- Location
- In the Mitten...
Thanks Mike
Penn Del Climbing Comps
- Thread starter Tony
- Start date
Here's the write up I did for the TCC that appeared in my newspaper column. It's not the normal hunting, fishing, nature subject, but hopefully it will get some lay-folks to attend and learn what professional tree work is all about.
The City of Pittsburgh is not somewhere one thinks of when trees are mentioned but Pittsburgh has a vast inventoried and classified urban forest within its boundaries. Some of those magnificent trees will provide a challenging setting when the Pennsylvania-Delaware Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture hosts the 2007 Western Tree Climbing Championship on Saturday, May 19 in Allegheny Commons Park.
Up to 35 professional arborists are expected to participate in the championship. The primary purpose of these annual championships and field days is education. The Tree Climbing Championship brings together the area’s most experienced climbers for the benefit of friendly competition and the exchange of ideas and techniques. This will enable participants the opportunity to experience state-of-the-art-climbing techniques, equipment innovations, and safety regulations under simulated working conditions.
The competition is composed of five events: the Work Climb, the Belayed Speed Climb, the Secured Footlock, the Throw Line, and the Aerial Rescue.
The Work Climb tests the contestant’s ability to move about the tree using a tree-climbing rope and saddle. The contestant starts from a staging area in the tree and is required to visit five work stations throughout the tree, performing a
specified task at each station. Each station in the tree is equipped with a bell, which the contestant must ring before continuing to the next station. Contestants earn points for successfully completing the task at each station. At certain stations, the contestant can earn bonus points for completing additional tasks. Penalty points are assessed when a contestant fails to properly complete a task, or when uncontrolled or unsafe climbing practices are observed.
The five work stations in the Work Climb are the Handsaw Station (where the contestant must reach the station and ring the bell with a handsaw), the Limb Toss Station (this station is equipped with two 12- to 18-inch sections of limb and a 30- to 48-inch diameter target on the ground for the contestant to throw the limbs into), the Pole Pruner Station (where the contestant must reach the station and ring the bell using the working end of a pole pruner), the Limb Walk Station (where the contestant must walk out on a limb, ring the bell with a handsaw and walk back in on the limb without activating a buzzer that measures how far the limb bends down under his weight) and the Landing Station (at this final station, the contestant must sound a horn or bell by hand and then perform a controlled descent, landing on a target on the ground).
The Belayed Speed Climb is a timed event that tests the competitor’s ability to climb a predetermined route from ground to approximately 60 feet up a tree with a belayed climbing line attached for safety. The competitor must reach and ring a bell at the top of the course in at the least time possible.
The Secured Footlock measures the contestant’s ability to perform a vertical ascent into a tree using a Prusik hitch or other approved friction hitch for fall protection and the footlock rope-climbing method on a doubled climbing line. Mechanical ascenders may not be used. Instead the contestant must use the footlock technique where one foot wraps and bines the rope against the other.
The Throw Line is a timed event that tests the contestant’s ability to accurately place a throwline and climbing line in a tree at heights between 40 and 60 feet. The contestant attempts to toss a throwline with a lead shot bag through a designated crotch in the tree. Once the throwline is through the target crotch, the contestant must pull a climbing line through the crotch and back down to the ground.
The simulated Aerial Rescue is designed to measure the ability of each contestant to reach a worker in a tree, inspect for injury, and evacuate the injured worker from a tree to the ground safely, quickly, and efficiently. The injured climber is represented by a dummy and is installed in the tree with a regulation climbing line and saddle approximately 20 to 25 feet above the ground. The contestant must enter the tree using a previously installed line located approximately 15 to 20 feet from the dummy and securely lower it to the ground.
Only at the Western Event will there be a supervised Kid’s Climb. ISA Penn-Del members will have a belayed climb set up in a tree for kids to climb up to about 15 feet. Children will also be able to participate in a low ropes course.
