taking the ride. Ride doesn't bother me, it's the nagging in the back of my brain that says" this things gonna snap off under you, and down you come " No particular reason, probably just need time. I was working on a big Walnut today,a dn property manager happen to stop by and watch me rig a section out and take a SMALL ride. He said " MAN YOU HAVE A F*&%(N HUGE SET ON YOU!!!" Makes you feel good, then I get 60' up on a skinny limb thats moving all over, and I'll get uncomfortable?? Who knows about wiring. I think it is more knowledge and training in this job, the more you do it, the easier, better it gets. Not bragging with the following, just a point:
First time in Iraq i was in combat I distinctly remember how calm I was, how " the training took over", I found a target,and shot, then to the next and so on. I hated the saying it's the training that takes over, but it really is, same in tree work, learn, then do. Or do and lear, either way you will get better, unless your a complete moron, LOL I'm NOT an expert, just another newer guy learing myself.
 
My mum has pictures of me swinging on ropes from trees as a little kid, and my favourite place to hang out was up in the treefort,so there is some credence to the 'wired' theory! I always knew I'd be happiest working outdoors at whatever that might have brought, first landscaping, now tree work, its VERY satisfying.
Sometimes when I've just gotten up in the tree and looking at a tricky route out to a branch way out on the tips I think, oh boy, why do I do this...then, when all is done and the job's over its a blast to replay it in my mind and realize how I managed it all, it keeps me going back for more.
I'm not the fastest monkey in the tree, I tend more towards caution, but bidding my own work gives me the freedom to do it in my time. Yes you lose some jobs, but hey, I's MY butt up there not theirs!
 
Bermie, I totally agree with the last part of your statement. This is the reason I don't understand people complaining about price gouging on big storm work, but I guess that would probably be for another thread.
 
Awesome thread. I like what everyone has said. What Rick says rings especially true. Since I've been here I can see how different we all are but at some place there is a common thread. This thread does connect us. This does not mean we all approach jobs the same way. Apparent 'crazy' stuff might just be a skill level taht we have not attained yet - but may. And it won't seem crazy when we do it.
I am a cautious person. But to be a cautious person is not to be a fearful person.
Fearful people DON'T get out there and do stuff because they fear they may be judged by the more skilled people who are certainly watching - and not all skilled people are helpful, although the really good ones are. The fearful people do not move past their existing skill and comfort level becasue they do not want to be judged and reveal they are not yet 'all that'.
I am not a beer commercial person. I am not an adrenaline junkie. I am a cautious person.
But I bet we all here, when we have pushed ourselves a little beyond our current comfort level on a job feel alive and enriched.
 
On the topic of "fear".

Sketchy Acer rubrum removal yesterday. Had the luxury of having a couple weeks ahead of time to work out the plan in my head. All went well.

Halfway up, "that thought", or you might call it "fear" struck out of nowhere. When that happens, here is my mental conversation:

Slow down. Give your full attention to each step. Pay attention to what the "fear" feels like so that when you're down on the ground, the tree is done, and you start thinking you're a bad arse, you can bring that feeling back to the surface.

Remembering the "fear" and mulling it over after the fact has two benefits to me:

1)Reminds me of my limits, i.e. humility
2)Helps me prepare myself for the next time "that feeling" creeps up again so that I'm ready for it and can push through.

Just a little window into a young climbers' psyche. Hope it's helpful.
 
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