Odd Ways You've Seen a Tree Accessed

[TreeCo]

I have a confession to make: In the early eighties I was doing landscaping on the side as well as working at a supermarket stocking shelves and running a register.

My access method using 1/2 nylon rope was to toss the rope with a very heavy shackel tied with an 'ax knot' over limbs on trees. I didn't know any friction hitches, bowline, etc. I would pull myself up hip thrusting and if I couldn't reach a place to stand had to lower myself or my helper would wrap around a tree and lower me back down. Then an extension agent mentioned something about Penn State outreach programs and I took every one I could. Even learned to prune roses. I just turned 70 and probably should have died on the job.

I've never worked for another tree company and have always been self employed except for that stint at the supermarket part time.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

great confessional @TreeCo

Half inch vinyl hose for rigging and one time tied around a. Dad’s waist and kid belayed. I had my gear. I told him he was in danger and. I would do the cut down for free nope

I went to my van to be rescue ready. He didn’t love so Ik drove out of site. No 911 call so I left

 

[Jehinten]

Not for the original access, but to get back into the tree after a break we will sometimes tie the rigging rope to our bridge ring and to the mini skid and slowly back up. The entire time the climber is tending the climb line as a safety and we are on comms, should we need to stop pulling.

 

[Matias]

Not for the original access, but to get back into the tree after a break we will sometimes tie the rigging rope to our bridge ring and to the mini skid and slowly back up. The entire time the climber is tending the climb line as a safety and we are on comms, should we need to stop pulling.

Mike Goggia used to do that! I came back to working for him after a stint with another guy and he had a big deadwooding+removals job at a trailer park, and they were lifting my buddy up with the bobcat while I raced him on a ropewalker setup. I got setup faster and made it to my TIP way before him and the new groundie that I had never met before started asking why they didn't just do that!

 

[Evo]

great confessional @TreeCo

Half inch vinyl hose for rigging and one time tied around a. Dad’s waist and kid belayed. I had my gear. I told him he was in danger and. I would do the cut down for free nope

I went to my van to be rescue ready. He didn’t love so Ik drove out of site. No 911 call so I left

I drove by some home owner free climbing up some bigger Douglas fir. No rope no harness. Just free climbing on stubs with a handsaw tied on a leash. I think that was tied around his waist. Top was removed and he was about 70’ up.

Unfortunately there was a pack of neighbor kids watching him. I did the same as you.

 

[Evo]

Not for the original access, but to get back into the tree after a break we will sometimes tie the rigging rope to our bridge ring and to the mini skid and slowly back up. The entire time the climber is tending the climb line as a safety and we are on comms, should we need to stop pulling.

Done that with a GRCS.