How to tell when it's too dead

[classictruckman]

Not trying to start a argument here, but I've been anti-pull test for most of my career.

When I was talking about breaking roots I was talking about the roots on the side you're pulling to, roots break easier being sheared off rather than pull-breaking. Think about an uprooted tree the roots on the side it fell to are usually sheared off whereas the roots on the other side are pulled and lifted, not broken.

 

[JeffGu]

True, indeed.. but that's still a noisy operation. I had the pleasure of sitting in a vehicle talking on a ham radio to some friends a few years back, when an ash tree went over about 25 feet away from me. It was storming pretty bad and the winds were gusting to about 50mph, rocking the truck alot. The noise when that thing went over was horrendous, most of it from the root shear and ground upheaval... it was a couple of seconds before the noise from the branches breaking drowned out the wind and everything else.

I'm not advocating the technique for anyone. I'm merely saying how I do it around here, where bulldozing 100 trees in an afternoon to plant a lousy 1/2 acre more corn is the reality. It's quick and dirty and I only have to do it once in a great while. Sorry if I gave the impression that I'm trying to yank the tree out of the ground... I actually just try to wiggle it a little and listen for cracking, crunchy noises and keep my hand on the trunk to feel anything that doesn't seem right. It's amazing how good humans are at that. Even stresses higher up can be felt.

I do have a habit of exaggerating the comical nature of things. Or so I've been told.

 

[TimBr]

Thanks. I call that one the grace of God. I was trying to figure out how to make it work, but my gut was churning.

There's an interesting book called "The Gift of Fear" or something close to that. It contains all of these stories of people who survived bad circumstances because they listened to their guts and acted, not even knowing why they were doing what they needed to be doing in order to survive.

I think the credit lays with you.

Tim

 

[Magnum783]

Well it went just fine. Thanks for the advice guys it actually was strong enough to do some light rigging.

 

[classictruckman]

Alive or dead sapwood rot is a huge sign, don't climb above it!

 

[treevet]

I have climbed no truck access, at least 3 year dead 100' tall white ash and removed them 2 times in just the last week. Everyone on this thread would shit their pants were they to have to go up them. It has gotten to that time in the sequence of ash borer that these trees are everywhere. But it is nothing new to me prior to eab.

You need to have a LOT of experience to delicately dismantle these trees to keep shock to a minimum as well as initial tree balance somewhat in tact. Haters can say what they will but I am just way better at removals than all of you namby pambies..... and to dismantle these old trees needs a climber with many years that can feel the movements of the tree during the process and have a plan and techniques to accomplish this.

 

[CutHighnLetFly]

so do you think I'm being a pussy not climbing a dead white pine thats been dead 2 years or am i being smart in thinking thats outside my ability/comfort zone?

and look out ol' man, i WILL be as good as you one day

 

[Leroy]

I have climbed no truck access, at least 3 year dead 100' tall white ash and removed them 2 times in just the last week. Everyone on this thread would shit their pants were they to have to go up them. It has gotten to that time in the sequence of ash borer that these trees are everywhere. But it is nothing new to me prior to eab.

You need to have a LOT of experience to delicately dismantle these trees to keep shock to a minimum as well as initial tree balance somewhat in tact. Haters can say what they will but I am just way better at removals than all of you namby pambies..... and to dismantle these old trees needs a climber with many years that can feel the movements of the tree during the process and have a plan and techniques to accomplish this.

Didn't your drinking counselor challenge you to be nice on TB for awhile? Is that time up or are you having a relapse?

 

[treevet]

No...you are right...you guys shouldn't climb them if you are not up to it. Plus you need to be the quality of climber that rates having a great ground man and is up to retaining him...anybody less on the ropes and THEY can kill you.

Off to work.

 

[treevet]

Didn't your drinking counselor challenge you to be nice on TB for awhile? Is that time up or are you having a relapse?

The truth hurts son. It gets to be a "hey we are all at the same level on here" atmosphere on tree forums. When in reality some of you are "garage rock band singers" while I am a tree removal rock star...just sayin. Nothing you type can change that.

 

[Leroy]

No...you are right...you guys shouldn't climb them if you are not up to it. Plus you need to be the quality of climber that rates having a great ground man and is up to retaining him...anybody less on the ropes and THEY can kill you.

Off to work.

I thought you went to work at 5am, is the gout acting up today?

 

[treevet]

PS...you fat turds gotta stay outta these type of trees

 

[treevet]

I thought you went to work at 5am, is the gout acting up today?

What's gout? and today is Sat...we start at 9 and I am late.

 

[CutHighnLetFly]

treevet, you the man.


sometimes.

 

[Leroy]

The truth hurts son. It gets to be a "hey we are all at the same level on here" atmosphere on tree forums. When in reality some of you are "garage rock band singers" while I am a tree removal rock star...just sayin. Nothing you type can change that.

Could say the same to you "dad", wait "grandpa" is more accurate. You type a lot. I saw your stump grinding videos, pretty neat stuff. I also saw one of you swinging around in a tree saying "well this hear is a big ol tree, I just can't believe how big this tree is!"

 

[Leroy]

PS...you fat turds gotta stay outta these type of trees

I agree with that. NO FATTIES

 

[MikePowers321]

I have climbed no truck access, at least 3 year dead 100' tall white ash and removed them 2 times in just the last week. Everyone on this thread would shit their pants were they to have to go up them. It has gotten to that time in the sequence of ash borer that these trees are everywhere. But it is nothing new to me prior to eab.

You need to have a LOT of experience to delicately dismantle these trees to keep shock to a minimum as well as initial tree balance somewhat in tact. Haters can say what they will but I am just way better at removals than all of you namby pambies..... and to dismantle these old trees needs a climber with many years that can feel the movements of the tree during the process and have a plan and techniques to accomplish this.

I'm glad you were given the Throne of Tree God. You must deserve it

 

[JeffGu]

Man, poor Lil' Tarzan is going to be brokenhearted to learn that he isn't the world's greatest tree guy. I think I'll send him a card, or something.

 

[sherwood7]

Dead trees r not always dangerous to climb. Post pre climb inspection.It all depends on where the tree is and how u can move through it. Can u bomb it out, do u have to rig it, does it have a wide spread( will u be moving long distances laterally and putting a lot of force on a dead tip?) or can u stay mostly vertical? Def trust ur gut feeling. If u aren't comfortable doing something, it doesn't always mean it can't be done. But people sometimes just do some dumb shit because they think they can. Experience should also teach u. These days many times I'll bring in a big ass crane for shit I would have climbed when I had less experience. I've been climbing for 16 years, so I know a little, but sure as shit not everything.

 

[Steve Connally]

I don't have a ton of experience with stone dead stuff. I don't have to and I don't mind walking away. It's my choice. There's always somebody that'll do it. I can't tell treevet, are you really being a dick or just joking? Never really seen this response from you before.