Topping at 200+ ft

John Uselding said:
More like Marty Feldman. Nice cutting as always Reg. Thanks for sharing the views from this locale. Beautiful!
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No worries. I know, he looks much less like either in real life....but there was something about his expressions in that clip. He seems a good guy and climber though. I think hes quite a name in the comps out this way.
 
Ahhh... yes, that's right Rog. Nice footage Murph, you guys were banging out some good sized trees that day.

Good call on the dynamite, that tree didn't look so good, the weather not the best either, at least it was workable.

Nice pics too.

Reg, maybe a chest mount for the cam would help keep the lens clear?
 
Nice work there, Reg. Thanks for posting that. Up at the point where a mini wedge can't even fit behind the bar. I can imagine feeling out the sway and giving the pressure at just the right moment...just far longer harmonic than I'd ever find here out East. Good choice on you to go with a straight blade handsaw. Makes for great felling.
 
Thanks all. Eric I got a new handsaw blade in expectancy of that exact scenario. Just had a feeling. Same as setting a 2nd choked line at 60ft, in the unlikely event of having to quickly escape for some reason. My 200 ft line alone, even set single was too short for that top portion of the tree.

Bixler said:
Reg, maybe a chest mount for the cam would help keep the lens clear?
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Makes it easier to use access Brian....maybe good if you decided to jump out of the tree too, but not much else. You can see the difference when I swap cameras/views here. Missed a couple logs as the headcam froze without me realizing.

Edit: use HD setting

 
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Thanks for sharing my vid Reg I haven't posted on here in ages. That job was good fun and great to work with you. I've heard Tim Roth and Carlos Puyol before but Gene Wilder and particularily Marty Feldman are new ones to me, not sure how I feel about that one!

I too had a 215' access line choked for speedy exit and realized it was barely was on the ground when I pulled a length up to setup for rapping the sections.
 
Murph said:
I too had a 215' access line choked for speedy exit and realized it was barely was on the ground when I pulled a length up to setup for rapping the sections.
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Out of curiosity, do you guys have ground support, someone, anyone, (another climber in between ascents) to give a visual on climb lines and whether they meet the ground? Are there any mandatory actions on certain jobs for you guys up there (high viz, minimum line length, exit line, whistles, comm systems, etc...)? Just trying to get a feel for how it goes for you all.

@ Reg, I can see your forward thinking in installing another shorter line to ensure you could reach the ground. Smart.
 
oceans said:
Out of curiosity, do you guys have ground support, someone, anyone, (another climber in between ascents) to give a visual on climb lines and whether they meet the ground? Are there any mandatory actions on certain jobs for you guys up there (high viz, minimum line length, exit line, whistles, comm systems, etc...)?
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On this particular job high viz was mandatory and I can't speak for Reg but I had ground support in the form of another climber who had his gear with him. In retrospect he probably wouldn't have been much help as I suspect he only had a 150' climbing line, no way to work that line srt and/or no way to tie into mid bole of the spar dbrt. We also had radios which are a lifesaver at those heights as you can't hear the ground with even a slight breeze. Regulations governing climbing for arboriculture here fall within forestry and have been well behind the times with mandatory equipment including climbing spurs and a steel core flipline etc... Some amendments have been made however that I have yet to read.

FYI the ANSI Z133 have recently been amended to state that while operating a chainsaw aloft a climber must be tied in twice with one of those methods being a means to quickly retreat to the ground, ie two fliplines no longer suffice, a policy I have maintained for a long time prior.

The conditions in this job were certainly abnormal for me. I regularly work in the 120'-170' range and for that my 200' climb line is normally more than adequate as an escape route. I've climbed over 200' many times recreationally though this was the first time with a chainsaw in hand. I personally am glad I didn't have to climb any higher to get a top to fit. 200' of (wet) 11m is quite enough rope weight thanks.
 
Murph said:
On this particular job high viz was mandatory and I can't speak for Reg but I had ground support in the form of another climber who had his gear with him. In retrospect he probably wouldn't have been much help as I suspect he only had a 150' climbing line, no way to work that line srt and/or no way to tie into mid bole of the spar dbrt. We also had radios which are a lifesaver at those heights as you can't hear the ground with even a slight breeze. Regulations governing climbing for arboriculture here fall within forestry and have been well behind the times with mandatory equipment including climbing spurs and a steel core flipline etc... Some amendments have been made however that I have yet to read.
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Good thing you had radios for sure. It can be tough enough at 50' with traffic, never mind what you all were doing. I'm sure a competent climber could descend with a couple flip lines alone, though a full length rope seems much more doable if speed is required.
FYI the ANSI Z133 have recently been amended to state that while operating a chainsaw aloft a climber must be tied in twice with one of those methods being a means to quickly retreat to the ground, ie two fliplines no longer suffice, a policy I have maintained for a long time prior.
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This is to say, you've been using an exit rope before it was a policy to follow?
The conditions in this job were certainly abnormal for me. I regularly work in the 120'-170' range and for that my 200' climb line is normally more than adequate as an escape route. I've climbed over 200' many times recreationally though this was the first time with a chainsaw in hand. I personally am glad I didn't have to climb any higher to get a top to fit. 200' of (wet) 11m is quite enough rope weight thanks.
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Yes, rope weight will add up for sure! Is your method to tie a cinching knot (running bowline, etc...) and advance that by un-cinching and flipping simultaneously with your flip line?
 
Isn't that a little silly?... to have 200 plus feet of line hanging below you 'just in case' you need to bail? Devil's advocate again here of course, but really??? I'd say 120 ft of line tucked in a backpack and deploy that after the top and a few logs... somewhere around a 100ft is reasonable.

