Large Tree Pruning: A perspective

[bonner1040]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxncJS6CEPA

A perspective of what goes into the pruning of a large mature tree. Using timelapse we follow a climber through the pruning of a somewhat large maple. This pruning was performed during the winter, hence the lack of foliage.

Prior to this, a large cherry tree behind it had two large branches fall into the canopy of the maple. That cherry tree had to been removed the day before using a crane and there were broken and hanging limbs that needed to be removed.

 

[Adkpk]

That looked good from here. Thanks for posting.

 

[bonner1040]

Thanks!

 

[oceans]

Cool video, Nick. Looks like you used a pan effect when editing the TLC. That seems like a great way to take a single perspective and create a bit more of a normal camera-man feel.

That Maple seemed like a fun climb. Were you able to stand on former branch collars on those skinny upright leaders without laterals, or did you stand in the tail of the line?

 

[islandarb]

Nice vid Nick.....

 

[JesseHuffman]

What a wonderful pruning video. I liked the pan effect. Nice limbwalks, cool music, great effects. Yep, thats a good one right there.

 

[bonner1040]

Thanks for all the positive feedback everyone..

Eric, on some of those tall skinny ones it was a combination of small former branch collars, body tension and leaning on my lanyard. Towards the end where it looks kind of like I am going up a skinny branch it was actually a limbwalk towards the camera on a downward sloping limb. The last limbwalk to the left, while it looks like I step on a horizontally favoring lateral, it as actually a lateral off the limb going down!

The angle of the camera plays certain tricks thats for sure.

 

[bonner1040]

You can tie the tail of your line to a vertical limb where there might not be a foot hold. Then any knot forming a loop becomes a footloop. You can make it as simple or complicated as you like, but a running bowline to the limb with a big overhand on a bite where you want the footloop will suffice. For that matter you can RB the line to the limb then stand on it with your Pantin as well.

Basically a minimalist version of using a loop runner.

 

[oceans]

It's a derail, but I often leave my foot ascender in the gear bag now. I used to wear it every day, but now it's only when I have a long ascent. I'll either footlock the tail, or use the single footlock which keeps a foot free to fend off the trunk and help orient myself. Some people call it the "granny lock".

The single footlock is just a round turn on your foot (with the fall side exiting on your side of the tail). Just imagine coiling rope around a bollard from your toes towards your ankle, but only one turn. It doesn't take much rope weight before it self tends real nicely. Lift your toes to lift and tend, and point your toes down to lock it and stand.

Back to the regularly scheduled program.

 

[simplyarbor]

oceans, i do that for removals. single foot lock to advance while wearing spikes. granny lock, i dig it.

Nice vid by the way Nick!

 

[oceans]

Go granny go!

 

[bonner1040]

Eric, I will have to try that, thanks for the tip!

 

[banjo]

I've always been told that a "granny lock" is footlocking the tail in a DbRT set up. That trick with the turn around your foot has a different name. It's been discussed here before. Cool video by the way!

 

[oceans]

Thanks for clarifying that. I was taught the term when single footlocking the tail in DdRT, so I totally misunderstood. The term "granny lock" makes more sense in relation to the tail of a DdRT climbing system, since 1/2 the progress is made when compared to ascending a doubled line. So, is it called "single foot locking" then?