Too Cool For School...

[flushcut]

I don’t think every tree company ends up with a lift/bucket. I know of several climbers that aren’t spring chickens but still rock it out, yourself included Dave. My decision to purchase a lift was partly a production issue and considering I was never really a fast smooth climber so lift it was. Slow and choppy was my style lol

 

[oceans]

I purchased a Lift for the aspect of safety, alone. I much prefer climbing, but after owning a lift, there are a number of jobs I’ve completed that could not have been done on rope. Some White Pine reductions have yielded incredible results in efficacy and aesthetics from working out of the Lift that I would consider unachievable on rope. Some Oaks we’ve dismantled with the Spider Crane and Lift as a combo allowed for safe production above delicate, valuable, and unmovable targets.

The trick here is to prevent the mindset of everything looking like a nail as a result of owning a nice hammer. Again, I love climbing, and will never let it go. I actually strive to do it as much as possible, but not to my own detriment in regarded to safety or realistic production.

It is really unfortunate that some of our arts can potentially be swallowed up and potentially lost by the ease of mechanization. I believe we (our industry) as a whole need to keep all this in mind, because a fully mechanized future is not one in which I want to live.

 

[Lupin_IV]

Agreed, It’s not about laziness it’s about safety. Climbing is way more badass and fun, of course. Also necessary. But it’s not for everyone and boy are there a fuckton of trees to care for and messed up ones to remove. Location is something to consider. I.e what the trees are like in your area. I suppose the stuff I see in the Pacific Northwest may be counterproductive.

There are lots and lots of large, wide silver maples here (Minnesota) with next to nothing for good tie in points. I climb them often but there are so many scenarios where it’s totally impractical from a body ergonomics standpoint and also a productivity standpoint. Think climbing a lead that’s growing at 25-30 degrees from the ground over a house where your tie in point would only be like 15 feet higher, wayyy behind ya. Why would I wanna risk shitting my pants for a multitude of reasons?

Also quality of work. Can easily prune the tips of anything. It’s not about me looking sick as fuck earning my dollar in some weird position it’s about that limb weight getting reduced safely and effectively :b

We don’t own, we rent a couple times a month, but it’s still a nobrainer. I wishhh I could climb everything all the time but around here it doesn’t seem feasible. Like all these modern evils we just gotta stay strong of mind, eh?

P.s respect to those who get it without a lift in these challenging scenarios, just sharing my mindset as someone with a modest experience and skill level.

 

[cerviarborist]

I had a short discussion years ago with a climbing arborist who expressed that it was beneath them to use a provided Wraptor to access the tree. I made it clear to them that they were the only person on the site who gave a rats backside as to how they got up into the tree to work, but that we all cared deeply about how long we were going to have to wait for them to get their piece of the assignment done. I also noticed that climber didn't jog to the work site, and they had no qualms about using a chainsaw, so their old-school nonsense was fairly transparent.