What do you guys think?

climbingmonkey24

climbingmonkey24

Carpal tunnel level member
Location
United States
IMG_1398.webp IMG_1397.webp Looked at this hemlock. Think it's safe enough to climb? The sketchy part for me was the bottom, I stuck my fingers in there and was able to go in quite a bit, but the other side of the trunk appears fairly strong (granted you can't see inside).

No other trees nearby to tie into.
 
Excavate the roots. Use a drill and long bit to sample the rind/ decay.

Price the job for a crane or lift or include specified collateral damage in quote, as applicable. Climb it if you choose. This isn't your problem. Its theirs. You're the solution.
 
You can't see it in the pictures but there's a house right next to it. Part of the trunk might need to be rigged onto itself when sectioning. But in that case like you said I could do smaller pieces.
 
Snap cut 32" chunks. Lift them off and drop them straight down. Put a sheet of plywood against the house or anything else that needs protection. Find a piece of soft ground to drop them on so they don't bounce much.
 
I think a telling point is that your photos show lots of reaction wood on either side of the void. Reaction wood is often significantly stronger than the original wood put on by the tree. Try putting a throw-line in the top of the tree and pull on it enough to get the tree swaying gently. You're looking to see the slight load you're applying to the top of the tree transmitted and absorbed by the entire length of the trunk. If the entire tree sways.. good. If you see what looks like a pivot point in the trunk with no motion below it.....bad.
 
climbingmonkey24 said:
View attachment 47478 View attachment 47477 Looked at this hemlock. Think it's safe enough to climb? The sketchy part for me was the bottom, I stuck my fingers in there and was able to go in quite a bit, but the other side of the trunk appears fairly strong (granted you can't see inside).

No other trees nearby to tie into.
Click to expand...


You can see inside. Carve out the crap in the middle. Poke right through it with a probe/ rebar and hammer. That junk in the middle is junk.

Roots!


Any lean? multiple tops or single leader?

You can probably just 'firewood' it down.

Ziplining side-loads the tree.
 
southsoundtree said:
You can see inside. Carve out the crap in the middle. Poke right through it with a probe/ rebar and hammer. That junk in the middle is junk.

Roots!


Any lean? multiple tops or single leader?

You can probably just 'firewood' it down.

Ziplining side-loads the tree.
Click to expand...
No real lean. Pretty much straight up. Not rediculously tall either. Trunk splits into two smaller tops. Nothing crazy.
 
Are you in Port Ludlow?

I'd look for Annosus conks inside. Annosus root and butt disease accounts for some of why hemlocks are called hemrots.


A veteran climber died in a 35' dead hemlock that failed under him, couple years back. Relative to a TB member.

That's why I'm pressing the ROOTS issue, that nobody is commenting on. The weak link in the chain breaks the whole continuity. I broke a strong chain link the other day, literally. Supposedly grade 100, right at the link weld. Maybe it was levered. I was choking a log with a chain after my hydraulic cylinder broke on my mini. I was shocked. Luckily, my load was low, if it suddenly released when raised, I could have flipped the mini.
 
southsoundtree said:
Are you in Port Ludlow?

I'd look for Annosus conks inside. Annosus root and butt disease accounts for some of why hemlocks are called hemrots.


A veteran climber died in a 35' dead hemlock that failed under him, couple years back. Relative to a TB member.

That's why I'm pressing the ROOTS issue, that nobody is commenting on. The weak link in the chain breaks the whole continuity. I broke a strong chain link the other day, literally. Supposedly grade 100, right at the link weld. Maybe it was levered. I was choking a log with a chain after my hydraulic cylinder broke on my mini. I was shocked. Luckily, my load was low, if it suddenly released when raised, I could have flipped the mini.
Click to expand...

I'm in MA.
 
Live or dead?

Google maps/ Street View does amazing things. What is the address?

It wasn't hard to find the cottonwood that was in the crushed garage/ crap cranework/ genie lift video.
 
southsoundtree said:
Are you in Port Ludlow?

I'd look for Annosus conks inside. Annosus root and butt disease accounts for some of why hemlocks are called hemrots.


A veteran climber died in a 35' dead hemlock that failed under him, couple years back. Relative to a TB member.

That's why I'm pressing the ROOTS issue, that nobody is commenting on. The weak link in the chain breaks the whole continuity. I broke a strong chain link the other day, literally. Supposedly grade 100, right at the link weld. Maybe it was levered. I was choking a log with a chain after my hydraulic cylinder broke on my mini. I was shocked. Luckily, my load was low, if it suddenly released when raised, I could have flipped the mini.
Click to expand...
It was brown cubical rot, not annosus. I agree to be skeptical though. Good solid few swings of the back end of an ax, and or a quick increment core (all of 5 minuets) will either settle your mind or change your plan of attack.
 
climbingmonkey24 said:
View attachment 47478 View attachment 47477 Looked at this hemlock. Think it's safe enough to climb? The sketchy part for me was the bottom, I stuck my fingers in there and was able to go in quite a bit, but the other side of the trunk appears fairly strong (granted you can't see inside).

No other trees nearby to tie into.
Click to expand...
Ha! Just saw the photo. That callus is going to be some tough wood, just slow and steady, good rope crew, avoid zipping anything too big (stick to limbs, and half if needed). Burn the top if you need to lower it.
 
climbingmonkey24 said:
View attachment 47478 View attachment 47477 Looked at this hemlock. Think it's safe enough to climb? The sketchy part for me was the bottom, I stuck my fingers in there and was able to go in quite a bit, but the other side of the trunk appears fairly strong (granted you can't see inside).

No other trees nearby to tie into.
Click to expand...

The picture does not show much, and also does not show much of an issue for climbing and rigging. The wound wood response growth is substantial, indicating that the tree has survived for a while since the injury event, and that it is past the acute trauma stage where one would proceed with most caution. All the comments made are great, and, interestingly, apply to any tree. Trees lack ratings, so you are responsible for rating the forces that they can withstand. Since the wind hasn't knocked it down (if you get wind in your area), you can probably climb it. If it's just more of what's in the photos, the tree should behave largely like one with no wounds. Just do what's comfortable for your ability and experience. You can always find another one like that, later in your career.
 
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