Tulip poplar -rec climb?

[WannaClimb]

With things slowing down, been practicing more with SRS. Are Tulips decent trees to rec climb? There's a union I was going to basal anchor. Didn't know if these trees are a little more brittle or not. This is a mature Tulip and roughly 95' tall.

I usually stick to my property for rec climbing, but my largest tree is a 40' Acer rubrum and trying to improve with limb walks.

 

[TreeVB]

Wouldn’t be any first choice for a rec climb but could be fair to learn some basics on. How large of a union are you talking about? Practice isolating and canopy tying? Spread the load between two unions if you are second guessing it?

 

[WannaClimb]

I rec climbed it back in July. I just wanted to check because I was unaware then they could be kind of weak. Here is a picture of it and my tie in

 

[WannaClimb]

Here's the pic. My throwline is in the upper left union. Does the bigger union below look healthy too ?

 

[TreeVB]

That is massive union amd both looks more than adequate to tie in to. The main stem on the right looks like there would be some options higher up as well which will give you room to play in the canopy a bit.

 

[WannaClimb]

Thanks man!

 

[Treeaddict]

I have (2) tulip poplars in a small swath of woods in our backyard. They are about 120’. I max out a 200’ climb line in them approximately once a month for rec climbing purposes. IMO a health 4” crotch loaded in compression is plenty strong in that species. Just my lowly opinion.

 

[WannaClimb]

Thanks gents. I'm planning to basal anchor. Any concerns ?

 

[Shadowscape]

Only that you will have so much fun you won't want to come down.
Looks like a perfect opportunity to play with traversing over to one of the other trees while you are up there.

 

[Treeaddict]

Thanks gents. I'm planning to basal anchor. Any concerns ?

I basal anchor a vast majority of the time unless I’m drt which is only for certain removals. Not concrete advice but just what I do.

 

[Shadowscape]

I climb mostly MRS and use a basal anchor all the time. Two ropes. One for the basal anchor which pulls up my MRS to the top, where it is then tied off. That way I can run a pulley at the top of my MRS, and there is always enough excess rope for someone to lower me down should that need ever arise.

 

[WannaClimb]

Took a look at the poplar today. One section of the trunk looks like this. No other red flags that I see. During the summer, the canopy seemed healthy. Is this normal? I don't see any fruiting bodies, missing bark or other signs of decay

 

[Treeaddict]

It wouldn’t concern me. You can tap on it with a rubber mallet to see if it’s hollow. Even if it’s hollow, I’d climb it.

 

[southsoundtree]

Took a look at the poplar today. One section of the trunk looks like this. No other red flags that I see. During the summer, the canopy seemed healthy. Is this normal? I don't see any fruiting bodies, missing bark or other signs of decay View attachment 92003

If it didn't blow over in storms, you're not going to break it in a rec climb. You're a fly on the elephant's back.