I was going to suggest that program but you beat me to it.
When people try to do their own treework
- Thread starter Mark Chisholm
- Start date
- Location
- Pennsylvania
They have classes scheduled for September too!!
Just curious. When they say "climbing", they are referring to climbing live trees for pruning, etc. I don't think they are talking about spur climbing for purposes of limbing and removal. My primary interest is to learn how to climb with spurs and ropes for removing limbs to ultimately bring large trees down.
Thanks!
- Location
- Smoky lake
If u hear ladder and tree work come out in the same sentence usually its a recipe for disaster
VenasNursery
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Michigan
Yes but idiot and anything can equal disaster
Ladders have their place and you can’t fix STUPID
A friend of mine teaches that course.
Reach
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Atglen, PA
You are correct, this is a pruning/rope climbing course. No spurs will be used during the course. It is what I recommend however for anyone starting out. If you can climb without spurs, using spurs is easy - strap them on and go, after you’re tied in with your rope like you would be anyway. If you learn with spurs first, you’re less likely to learn how to actually climb properly, you’ll end up just learning to spike a tree-shaped pole.
dmonn
Branched out member
- Location
- Port Washington Wisconsin
I'm a DIY homeowner "pretend" arborist. Not wealthy, and just retired. I had about 400 ash trees (mostly small) on my property that the EAB killed. I started removing them before they died, and got about 250 of them down. I no longer climb them. I started slow and cautious. I couldn't possible afford to have somebody else do the work, but felt that with enough research and caution I could learn to do the work safely. So far so good. I'm getting to be a decent climber and love it. I've learned a ton through this forum, experience, and other research. As the homeowner, I have the luxury of being able to be overly cautious, take my time, think through and analyze the situation before doing any of the work. I don't need to get the job done to make a living at it. There's also no way I could afford to pay somebody to drop and clean up 400 trees.
My neighbor started cutting some of his dead trees (much smaller number--maybe 20) with help from his kids, wife, and relatives. His kids are 20+ yrs old, and his wife is pretty competent around machinery. I saw his son setting up a ladder to cut off some large branches, and suggested he look up some youtube videos of chainsaws with ladders. He did, and then my neighbor asked how I would do it. I said I'd climb it for him, and drop the limbs. I did it pretty quickly and easily. I then helped him drop a bunch of other trees, and let him use some of my rigging equipment. I also showed him how to notch and back cut, and how to rig and pretension a line to make sure the tree didn't fall back and pinch his saw. I had to leave before they were finished for the day, but they seemed to be doing OK on their own.
The next day I saw his son making steep-angled back cuts, and pointed out what could happen and why he should make horizontal back cuts. He understood, and started making proper cuts.
A few weeks later as I passed their yard I saw that they had created a nice barber chair from a 24 inch tree. I asked if it had gotten "exciting" when that happened (yes), and pointed out why it probably happened. They said they had "pretensioned" the tree with a 1/2 inch cable and a 4WD truck. I pointed out the difference between pretensioning and overtensioning. They seemed to get it. I suggested that next time they want to work on a "difficult" tree they should give me a call. So far no injuries or property damage, and they have only a few trees left to deal with. I'm waiting for the call when they want to tackle the big silver maple in their front yard.
My neighbor started cutting some of his dead trees (much smaller number--maybe 20) with help from his kids, wife, and relatives. His kids are 20+ yrs old, and his wife is pretty competent around machinery. I saw his son setting up a ladder to cut off some large branches, and suggested he look up some youtube videos of chainsaws with ladders. He did, and then my neighbor asked how I would do it. I said I'd climb it for him, and drop the limbs. I did it pretty quickly and easily. I then helped him drop a bunch of other trees, and let him use some of my rigging equipment. I also showed him how to notch and back cut, and how to rig and pretension a line to make sure the tree didn't fall back and pinch his saw. I had to leave before they were finished for the day, but they seemed to be doing OK on their own.
The next day I saw his son making steep-angled back cuts, and pointed out what could happen and why he should make horizontal back cuts. He understood, and started making proper cuts.
A few weeks later as I passed their yard I saw that they had created a nice barber chair from a 24 inch tree. I asked if it had gotten "exciting" when that happened (yes), and pointed out why it probably happened. They said they had "pretensioned" the tree with a 1/2 inch cable and a 4WD truck. I pointed out the difference between pretensioning and overtensioning. They seemed to get it. I suggested that next time they want to work on a "difficult" tree they should give me a call. So far no injuries or property damage, and they have only a few trees left to deal with. I'm waiting for the call when they want to tackle the big silver maple in their front yard.
Serf Life
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Maine Island
Sounds like you are a good neighbor @dmonn keep it up!
- Location
- Home of the New Jersey Devils
That is quite the story! Amazing really. I could see every step happening as you told the story like I was there. Lucky guys really.
I have rescued many a people from themselves including saws stuck in a tree cut mostly through and pinched by a top swaying in the wind on top of a ladder. I've taken trees off of houses that looked like storm damage that wasn't. I've even climbed and removed trees that have killed my customers relatives when they had tried to do the job themselves. None of it makes me enjoy watching people try to tackle storm damage without proper training. It sucks to think that the things we all do and love can cause so much trouble for others.