There will be information available about proper tree care and all your tree questions can be answered by ISA Certified Arborists and tree equipment dealers. There will be equipment demonstrations, concessions and refreshments available. I will also be there to judge the Secured Footlock competition.
The Western Tree Climbing Championship will be held on Saturday, May 19th from 8:00am to 4:00pm at the Allegheny Commons Park on the North Side of Pittsburgh. For more information call Scott Sjolander at 814-333-7440.
The City of Pittsburgh is not somewhere one thinks of when trees are mentioned but Pittsburgh has a vast inventoried and classified urban forest within its boundaries. Some of those magnificent trees will provide a challenging setting when the Pennsylvania-Delaware Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture hosts the 2007 Western Tree Climbing Championship on Saturday, May 19 in Allegheny Commons Park.
Up to 35 professional arborists are expected to participate in the championship. The primary purpose of these annual championships and field days is education. The Tree Climbing Championship brings together the area’s most experienced climbers for the benefit of friendly competition and the exchange of ideas and techniques. This will enable participants the opportunity to experience state-of-the-art-climbing techniques, equipment innovations, and safety regulations under simulated working conditions.
The competition is composed of five events: the Work Climb, the Belayed Speed Climb, the Secured Footlock, the Throw Line, and the Aerial Rescue.
The Work Climb tests the contestant’s ability to move about the tree using a tree-climbing rope and saddle. The contestant starts from a staging area in the tree and is required to visit five work stations throughout the tree, performing a
specified task at each station. Each station in the tree is equipped with a bell, which the contestant must ring before continuing to the next station. Contestants earn points for successfully completing the task at each station. At certain stations, the contestant can earn bonus points for completing additional tasks. Penalty points are assessed when a contestant fails to properly complete a task, or when uncontrolled or unsafe climbing practices are observed.
The five work stations in the Work Climb are the Handsaw Station (where the contestant must reach the station and ring the bell with a handsaw), the Limb Toss Station (this station is equipped with two 12- to 18-inch sections of limb and a 30- to 48-inch diameter target on the ground for the contestant to throw the limbs into), the Pole Pruner Station (where the contestant must reach the station and ring the bell using the working end of a pole pruner), the Limb Walk Station (where the contestant must walk out on a limb, ring the bell with a handsaw and walk back in on the limb without activating a buzzer that measures how far the limb bends down under his weight) and the Landing Station (at this final station, the contestant must sound a horn or bell by hand and then perform a controlled descent, landing on a target on the ground).
The Belayed Speed Climb is a timed event that tests the competitor’s ability to climb a predetermined route from ground to approximately 60 feet up a tree with a belayed climbing line attached for safety. The competitor must reach and ring a bell at the top of the course in at the least time possible.
The Secured Footlock measures the contestant’s ability to perform a vertical ascent into a tree using a Prusik hitch or other approved friction hitch for fall protection and the footlock rope-climbing method on a doubled climbing line. Mechanical ascenders may not be used. Instead the contestant must use the footlock technique where one foot wraps and bines the rope against the other.
The Throw Line is a timed event that tests the contestant’s ability to accurately place a throwline and climbing line in a tree at heights between 40 and 60 feet. The contestant attempts to toss a throwline with a lead shot bag through a designated crotch in the tree. Once the throwline is through the target crotch, the contestant must pull a climbing line through the crotch and back down to the ground.
The simulated Aerial Rescue is designed to measure the ability of each contestant to reach a worker in a tree, inspect for injury, and evacuate the injured worker from a tree to the ground safely, quickly, and efficiently. The injured climber is represented by a dummy and is installed in the tree with a regulation climbing line and saddle approximately 20 to 25 feet above the ground. The contestant must enter the tree using a previously installed line located approximately 15 to 20 feet from the dummy and securely lower it to the ground.
Only at the Western Event will there be a supervised Kid’s Climb. ISA Penn-Del members will have a belayed climb set up in a tree for kids to climb up to about 15 feet. Children will also be able to participate in a low ropes course.
