ol timer climbers show them pics

When I did the climbing test for the job I have they had some True Blue slung up over a natural crotch with a steel double locking rope snap. Four d butt strap saddle made from conveyor belting. Retro for sure. I was ready to go...SRT-Unicender of course...but opted to tie in and hump up the tree. I used a Blake's Hitch and snugged it up. Then I started to body thrust...argghhhhh! 'How do I body thrust?!?!?!' I had to stop and collect my thoughts. I pulled up the illustrations in The Tree Climber's Companion to refresh my memory...feet above my waist and thrust...double argghhhh! Too hard...but I did pass!

Many years ago I changed my way of thinking. Instead of thinking that I was wearing myself out a little on each climb, and, like a pencil eraser, I was going to be used up, I decided that I wanted to always be able to climb even if I didn't have to. That's kept me young and healthy.

There are more and more seasoned climbers still being productive. This is from the innovations in skills, equipment and education that have come into our profession over the years. There was a time when climbers would be used up like pencil erasers. Not any more!
 
I'd really like to see some cool pics
DSMc said:
I agree but with the addition that I believe that older climbers are doing themselves a great disservice by not examining the new climbing systems. So much has changed since I started climbing in the late 60s. Most of the tools I use are not the same, they are much, much better. To stubbornly insist on climbing the same way they started makes about as much sense as using old heavy saws and stiff crappie ropes. Not all change is good or even useful but don't get so stubborn or complacent that you stop looking and learning.
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DSMc you started on manilla ropes back in the sixties or was nylon in by then
 
I climbed on three strand manila or hemp rope until about '78.

After thinking about the title to this thread I realized that I've seen a lot of 'old time' climbers who are more than half my age. They're using antiquated equipment and techniques. This sort of thinking has always puzzled me. I'll bet dollars to donuts that most of these climbers are carrying a smart phone. What an inconsistency!

This is what my first mobile phone looked like:

http://www.vintagemobilephones.com/MyImages/Toy Phone - Cell (1).JPG

Pretty svelte, huh?! There isn't a lot about the 'old days' that I want to bring along.
 
Aaron, the company I started with was one of the most progressive tree companies of the time. We used yachting lines, not sure what kind of synthetic, but it was not manila though that was the most commonly used rope at the time. We did use manila for some rigging but even that changed to synthetic quickly. I know a good part of why I think and question how and why something is done is because it was hammered into us to do just that.
We did have some real boat anchors for saws, though.:)
 
DSMc said:
... The big difference comes in if whatever is changed can be picked up or used straight away, man, people are all smiles, but if that new thing requires an effort to learn all of a sudden you will hear a handful of folks chime in with," if it ain't broke". People seem to accept change readily enough if it requires little thought.
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g

That does not sound like 'stubbornly insisting' on avoiding change; it's just keeping the eyes on the prize, the focus on the tree. You can take all the new gear and the methods and the bling bling; I'll take the tautline thanks very much. :)

Not avoiding thought because of stupidity; just can't see the benefit, having tried many times.

But the Wraptor, I'm glad for that technology!
 
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DSMc said:
Aaron, the company I started with was one of the most progressive tree companies of the time. We used yachting lines, not sure what kind of synthetic, but it was not manila though that was the most commonly used rope at the time. We did use manila for some rigging but even that changed to synthetic quickly. I know a good part of why I think and question how and why something is done is because it was hammered into us to do just that.
We did have some real boat anchors for saws, though.:)[/Qo[/QUOTE) I'd like to hear more about that .
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Come to think of it I'm sure if my son or my daughters decides to climb . I will in no way shape or form show them anything about a tauntline hitch Blake's OK but someone who has climbed trees on that knot for sometime before discovering way better configurations just to say I've climbed on that with intent to move through a canopy with a job to do. With all the new stuff coming out right now like mechanical hitch's and rope wrenche and hitch hiker in such a short few years I'm proud to be an old timer climber that started on all the "old stuff" and progessed to where I am today.. Because I'm sure in my kids lifetime they won't even know about open systems . it'll be all closed systems at least with the probability of mechanicals probably SRT work positioning wrenching or .....jet packs ..this industry has changed mighty quickly in the past few years . Not to derail the thread ..Cmon ol timers !
 
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I saw that offered in ISA packet I received the other day looks good..I like hearing the stories from my grandfather of stuff like shinnying up big old elm just to get the few little dead branches over the street or lighting fires in wheelbarrows on job sites to keep warm with all the dead debris out of trees before chippers . They go on and on ,but I'd like to hear more, the buzz seems like a way to connect with people . let's hear some !
 
