Lanyards

[Thomas564]

I just started tree climbing and looking for some lanyards. I’m a lineman so of course I climb poles. Climbing up a tree such as a pine scares me to be honest. When I climb a telephone pole I know if I gaff out or slip the bucksqueeze keeps me from falling. When watching people climb trees they just use a lanyard around the tree that is similar to our secondary. So it scares me because if I gaff out being new to a tree what would keep me from falling? Is there something similar to our bucksqueeze? Mainly ease of nerves, I’ve seen the tree squeeze but maybe there are different options.

 

[Jonny]

Welcome !

Sharp gaffs, trust in your gear, and good technique. Comfort will come with time and experience.
You can use a TreeSqueeze or whatever it’s called if you want, feels like a crutch to me but this ain’t about me.

Can also wrap your lanyard 540 degrees around the spar. It’s slow to advance, and I usually only do it if I’m rigging a top and think I’m gonna get flung around a bit.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Set an access line so that you’re always secured

 

[Reach]

Set a line up high and use it with your lanyard, as Tom says. If that’s not an option, use a TreeSqueeze, or just trust your lanyard to catch you - I’ve never slid more than a few feet down a trunk before my lanyard caught me. That also taught me to sharpen my spurs better and kick in a bit harder.

 

[DSMc]

Having a top line is a good work practice, but it will not help you learn proper spurring technique. Neither will using the Bucksqueeze or Treesqueeze.

A flipline will not allow an uncontrolled slide down the tree if you use it properly. Practice with gloves and a jacket on. Keep both hands on your flipline. Turning your palms up and elbows into the tree will hold your full weight. Practice that until it becomes a reflexive movement.

People that tell stories of horrible gaff outs and slides, invariably drop their flipline and grab bark. Bad move.

 

[oldoakman]

I am assuming that you are using the same hooks you climb poles with which are shorter than tree hooks. Doesn't mean you cant use them, just beware that on thick barked trees such as Loblolly's you have a lot of bark to penetrate. I use pole gaffs and have never really had an issue except within the first 10 feet or so on a Loblolly. Oh, and welcome as well.

 

[Thomas564]

Are you doing work in the tree or are you recreational tree climbing?

A little of both my friend just started a tree service so I told him I’d help him out when I could. So I was going to see about climbing to help him.

 

[rico]

There is only one way to get comfortable and unafraid when climbing in spurs and a flip-line...Hours of climbing in spurs and a flip-line.

The treesqueeze or taking a wrap with your flip-line is just gonna slow you down and keep you from developing proper technique...

 

[Boomslang]

Put a crash pad at the base of a tree as backup, spur up a few feet, purposely kick out. Your lanyard will catch you. It'll hurt, but you'll learn to trust your gear.

 

[Thomas564]

Put a crash pad at the base of a tree as backup, spur up a few feet, purposely kick out. Your lanyard will catch you. It'll hurt, but you'll learn to trust your gear.

I’ll have to try it. When I first started climbing poles we climbed up about 10 ft and purposely gaffed out. The bucksqueeze of course squeezed the pole and kept us from falling.