Removal of a large decayed limb on heavy leaner

I looked at this job Friday morning, spent nearly an hour looking at it as well. There was some other misc. stuff attached like trimming off some suckers from some other trees, etc. Real small stuff. The client said if I wasn't comfy with anything I could quote him for just what I'm comfy with but for some reason I just could not get comfortble with this job.

I don't know if it has something to do with what's been going on recently outside of work that has me not thinking quite clearly or possibly more anxious and distracted than usual, and therefore not as eager to put myself in an unfamiliar work situation.

I don't doubt that I could've likely gotten this job done safely with my plan, but for some reason even after two days of looking at pictures, lying in bed or sitting around thinking about it for hours at a time, looking at pictures again, posting, looking at pictures some more, I just have this uncertrain feeling about wanting to bid.

So I decided to walk, which I'm partly frustrated about because I can't decide if it's that I just didn't feel comfortable climbing such a heavy leaner or if my personal life is interfering with my work judgement.

Either way, after two days of contemplating I felt like it was time to make a decision and if I don't feel mentally confident even if I know I could get the job done safely, then best to walk. Maybe down the road I will encounter this situation and the circumstances will be different and I will be ready to tackle it.

Thoughts? Do you think this was the right call?

I've always tried to trust my intuition when it comes to whether to bid a job or not.
 
climbingmonkey24 said:
I looked at this job Friday morning, spent nearly an hour looking at it as well. There was some other misc. stuff attached like trimming off some suckers from some other trees, etc. Real small stuff. The client said if I wasn't comfy with anything I could quote him for just what I'm comfy with but for some reason I just could not get comfortble with this job.

I don't know if it has something to do with what's been going on recently outside of work that has me not thinking quite clearly or possibly more anxious and distracted than usual, and therefore not as eager to put myself in an unfamiliar work situation.

I don't doubt that I could've likely gotten this job done safely with my plan, but for some reason even after two days of looking at pictures, lying in bed or sitting around thinking about it for hours at a time, looking at pictures again, posting, looking at pictures some more, I just have this uncertrain feeling about wanting to bid.

So I decided to walk, which I'm partly frustrated about because I can't decide if it's that I just didn't feel comfortable climbing such a heavy leaner or if my personal life is interfering with my work judgement.

Either way, after two days of contemplating I felt like it was time to make a decision and if I don't feel mentally confident even if I know I could get the job done safely, then best to walk. Maybe down the road I will encounter this situation and the circumstances will be different and I will be ready to tackle it.

Thoughts? Do you think this was the right call?

I've always tried to trust my intuition when it comes to whether to bid a job or not.
Click to expand...
Have you spent a little time working with other arborists? A crew of fellow climbers? I know this has been alluded to in other threads, but having another climber looking at things in real life can really help you. My first few years of climbing were slow going, self taught, but things took off after I was in an environment where I was with other experienced folks. They could be a sounding board for my ideas, or give some ideas of their own. In that environment my confidence was really bolstered. (Including the confidence to say ‘no’ to a terrible plan!)

Then later in my climbing years, I struggled being the one with more experience and not having someone to talk through complex scenarios.

I know that you can absolutely do this job. I think some part of you does too. Lots of good tips on this thread to make it a totally rad job. But I totally respect the voice in your head that’s saying you’re not up for it and you gotta listen to that too.
 
I don’t doubt my ability to do the job and I’ve climbed leaners before. Nothing with this heavy of a lean but still. I have little doubt in the actual tree work part. But for some reason I just feel off my game mentally sort of.

Like things are taking longer to process, etc.

Next time I guess...
 
climbingmonkey24 said:
I don’t doubt my ability to do the job and I’ve climbed leaners before. Nothing with this heavy of a lean but still. I have little doubt in the actual tree work part. But for some reason I just feel off my game mentally sort of.

Like things are taking longer to process, etc.

Next time I guess...
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I feel you. here’s to next time!
 
Also I will say I’ve never seen that tall of a tree with that heavy of a lean either. Usually the oaks I’ve seen or climbed sort of arc into the lean, whereas this one has that lower bend and then goes out at that sharp angle.

Interesting how it grows that way...
 
climbingmonkey24 said:
I looked at this job Friday morning, spent nearly an hour looking at it as well. There was some other misc. stuff attached like trimming off some suckers from some other trees, etc. Real small stuff. The client said if I wasn't comfy with anything I could quote him for just what I'm comfy with but for some reason I just could not get comfortble with this job.

I don't know if it has something to do with what's been going on recently outside of work that has me not thinking quite clearly or possibly more anxious and distracted than usual, and therefore not as eager to put myself in an unfamiliar work situation.

I don't doubt that I could've likely gotten this job done safely with my plan, but for some reason even after two days of looking at pictures, lying in bed or sitting around thinking about it for hours at a time, looking at pictures again, posting, looking at pictures some more, I just have this uncertrain feeling about wanting to bid.

So I decided to walk, which I'm partly frustrated about because I can't decide if it's that I just didn't feel comfortable climbing such a heavy leaner or if my personal life is interfering with my work judgement.

Either way, after two days of contemplating I felt like it was time to make a decision and if I don't feel mentally confident even if I know I could get the job done safely, then best to walk. Maybe down the road I will encounter this situation and the circumstances will be different and I will be ready to tackle it.

Thoughts? Do you think this was the right call?

I've always tried to trust my intuition when it comes to whether to bid a job or not.
Click to expand...
Best decision to follow your gut.
-AJ
 
Are you considering doing the rest of the work?

A no-commitment opportunity at the time of the job is a good opportunity.

I don't think it's climbing a leaner. I think it's ascending a rope right into position, using a second rope if needed. Looks like straightforward rope setting from the ground.




Follow you gut not to get committed.
 
Treeaddict said:
I’ve done a couple the way Dan Cobb described. Usually subordinate leaders. I have no problem being that far out on a robust species and healthy specimen. Basal anchor, line draped over a point near directly above the work, rope walk right up to the limb. I know people who would not do that and insist on bomb proof TIPs close to the trunk. Using the other tree is certainly a viable option though.

Full disclosure: I’ve only been engaged in arborculture for a year, part time. It is a full time obsession though.
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Yup, one of my first climbs I got a rude surprise when I got to my TIP, I had basal anchored in a shagbark hickory. From the ground it looked like a good TIP in a larger crotch. When I got up there I was surprised to find that I was actually over a 3/4” branch near the bottom of the crotch. Never even felt it be springy. With my lanyard set I trimmed the branch and relocated my line (tree was coming down), then I tried pulling on what was left and was surprised at how tough it was. Despite my weight and the weight of my gear, that tiny branch was solid, especially right by the trunk. I wouldn’t trust all species to be like that, but I didn’t expect the hickory to be quite that strong.
 
LBF said:
Yup, one of my first climbs I got a rude surprise when I got to my TIP, I had basal anchored in a shagbark hickory. From the ground it looked like a good TIP in a larger crotch. When I got up there I was surprised to find that I was actually over a 3/4” branch near the bottom of the crotch. Never even felt it be springy. With my lanyard set I trimmed the branch and relocated my line (tree was coming down), then I tried pulling on what was left and was surprised at how tough it was. Despite my weight and the weight of my gear, that tiny branch was solid, especially right by the trunk. I wouldn’t trust all species to be like that, but I didn’t expect the hickory to be quite that strong.
Click to expand...
I've had it loop on some tiny branches in the big crotch I was in and they stayed strong, normal it's oak but still like 1/2 or smaller brand can be incredibly tough.
 
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