No rope allowed below... heavy wet fir limbs wrapped around your climb line @ 100' of free fall -- yankee doodle dandy!

A secondary choked off line is legit... just in case the world begins to end and you have to come down all of a sudden... it's a peace of mind kinda thing.

sweet footage guys! :foto:
 
Murph said:
Thanks for sharing my vid Reg I haven't posted on here in ages. That job was good fun and great to work with you. I've heard Tim Roth and Carlos Puyol before but Gene Wilder and particularily Marty Feldman are new ones to me, not sure how I feel about that one!

I too had a 215' access line choked for speedy exit and realized it was barely was on the ground when I pulled a length up to setup for rapping the sections.
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Its my pleasure, Ryan. Hopefully I'll catch you when you're down this way next.
 
Bixler said:
Isn't that a little silly?... !
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Respectfully, No.

I never stated it needed to touch the ground at all times, just be pre-rigged and able to reach there, I often bag my rope on my harness. Why is a backup that is only good <100' more valid than one that is useful for the entire climb? There isn't a scenario I've encountered where having a full height descent line is less safe than not having one. It just requires a modest amount of fore thought.

Oceans- Yes, to answer your first question. I often use a line choked with a carabiner on a splice so that I can unclip it when I have longer distances to spike and I can just use my lanyard. When the diameter decreases and side loading the carabiner becomes an issue I'll tie a running bowline for example yes. The device you use is a personal choice. Currently I like the hitch hiker because it can function as a second lanyard for passing limbs, it has a one-handed operation, and most arborists (would be rescuers) will be familiar with a prussic interface.
 
Murph said:
Respectfully, No.

I never stated it needed to touch the ground at all times, just be pre-rigged and able to reach there, I often bag my rope on my harness. Why is a backup that is only good <100' more valid than one that is useful for the entire climb? There isn't a scenario I've encountered where having a full height descent line is less safe than not having one. It just requires a modest amount of fore thought.
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Yes, I see now... pre-rigged and it reaches the ground... that's the key. Maybe a coil of 250ft hanging from saddle and deploy once brushed out... some nice lightweight 9mm?:fuckyou:
 
Murph said:
Oceans- Yes, to answer your first question. I often use a line choked with a carabiner on a splice so that I can unclip it when I have longer distances to spike and I can just use my lanyard. When the diameter decreases and side loading the carabiner becomes an issue I'll tie a running bowline for example yes. The device you use is a personal choice. Currently I like the hitch hiker because it can function as a second lanyard for passing limbs, it has a one-handed operation, and most arborists (would be rescuers) will be familiar with a prussic interface.
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Makes a lot of sense to me. The HH has been one of the favorites for those that switch from DdRT to SRT, your case being one. I agree that a carabiner could be risky in smaller wood, but would make sense to employ if you plan to go long distances with the flip only since you could fasten the climb line so quickly. As always, much of this is at the user's discretion. The more you explain, the more of a picture I can create in my head. Thanks for taking the time.
 
oceans said:
Out of curiosity, do you guys have ground support, someone, anyone, (another climber in between ascents) to give a visual on climb lines and whether they meet the ground? Are there any mandatory actions on certain jobs for you guys up there (high viz, minimum line length, exit line, whistles, comm systems, etc...)? Just trying to get a feel for how it goes for you all.

@ Reg, I can see your forward thinking in installing another shorter line to ensure you could reach the ground. Smart.
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Same as Ryan, I had another climber on the ground....but to be honest I think I'd have been waiting a while. I think Ryan woulda been my best chance, and vice verca. Ultimately, you have to believe that nobodies coming for you, so best make provisions that it doesnt come to that. To be fair the two trees on the video, while tall were straight forward enough. Nothing really much to go wrong if we both have a plan and stick to it. Ryans tree was a straight stem but leaning. He was able to take a big top without much risk to himself or anything below....just careful, accurate cutting. My tree was straight up with some stuff underneath that I didnt want to damage....so I had to go a little higher and cut smaller. By the time Id finished walking the site and got organised to start my climb I heard Ryans top go from 300 yards away. That video doesnt do the sound justice.

The thing is Eric, is to have a fallback plan in place....but not to overthink everything either. Most importantly is to concentrate and not to take shortcuts....be disciplined. With that in mind theres no reason why anything would go wrong on such a job.

Having said that, I did make some mistakes with the second big tree that I did. Taller than the first, full of conks, with a big bent over head on it. Very close to the roadside. I should have done that tree first thing, but instead ended up doing it last....when the traffic, weather, noise was worse....and going dark. My plan was to leave all the branches attached, climb through to the top and drop 20 ft sections, work my way down. Better than cutting off individual branches on the way up for 1, my climbline would be routed against the tree the whole time instead of hanging out in the open, and 2) much easier to aim big sections with branches attached away from the road, than have the branches cut and drift, possibly hang up in the adjacent tree. For each cut section the plan was to radio the flaggers and have them stop the road both ways. Consider too theres lots of noise down there with other falling work going on only 2oo yards down the road. So my next mistake was not bringing up my cell phone (hindsight)....because the radios wouldnt work up there, and because Id left on all those branches, and what with the sheer height, rain, poor lighting and noise down on the road, no body could see or hear that I had a problem. Took me 25 mins of shouting to catch someones ear, then eye.....and thankfully they read the situation well. From there onward as was able to fold the sections as planned. But, ultimately I should have done that tree, the difficult one, first thing....when circumstances were more favorable. Im usually on to those situations, but this time I dropped the ball.

I got some footage from that tree, although its not very good through the chest mount again. It does get better as it goes. Use HD setting. This vid is unlisted.
 
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