How to be an Excellent Climber---from the Groundie

IMHO, the climber is responsible for everyone knowing what's going on. A groundie can work for several different climbers which each does things differently.
I don't believe there is such a thing as a bad groundie. That would imply that they where a groundie meaning they knew what their job is and how to do it. The complaints I read by climbers in this thread and other threads where about groundie not knowing how to tie/untie knots, know their communication etc. I feel like it is the climbers job to make sure the person on the ground knows how to tie/untie the knot(s) the climber plans on using. It's the climbers job to fill in the groundie how he plans on dismantling this tree and his route so the ground worker can set up the lz according.
As I said no such thing as a bad groundie. If you have a person that can't learn the knots, the rigging, and/or the communications they do not belong on the job. Send them home. If you can't seem to put a crew together to work with you it's time to point the finger at yourself because it's your fault. You wouldn't expect someone walking off the street to run your lz. How do you put someone like wise in that position. I question a climber that would continue to work while the person on the ground is incompetent in the task at hand.
This thread proved why a thread like this even needs to even exist. The OPS purpose was to get feedback from groundies to improve the climber and yet some climbers felt the need to complain about groundies. SMH and the climbers wonder why nobody is listening to them.
 
You make a good point but, when you're not able to pick your ground crew then you must make due with who you've got. As a climber I've adjusted to take into account the level of skills and ability to grasp the concepts given, eg., knots, call and response, etc...

It is part of the climber's job to teach these skills and work with the crew as it exists. If the climber is also the person who makes the hiring/firing decisions then yes, they you're point is valid.

I've had all kinds of groundies and started as a groundie.
 
treehumper said:
You make a good point but, when you're not able to pick your ground crew then you must make due with who you've got. As a climber I've adjusted to take into account the level of skills and ability to grasp the concepts given, eg., knots, call and response, etc...

It is part of the climber's job to teach these skills and work with the crew as it exists. If the climber is also the person who makes the hiring/firing decisions then yes, they you're point is valid.
I've had all kinds of groundies and started as a groundie.
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Very good point. Although you where "stuck" with the groundie you said you taught him what is expected of him. Or at least that's what I got from it.
Being the person that's dropping material from over head be it a climber dismantling a tree, pipe fitter, roofer, or whatever your doing its your responsibility to make sure it doesn't damage equipment or hurt someone before you let it go. If who ever on the ground doesn't have the competence to take care of that situation a good climber will/should shut the project down until it can be done safely. In the long run the owner will be glad you made the choice to wait.
I understand that is a two sided sword. I lost a job because I stopped work because I felt it was unsafe.
 
With some groundies they learned and grew into the job whereas others just didn't get it. As a contract climber, I often had to just work with the crew I had and adapt to suit there level of skill and learning aptitude. If there was ever an issue of outright safety then I'd shut it down.
 
treehumper said:
With some groundies they learned and grew into the job whereas others just didn't get it. As a contract climber, I often had to just work with the crew I had and adapt to suit there level of skill and learning aptitude. If there was ever an issue of outright safety then I'd shut it down.
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4-roger I hear ya loud and clear. That's what leading and getting the job is all about. The leader most times isn't the person out front.
Guys this forum is awesome. I've e already put several tools on my rack I picked up from yall. A damn good group of climbers has already stood out to me. It's nuts yall come to the same place and lend a knowledgeable hand on this and that and still LISTEN to the man on the ground.
 
One of the main reasons I got into tree work is that it is real teamwork unlike the BS in the corporate world that's being passed off as such, until something goes wrong then you're on your own.
 
treehumper said:
One of the main reasons I got into tree work is that it is real teamwork unlike the BS in the corporate world that's being passed off as such, until something goes wrong then you're on your own.
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There's a word I like. Team work. Funny there's no I in it word. My crew at the elevator I call a brotherhood. Our business and safety meetings I call family meetings. Guys that can't come to terms with that doesn't last long.
 
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