Ironic

hl_tree

hl_tree

Location
New Fairfield, CT
I had gone to visit a fellow climber at one of his jobs about 2 weeks ago. I didn't stay for too long, maybe an hour tops. The part of the job that I stayed to watch was the removal of a roughly 75 foot tall hemlock located at a small residence. I had brought my throw line, Big Shot, and throw ball with me. I could have EASILY set a belay line for him. I title this thread "ironic" because the guy wears a helmet when he climbs, yet to ascend this tree on gaffs all the way to his TIP he did not use his lanyard or climbing line once. Just hugged the tree all the way up.
 
You didn't say if you offered to set the line for him, just that you could have. If you offered, and he refused, you could have forced the issue as if you were looking to practice your shot, not out-do his methods. Then, when you nail your shot on the first try, he'd see how easy it is. Then he'd change his ways, I'm sure....yeah right. :)

-Sean
 
</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
I am pretty sure that I did offer to set a belay line for him.

[/ QUOTE ] Geez, Matt. Why do you waste our time with this tripe? Just what are you trying to communicate with your thread? That you are smarter/ safer/ better than this guy? OK, sure. You can be that. Even if you lied about offering to set a line for the guy.

Why not spend the time showing your 'friend' some of the stuff you've learned instead of coming on here and telling us how unsafe he is? I know lots of climbers who are not as safe as I am, but I show them lots of tips and don't beat them up on the forums. Grow up.
 
Matt,

Although it may be unsafe, that is the way some of the old school climbers have enter most of their trees.It's fast and effeciant to them . As long as they have a good grip on the bark , tree, what ever, they are off and running .

Their argument is, they can be up the tree and have a line set before you even get off the ground. True in many cases, but just ask how many of those ol boys or yung ones have taken a fall...hmmm

Keep up the good work and keep trying to educate them. Not all hope is lost.

Thanks

Greg
 
"Geez, Matt. Why do you waste our time with this tripe? Just what are you trying to communicate with your thread? That you are smarter/ safer/ better than this guy? OK, sure. You can be that. Even if you lied about offering to set a line for the guy."



woah, someone got out on the wrong side of the bed today.

love
nick
 
That IS ironic....

Now that you mention it...the original story relates to what happened to me today a little bit. A lady called the boss last night to tell him she had a limb break off of a Silver Maple in a storm a few days ago. She said it wasn't super bad, but she'd like it (the limb) removed.
So this morning, we get to the job: Me, Veton (the climber in training), Randy (hard worker and the world's best lions-tailer on medium sized tres...the boss really likes the way he trims trees.), and Gary (guy who slowly drags brush and is good at stump grinding). We go to the back yard to look at it. It wasn't bad, maybe a 20' long limb that was maybe 6" in diameter about 15' up. The tips were on the ground and the butt-end was torn, but still attached to the tree (it was a tree that was topped many years back). So we hop back there, take a quick look, and Veton and I head back to the truck to get a saw, lowering line, and climbing equipment. Gary, Randy, boss, and homeowners stay in the back yard. Moments later, Veton and I return to the back yard to see that Gary and Randy had moved a plastic table up to the tree. Randy had one foot on the table and the other on Gary's shoulder. The boss and clients are watching approvingly. I look at the boss and he's like, "Yeah, you won't be needing all that stuff for a job like this." In less than a second my mood went from "gosh, it's a nice day to be doing tree work" to "WTF am I doing here" RAGING MAD. I calmly put my stuff in the back of the truck, dragged and chipped the brush, moved on to the next few jobs. Veton worked with me all day and he could tell something was up.

I just talked to Kurt (boss) on the phone and told him I'm done. He wasn't paying me that much, and most of his workers are dangerous to work with. I told him if he needs me in the future, it will cost him double per hour. I hope I never hear from him again.

I guess there's a right way to do things and there's a wrong way, too. However, Randy got the job done without harm to anyone. So is his way wrong? The boss says not. The customers, while he was cutting, commented, "That branch ain't so big, but this is something to leave to the professionals." Veton and I looked at eachother and shook our heads.

Ahhhh, thanks for letting me vent. Maybe we should talk more about cameras, film, and overexposure.

love
nick
 
Re: That IS ironic....

Sounds like you out grew the relationship with your boss. All I can offer is don't look back - just look forward.

Question?? Why not just let one of the other guys get the limb with a polesaw or power pruner??

Climbing just for the sake of climbing? Great for a saturday in the woods or in the park, but not on the job site.
 
Re: That IS ironic....

I guess I left out a few essential details. The limb was heavy enough and due to the lights under the tree, a rope was tied to it and it was lowered down. I wasn't planning on "climbing for the sake of climbing." It seemed to me the safest, and proper way to do it.

love
nick
 
Re: That IS ironic....

some evergreens you can throw yourself out of and still get hung up . A big shot for a Hemlock is silly , so is bagging on a guy for free climbing a "Hemlock". Three point contact and a "little bit" of arm strength .
 
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