Matthew Stone
New member
- Location
- Scranton
Wanted to chime in with a local home owner BIG FAIL that I saw a while ago. Next to a friends property, so I'm sure he got one of my cards. Bad picture but I didn't want to be rude.. it's cut and I'm guessing no wedge marks on the stump. This was about two months ago and there's still a large portion of it on the building. I have no issues with letting people destroy their own stuff, or possibly themselves. When you poke the bull you get the horns, so to speak. 
- Location
- Home of the New Jersey Devils
Quite common unfortunately. Damage isn't a worry of mine though. I feel the same as you there. I don't like the risk of injury or worse.
BoomBitch222
Participating member
- Location
- Roseville
Not all of us lol My ego is what pushed me to attempt career paths that were not really typical for females and to do anything to excel no matter how hard or dangerous and it has served me well. That and knowing that without a degree, learning a trade was the only way to make good money. My ego is what made me step forward to take on anything that my co-workers were intimidated by because what actually happens when most females step into a male dominated arena is that we feel we have more to prove and thus, go harder.
However, I have always known the difference between being brave and being stupid. At work, I know when initiative is needed vs when someone is just looking for a person dumb enough to do something sketchy. I have tons of initiative but I do not supply stupidity.
Doing things that are out of my league has been my main track, but when attempting things like car repair, I usually get a mechanic friend to help. I would probably attempt small home projects but hire a professional for bigger things because I dont like ending up frustrated when I get in over my head with something.
Overall, we women are more prone to do difficult things to prove we can run with the big dogs but you’re correct that we are less likely to be reckless about it
my neighbor had a friend cut a tree down for them, supposedly pre tensioned it with the winch on the truck, to fall away from the house, started to cut and the line snapped, tree spun around and fell on the house.
my issues:
1: when cutting a tree down, either you 100% know what your doing or hire a pro, its cheaper in the long run
2: pulling a tree over is a whole different animal
3: it SHOULD have been topped, and chunked out
4: with how thick the forest around the tree was, I see ZERO way it would have gone the intended direction without getting snagged
also, I talked with their grandson about it, when I mentioned that there was no damage to the stump from tearout (And you could see that they cut ALL the way thru the hinge) he said "He is the head of many different things, he knows what he is doing, it is the winch's fault since the line broke"
1: I dont care what he is the head of, it doesnt mean crap weather or not he knows what he is doing
2: you really shouldnt rely on just the one winch line to stop it
3: LEARN TO NOTCH AND BACK CUT
4: the winch is an inanimate object, it is the owners fault for not knowing the condition of the line, and overloading it
my issues:
1: when cutting a tree down, either you 100% know what your doing or hire a pro, its cheaper in the long run
2: pulling a tree over is a whole different animal
3: it SHOULD have been topped, and chunked out
4: with how thick the forest around the tree was, I see ZERO way it would have gone the intended direction without getting snagged
also, I talked with their grandson about it, when I mentioned that there was no damage to the stump from tearout (And you could see that they cut ALL the way thru the hinge) he said "He is the head of many different things, he knows what he is doing, it is the winch's fault since the line broke"
1: I dont care what he is the head of, it doesnt mean crap weather or not he knows what he is doing
2: you really shouldnt rely on just the one winch line to stop it
3: LEARN TO NOTCH AND BACK CUT
4: the winch is an inanimate object, it is the owners fault for not knowing the condition of the line, and overloading it
replying to?
if it was my post, they had to get their carport rebuilt, a new roof, get a few antennas/satellite dish re installed, have someone else come out and remove the tree from the house, and have the power company shut the power off for a day or two
absolutely, noone hurt, everything good
climbingmonkey24
Carpal tunnel level member
- Location
- United States
The people who are determined they can pull the heavy leaner leader right above their roof with a rope and a guy pulling with a pickup truck to save a buck might not care what you have to say. Their mind is made up.
Then there may be a few select people who genuinely question if it’s something they may be able to do themselves and ask for your opinion, at which case if you think it is beyond the safe capabilities of a homeowner you make your recommendation.
Ultimately all we can do is advise and give our professional while also polite opinion.
We can’t stop homeowners from trying to do it themselves, only educate on the potential risks and dangers when appropriate.
Videos like this on YouTube don’t help the situation either when people search how to remove a tree themselves and this pops up at the very top:
Then there may be a few select people who genuinely question if it’s something they may be able to do themselves and ask for your opinion, at which case if you think it is beyond the safe capabilities of a homeowner you make your recommendation.
Ultimately all we can do is advise and give our professional while also polite opinion.
We can’t stop homeowners from trying to do it themselves, only educate on the potential risks and dangers when appropriate.
Videos like this on YouTube don’t help the situation either when people search how to remove a tree themselves and this pops up at the very top:
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- Location
- Home of the New Jersey Devils
At least he is using a handsaw and getting out of the tree before the action. Better than some. Obviously not the most efficient or safety minded.
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