I hate leaning trees

yz111rider · Jul 30, 2015

I dont know if its just me but i cant stand climbing hard leaning trees

Steve Connally · Jul 30, 2015

Me neither. Did a river birch today with a wicked lean. Never feel like my position is optimal

MikePowers321 · Jul 30, 2015

They can be tough ones. If you cinch your climbing line the right way, it can give you much more balance and security, especially while cutting.

I experience leaners a lot here. There is a lot of competition between trees so they curve all over the place. More so than what I have seen in other parts of the country.

But I don't think it's just you my friend. I'm sure most climbers like a straight central lead for the most part. Leaners can be tough

jdhoward · Jul 30, 2015

Leaners suck. I work with a guy that makes walking up them in spikes look like walking down a sidewalk.

JeffGu · Jul 30, 2015

jdhoward said:
...makes walking up them in spikes look like walking down a sidewalk...

I have a friend, 5'0" tall, that slithers up them on spurs like a squirrel monkey. I'm 5'10" and when I'm standing upright on some of those leaners, bucked in, the stem is still more than an arm's length away. Creeps me out. I feel like I'm going to go over sideways and spin upside down on the thing. With a climbing line and a good TIP it's not nearly as bad, but with just spurs and a lanyard I really hate 'em.

Can't really see in this pic how bad this elm was leaning, but the base was coming out from under the driveway slab at the top of the slope. The loader had cut through all the roots on that side, so the tree was pretty wiggly and most of it was dead. It was badly storm damaged, and had been topped at some point in the past. Lot's of garden targets, shed, etc. so getting it out of there was a pain in the ass, even though it wasn't very big. Bunch of it was right into the utility lines. Nothing in the tree or immediate vicinity to tie a climb line into, so I took it all out on spurs and a lanyard. Only took one afternoon, but when I was done hauling it away I went to the bar. The stress from being nervous about the whole thing collapsing underneath me took a toll on me, I can tell you.

Flex Abednego · Jul 30, 2015

jdhoward said:
Leaners suck. I work with a guy that makes walking up them in spikes look like walking down a sidewalk.

On top or underneath ?

Boomslang · Jul 30, 2015

If it's leaning really hard I'll just sit and shimmy. Not the most graceful thing but at least I know I'm not going to swing into no man's land.

knothead · Jul 31, 2015

Boomslang said:
If it's leaning really hard I'll just sit and shimmy. Not the most graceful thing but at least I know I'm not going to swing into no man's land.

OK. This is what I pictured. Just shoot me now.

Boomslang · Jul 31, 2015

knothead said:
View attachment 32810

OK. This is what I pictured. Just shoot me now.

That's exactly what it looks like :lol:

Jeff · Jul 31, 2015

Leaners suck to climb - something no one will ever understand until they've done it themselves. Spiking up them without a higher TIP is the worst! Just thinking about them gives me butterflies in my stomach.