Original post specified "new climber". My first formal training was the Arboriculture class in the Horticultural short course at Penn State. Our first lab was spent inside learning knots. We had 12 knots to learn. You could not climb until you could t-d-s all of them correctly the first try. They have served me well for 50 years.
Where do you start training a new climber?
- Thread starter Phil
- Start date
ATH
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Findlay, Ohio
I was asking about this part:
"The City I work for requires testing before one can start a tree care company and obtain their business license. There is a field demonstration portion that includes 6 basic knots."
Does a tree service company who doesn't do overhead work require the same field demonstration?
That is the dilemma in this city. We are the second largest city in Georgia yet have no tree services that do any kind of PHC and few who do reasonable preservation work. So the question you ask has never come up. Hopefully some day it will and at that point we will have to adjust the field demonstration to address it. I would love it see it...after I retire.
climbingmonkey24
Carpal tunnel level member
- Location
- United States
I’ve never really had to fully train anyone starting from scratch to the point of actually sending them in the tree on their own because I’ve done all my own climbing or have had an already experienced climber up there. However, what I have done before and what I would probably do going forward for someone who has little to no climbing experience but is interested in learning, is to start incorporating training while they’re working on the ground. That is to say, while I’m in the canopy I’ll make a point to explain certain things that I’m doing and why. Get them familiar with different processes, decision-making, pieces of gear, etc. When I feel it’s appropriate and when they’re ready, I would have them saddle up and try ascending into the tree with me in the canopy with them.
I like the idea of being able to do training separately from an actual job because you don’t have to worry about production, time constraints, among other concerns. But I think with the right project there could be some good opportunities to have a new climber in the tree while getting the work done. Especially for a smaller operation. Not only is it an opportunity to train someone on climbing techniques, but also on the various aspects of the actual tree work. For instance, you can explain to someone how to make a certain cut, but actually seeing it done up close is a different story; or setting a TIP, redirect, rigging, the list goes on…
I would likely start a new climber off with a prusik hitch or something similar. Focus on the basics before getting into different mechanical devices and such.
I like the idea of being able to do training separately from an actual job because you don’t have to worry about production, time constraints, among other concerns. But I think with the right project there could be some good opportunities to have a new climber in the tree while getting the work done. Especially for a smaller operation. Not only is it an opportunity to train someone on climbing techniques, but also on the various aspects of the actual tree work. For instance, you can explain to someone how to make a certain cut, but actually seeing it done up close is a different story; or setting a TIP, redirect, rigging, the list goes on…
I would likely start a new climber off with a prusik hitch or something similar. Focus on the basics before getting into different mechanical devices and such.
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