There will be information available about proper tree care and all your tree questions can be answered by ISA Certified Arborists and tree equipment dealers. There will be equipment demonstrations, concessions and refreshments available. I will also be there to judge the Secured Footlock competition.
The Western Tree Climbing Championship will be held on Saturday, May 19th from 8:00am to 4:00pm at the Allegheny Commons Park on the North Side of Pittsburgh. For more information call Scott Sjolander at 814-333-7440.
TreeRat,
I got the list of judges and work assignments in the mail today. looks like they are full.
moved me to the throwline.
I'll see you there
I got the list of judges and work assignments in the mail today. looks like they are full.
moved me to the throwline.
I'll see you there
- Location
- In the Mitten...
I kinda thought so, he never answered my inquires. Oh well.
Tony
Carpal tunnel level member
- Location
- Lancaster, PA
I'll be there. Don't let a full list of help turn anyone off. It would not be a first if a key position opened up on game day.
Let's do a buzzer's get togther.
Tony
Let's do a buzzer's get togther.
Tony
- Location
- In the Mitten...
I'm still coming, never been to Pittsburg, they have sushi there right?
first off Paul, ya got to spell Pittsburgh correctly
then you need to realize sushi ain't on the menu
maybe a good Primanti sandwich down on the strip.
or head up to the Penn Brewery. there's some good eats, its on the North Side. I think we'll head down after the TCC.
http://www.pennbrew.com/
There's a couple good Irish pubs too
then you need to realize sushi ain't on the menu
maybe a good Primanti sandwich down on the strip.
or head up to the Penn Brewery. there's some good eats, its on the North Side. I think we'll head down after the TCC.
http://www.pennbrew.com/
There's a couple good Irish pubs too
- Location
- Upper Bucks ,PA
Any open spots left for competitors? I missed eastern.
- Location
- In the Mitten...
Sory mic i misspell wen i rite phast.
- Location
- In the Mitten...
Hey Mike Steve and I will be there on saturday! The forecast is showing only 10% chance of rain. So hopefully it will be a nice day and some good climbing. The past few years except for internationals it has rained but I think will get lucky this year! Hopefully Steve and Roachy wont have any problems lol... Maybe Ill forge a form and get into the apprentice climb and take first.... but best of luck to all!
Also Mike very nice article you wrote about the comp. very discriptive.
Dan
Also Mike very nice article you wrote about the comp. very discriptive.
Dan
Hey Dan, how you doing?
Get in that climb! Ben will be with me on Saturday. He's a Manager's Assistant. We're going to Penn Brewery after (anyone want to go?) How's the girls treating you this year?
BTW, who's Steve??????
Get in that climb! Ben will be with me on Saturday. He's a Manager's Assistant. We're going to Penn Brewery after (anyone want to go?) How's the girls treating you this year?
BTW, who's Steve??????
Ahh thats good he needs to be out there and see what the real climbers are about.
But assistant manager? Whats he going to be doing following Scott around? But the girls ya their there but whatever! And I will be entertaining Steve signifigant other around during the day but she'll mostly be watching him judge I hope. And I would really love to climb in it.. Hopefully be next year they will let me compete eventhough I couldnt place.
Dan
Dan
I should have said assistant to the manager = Scott's go-fer
who has a significant other? is that why he doesn't WORK anymore?
who has a significant other? is that why he doesn't WORK anymore?
Ahhh..... He works just when shes not around lol.... But she comes to some jobs and drags a$$ I mean brush. But I was Scotts "go-fer" last year. But I got a shirt and Don Stouts meal ticket lol... But all in good day of fun..
Dan
Dan
R
rich_h
Guest
Good luck to Jim, Lyle, and everyone else competing this weekend. I look forward to seeing everyone and hanging out with the PennDel crew again.
Yes thats true good luck to all! Really wish I was old enough to compete...
Dan
Dan
Hey guys great climbing on saturday! I ended up climgbing the ariel rescue climb at the end for some fun. My time was 5.02 timed out but got caught up redirecting. And Pat had a rough night before lol but didnt place.
Dan
Dan
