Gerald_Beranek
New member
- Location
- Ft. Bragg, Ca.
As rec climbing goes it wasn't until the early 80's that I made the step up to setting static lines in the redwoods and using ascenders to enter them. But that only went for those redwoods that I could get a line set in. Not possible with all of them you know. At best I can only throw about 70 feet. Until I modified a device to shoot lines into the tops was I going to narrow down my use of the spurs. My line launcher was good to about 160 feet. And it got me in a lot of great trees, but still some of the trees don't have limbs for over 200 feet, or the limbs droop so bad that any line I manage to get up there just slides off of them.
So with some redwoods I don't necessarily rule out the one time use of the spurs to set a line. After that there's no reason to enter the tree using the spurs again.
As far as harm done to those big trees by using the spurs... marks in the bark isn't going to harm, or set them back in the least. There's no reason to throw a fit over it. Least down where the bark is thick in the older parts of the tree.
Now up in their tops it's a different matter. The top is younger and the bark is thin and penetration through the bark into the cambium can happen there. Can't see reason to use spurs there. Not with all the limbs available for setting lines.
One of my favorite trees doesn't have limbs for over 250 feet. That's the Montgomery Giant. Up to present the only way I was able to get a line set in it was to climb a smaller neighboring tree using the spurs. During a recent climb, 9/01, I made it to the top of the smaller tree and set the line in the Giant. From there three climbers were to follow using strictly rope. Klimbinfool for one. I climbed the Giant three times before in 81,82 and 86 and always abandon the spurs in the top. (the smaller tree) Not long before the last climb in 9/01 someone, I don't know who, climbed the small tree with the same intent to set a line in the Giant. Likewise using the spurs.... They perforated the top of that smaller tree to no end. It was upsetting to see. I shake my head when ever I think of it. Yeah, even for Jerry B. The old spur climber.
Hey, after years of scaling those big trees using forty foot flip lines and spending hours in the spurs to go 150 feet... I never seen anything like what I saw in the top of that small tree. Not in old growth anyway.
Last September Andy Taylor and Greg Liu used a Big shot to set a line in the Henry Tree 180 feet. Oh, what a breeze it was using the ascenders to reach where Greg tied it off. Believe me it was still work, but in 85 I flip lined the tree... and it was murder!! There's no comparison. Using ropes and ascenders is the only way to go. And so much safer.
When I think about someone using the spurs to climb a giant redwood it don't upset me so. More power to the man that feels up to such a stunt I say. And, of the hundreds of thousands of giants here to chose from please don't be reserved. Pick yourself a good tree at least twelve foot diameter without a limb for over 100 feet. And set your goal at nothing less than to make it to the top. I want to be there the hours it takes, and watch the struggle, the choking, and cramps that bring tears and hear the crying when you foul your ropes and begin feeling helplessly stuck on the side of that big tree.
So with some redwoods I don't necessarily rule out the one time use of the spurs to set a line. After that there's no reason to enter the tree using the spurs again.
As far as harm done to those big trees by using the spurs... marks in the bark isn't going to harm, or set them back in the least. There's no reason to throw a fit over it. Least down where the bark is thick in the older parts of the tree.
Now up in their tops it's a different matter. The top is younger and the bark is thin and penetration through the bark into the cambium can happen there. Can't see reason to use spurs there. Not with all the limbs available for setting lines.
One of my favorite trees doesn't have limbs for over 250 feet. That's the Montgomery Giant. Up to present the only way I was able to get a line set in it was to climb a smaller neighboring tree using the spurs. During a recent climb, 9/01, I made it to the top of the smaller tree and set the line in the Giant. From there three climbers were to follow using strictly rope. Klimbinfool for one. I climbed the Giant three times before in 81,82 and 86 and always abandon the spurs in the top. (the smaller tree) Not long before the last climb in 9/01 someone, I don't know who, climbed the small tree with the same intent to set a line in the Giant. Likewise using the spurs.... They perforated the top of that smaller tree to no end. It was upsetting to see. I shake my head when ever I think of it. Yeah, even for Jerry B. The old spur climber.
Hey, after years of scaling those big trees using forty foot flip lines and spending hours in the spurs to go 150 feet... I never seen anything like what I saw in the top of that small tree. Not in old growth anyway.
Last September Andy Taylor and Greg Liu used a Big shot to set a line in the Henry Tree 180 feet. Oh, what a breeze it was using the ascenders to reach where Greg tied it off. Believe me it was still work, but in 85 I flip lined the tree... and it was murder!! There's no comparison. Using ropes and ascenders is the only way to go. And so much safer.
When I think about someone using the spurs to climb a giant redwood it don't upset me so. More power to the man that feels up to such a stunt I say. And, of the hundreds of thousands of giants here to chose from please don't be reserved. Pick yourself a good tree at least twelve foot diameter without a limb for over 100 feet. And set your goal at nothing less than to make it to the top. I want to be there the hours it takes, and watch the struggle, the choking, and cramps that bring tears and hear the crying when you foul your ropes and begin feeling helplessly stuck on the side of that big tree.