Aaron Cipolletti said:
...I'm sure in my kids lifetime they won't even know about open systems . it'll be all closed systems at least with the probability of mechanicals probably SRT work positioning wrenching or .....jet packs ..this industry has changed mighty quickly in the past few years . Not to derail the thread ..Cmon ol timers !
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A question of perspective--seems like fast change to you maybe but from a longer view it's a slower slog; and what's the point? Tom D. might talk about teaching folks to climb with just tying a rope around your butt as a saddle with closed system; the basics. If you want to dis closed systems vs. open or vice versa you might be missing the point.

Ho hum. From here it looks like obsession about means while losing sight of the end, aka tree care.
Much ado about nothing, to do with the tree, that is.
 
guymayor said:
Ho hum. From here it looks like obsession about means while losing sight of the end, aka tree care.
Much ado about nothing, to do with the tree, that is.
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That would be a topic for a different thread...about 'ol time tree care'..this one's about the climbers though. I wonder how many ol' time climbers still do ol' time tree care?
 
guymayor said:
A question of perspective--seems like fast change to you maybe but from a longer view it's a slower slog; and what's the point? Tom D. might talk about teaching folks to climb with just tying a rope around your butt as a saddle with closed system; the basics. If you want to dis closed systems vs. open or vice versa you might be missing the point.

Ho hum. From here it looks like obsession about means while losing sight of the end, aka tree care.
Much ado about nothing, to do with the tree, that is.
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Well I learned from a man whose practiced modern arboriculture for sixty years and counting thanks . With very holistic approach to treecare . My family is known to be tree preservationists in our area. Between my pops tutelage and him giving me books like Pirones tree maintenance and other tree toucher type literatures the question here isn't about tree care practices. I've subbed out my self to guys as a climber and been scorned for not just spiking up the backside of the tree "where they wont see it" to be pruned while I wrestle my throw line threw a dense canopy . So any body wanna share anything cool about some old time climber they know or who are or were ahead of they're time and does truly care for trees .. Cause there's plenty more out there than just on the buzz ..I'll promise you .. Guess I'll have to try to get some pics of my Pop on here .. I really like pics .
 
guymayor said:
A question of perspective--seems like fast change to you maybe but from a longer view it's a slower slog; and what's the point? Tom D. might talk about teaching folks to climb with just tying a rope around your butt as a saddle with closed system; the basics. If you want to dis closed systems vs. open or vice versa you might be missing the point.

Ho hum. From here it looks like obsession about means while losing sight of the end, aka tree care.
Much ado about nothing, to do with the tree, that is.
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Basically trying to get more input from guys here whom have climbed since all was around was tauntline or Blake's to now the invention of say the hitch climber . which I can say for myself revolutionized my ability to move through a canopy with greater ease ..I'm just saying up and comers aren't learning from guys about moving in a tree without a micro pulley at least to tend whatever hitch they choose . For day to day work practice anyhow these days ..I don't know .I'm proud I had to learn and embrace a tougher form of climbing . And to witness all the awesome things coming in a relatively short time frame .. But trees don't forget they're roots .. So you don't have to be old in my opinion to be an ol time climber.. just somebody who endured climbing embraced climbing when it was much tougher bumping a knot say not using a SRT 3:1 hualback to get back up and out for that little dead one you missed
 
DSMc said:
Aaron, the company I started with was one of the most progressive tree companies of the time. We used yachting lines, not sure what kind of synthetic, but it was not manila though that was the most commonly used rope at the time. We did use manila for some rigging but even that changed to synthetic quickly. I know a good part of why I think and question how and why something is done is because it was hammered into us to do just that.
We did have some real boat anchors for saws, though.:)
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DSMc seems like your taking this for what it is .. Do you remember any saws you used. My pop says gas homelite xl 12s up in trees after electric first
 
There was a great climber here in NJ named Ken Gregory that climbed at our workday one year and I want to say he was in his mid 75' then. I remember him footlocking. He was know for teaching people how to footlock back in the 70's. Great guy and climber!
 
MARK_CHISHOLM said:
There was a great climber here in NJ named Ken Gregory that climbed at our workday one year and I want to say he was in his mid 75' then. I remember him footlocking. He was know for teaching people how to footlock back in the 70's. Great guy and climber!
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I'll run that name by my pop .. Whom started with Union County Shade Tree Commision in 1953 .After a short stint with asplundh in ' 52
 
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