- Location
- Portland
Hello, first off I’d like to introduce myself. I learned the basics of climbing from my father who has been in the tree industry for 35 years. He learned to climb from old loggers that did spar rigging using very basic techniques. I started with a steel core flip line and a Blake’s hitch for ascending. He was a very good teacher for what he “knows” which is all very old school and I’m proud to say I can always fall back into the basics if I ever need them.
I’ve been climbing for him seriously for about 5 years now. He paid for my certification and made me read Alex shigos “A new tree biology”. I’ve slowly been learning to improve my technique using modern gear which I’m loving because it’s easier on my body. I used to strictly use ddrt but for the past 2 years I’ve been incorporating srt into my jobs and wow it’s amazing how much energy I have left when I get back on the ground.
So today I had to remove a leaning 90 ft redwood tree and everything went fantastic. I just fliplined and cinched my srt line and buzzed my way to the top. Blew the top out and set a felling line and rappelled to the bottom and boom done in an hour.
The next tree was a spur less pruning of a western red cedar that was growing over a house. I decided I was going to set a basal anchor and ascend using my footie and knee ascender. I double checked my system and everything felt good. I got to my work position and set my lowering rope for the ground guys. I was thinking to myself “ Hey, why don’t I safety in and re set my access line around the main trunk so I don’t have to worry about my basal tie as I’m pruning.” I only had about a half dozen limbs to work on and thought “naw I’ll be fine.”
So everything is going smooth and I’m down to the second to last limb and I usually take the tail end of my working line and clip it into the side of my saddle to keep it out of the way when making cuts. I’d been doing that all day with the other removal so I wouldn’t spur my line and for some reason It just didn’t cross my mind at the time. I picked up my saw and went to remove a 12” stub off a cut and all of a sudden I saw a poof of green and white cotton. I was confused at first and was like “ No way did I just do that” I couldn’t believe it I had never cut a line or even gaffed a line before. I looked down to see that 14” below my hitch climber my line was just hanging completely cut through. I didn’t feel a thing, no vibration it was that fast. I think that somehow my saw had picked the tail of my climb line and brought it along hiding it next to the dog near the rear of the bar completely obstructing its view from me.
Luckily I was tied in with my lanyard as I always am when I make cuts. I quickly tied off a stopper knot and called for my ground guy to send up the sewn eye end of the line I had just cut using the lowering rope. I ascended a few feet higher and tied a alpine butterfly and used a steel caribeaner to reconnect my line together. I reset my hitch below my knot and finished making the last cut and came down thinking how bad my pride hurt.
A few things came to mind with the mistakes I made today which I’ve reflected on.
- I will always double check my work line and make sure it’s out of the way even if I “think” it’s in a safe place.
- I will never do another work climb with a basal anchor as I think it’s too much of a distraction and I just feel less safe working while it’s installed.
- Slow down and re-set with a cinch or isolation tie in.
-Never get complacent.
Thanks for listening to me rant as I needed to get that off my chest.
Now, time for a new rope! I was thinking tachyon ash or blue moon I can’t decide.
I’ve been climbing for him seriously for about 5 years now. He paid for my certification and made me read Alex shigos “A new tree biology”. I’ve slowly been learning to improve my technique using modern gear which I’m loving because it’s easier on my body. I used to strictly use ddrt but for the past 2 years I’ve been incorporating srt into my jobs and wow it’s amazing how much energy I have left when I get back on the ground.
So today I had to remove a leaning 90 ft redwood tree and everything went fantastic. I just fliplined and cinched my srt line and buzzed my way to the top. Blew the top out and set a felling line and rappelled to the bottom and boom done in an hour.
The next tree was a spur less pruning of a western red cedar that was growing over a house. I decided I was going to set a basal anchor and ascend using my footie and knee ascender. I double checked my system and everything felt good. I got to my work position and set my lowering rope for the ground guys. I was thinking to myself “ Hey, why don’t I safety in and re set my access line around the main trunk so I don’t have to worry about my basal tie as I’m pruning.” I only had about a half dozen limbs to work on and thought “naw I’ll be fine.”
So everything is going smooth and I’m down to the second to last limb and I usually take the tail end of my working line and clip it into the side of my saddle to keep it out of the way when making cuts. I’d been doing that all day with the other removal so I wouldn’t spur my line and for some reason It just didn’t cross my mind at the time. I picked up my saw and went to remove a 12” stub off a cut and all of a sudden I saw a poof of green and white cotton. I was confused at first and was like “ No way did I just do that” I couldn’t believe it I had never cut a line or even gaffed a line before. I looked down to see that 14” below my hitch climber my line was just hanging completely cut through. I didn’t feel a thing, no vibration it was that fast. I think that somehow my saw had picked the tail of my climb line and brought it along hiding it next to the dog near the rear of the bar completely obstructing its view from me.
Luckily I was tied in with my lanyard as I always am when I make cuts. I quickly tied off a stopper knot and called for my ground guy to send up the sewn eye end of the line I had just cut using the lowering rope. I ascended a few feet higher and tied a alpine butterfly and used a steel caribeaner to reconnect my line together. I reset my hitch below my knot and finished making the last cut and came down thinking how bad my pride hurt.
A few things came to mind with the mistakes I made today which I’ve reflected on.
- I will always double check my work line and make sure it’s out of the way even if I “think” it’s in a safe place.
- I will never do another work climb with a basal anchor as I think it’s too much of a distraction and I just feel less safe working while it’s installed.
- Slow down and re-set with a cinch or isolation tie in.
-Never get complacent.
Thanks for listening to me rant as I needed to get that off my chest.
Now, time for a new rope! I was thinking tachyon ash or blue moon I can’t decide.
