Who needs spurs?

My first time climbing with spikes on a job was around 1988... and I had no clue what in the hell I was doing. With time I climbed everything with spikes..(EVERYTHING) and was damn good at it too. After a coupe years I started to understand more and more about the harm of spiking trees that I was pruning. I started working more and more on my climbing skills and left the spikes in the truck. I have become a more proficient climber without spikes than I ever could have with them. I agree that they are a use full tool to add to the many tools we use. I remove trees faster than I ever have in my life and get better at it everyday, mostly without spikes. I have come along way in my journey to be the best arborist I can be, and the best climber I can be. Climb Safe
 
How about a conifer? I can't imagine blocking one down without spurs. Do you leave stubs? I can see it as possible but better and faster. What's the technique?
 
I don't leave stubs!!! Stubs come back to haunt you. How do rock climbers climb a 2000' vertical rock cliff???????? They don't have spikes. How many tribes live in trees that don't use spikes? I never said I don't use them and I don't disagree with the use of them..... I just don't need em like I used to.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I don't use spurs and my quota is met each and every day and then some. I remove trees faster than I ever have in my life and get better at it everyday (without spikes).

[/ QUOTE ]

Not trying to be an @ss but with a statement like this, one would think you don't use spurs. Just a little confusing.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I don't use spurs and my quota is met each and every day and then some. I remove trees faster than I ever have in my life and get better at it everyday (without spikes).

[/ QUOTE ]

Not trying to be an @ss but with a statement like this, one would think you don't use spurs. Just a little confusing.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry to mislead. I do use spikes. I climb so much without them it's almost to the point I don't need them much anymore. I'm not the best at wording things and didn't mean for any confusion. I don't use them like I use to in the past as I wasn't as good at climbing back then. I own a pair and use them when needed. I will reword my statement you quoted.
 
[ QUOTE ]

how does he stay in position on bare leaders?



[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks Jeff, for the only one doing removals without spurs for responding.

And sorry i was away from the buzz for days, very busy.

Doesn't quite tell me, but maybe the details would be too long.

I doubt I need them anyway. I do this on big trees that were topped 35 years earlier and I'm doing a restoration trim.

but I do know, that on a lot of those long thin, limbless leaders, they do get me tired. I haven't watched a climber yet that scrambles up them like I do (I'm sure most of you do too).

I can do it, yes. But if it was a removal tree, for Damn sure I'd be using spurs.

I'm glad someone started this thread, I had no idea there were even any climbers out there that preferred NOT to wear spurs on tree removals.

hey, if you are comfortable with it and get it done, I don't have a problem with that.

I just wonder if you are working in different trees then us.

today, we did multiple Tulip tree removals, most around 115 ft I think. Most lengthy and thin. I wiggled around on the top of one bare trunk after I worked the top out of it and said that I needed a hoola hoop. Groundworker replied, yeah, you could probably make it circle around the tree all the way to the ground.

Thinking of those trees today; multiple, multiple cuts on vertical stems and limbs with no crotches or slant. How do you stand with the right shoes and tension on vertical stuff? how do you reach the place you want to notch it when hanging off a friction saver and lanyard only?

yeah, a foot ascender would help give me the height, but not keep me totally vertical and the exact position.

It's just hard for me to understand how you do removals in trees like we do, without spurs. I'm not saying it's impossible.

I'd love to view one of you spurless guys at work.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I had no idea there were even any climbers out there that preferred NOT to wear spurs on tree removals.



[/ QUOTE ]

For me, the idea of choosing NOT to wear spurs on a removal shows a lack of judgement.

I have watched experienced climbers remove large trees without spurs on, on all the occasions what I witnessed was an afront to common sense. There were lots of situations where they looked extremely uncomfortable and precariously balanced with a saw running at full revs.

There should be as much derision for people who climb spurless on removals as there is for people who wear spurs on a pruning job.
 
There should be as much derision for people who climb spurless on removals as there is for people who wear spurs on a pruning job.

[/ QUOTE ]

Whoa there, that may be a bit extreme Grovemeister.

While spurs may give a climber a better working position on some trees, they can be a pain in the foot, when your on them all day.

Some climbers feel that they can work just as effectively without them. Personally I'm with you in using spurs most of the time when removing. If some guy can work without them just as safe/fast then power to him.
 
I have done removals with no spurs, I have done removals with spurs wearing slip on shoes,I have done removals cutting the tops by twos, but I must say wearing only one spur is quite the news! I have never spiked a tree that is not coming down, but I have spiked a tree with no helmet when no one was around.....
 
[ QUOTE ]


There should be as much derision for people who climb spurless on removals as there is for people who wear spurs on a pruning job.

[/ QUOTE ]

that may be a bit extreme Grovemeister.



[/ QUOTE ]

I agree, it was a stupid thing to say.
 
Yeah I could see why you're so sore after wearing spurs if you only wear one.

If your spurs hurt you it means you're not standing right, they're not adjusted properly, or your not wearing them enough.

Mine were hurting me today, after not wearing them all winter.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I have done removals with no spurs, I have done removals with spurs wearing slip on shoes,I have done removals cutting the tops by twos, but I must say wearing only one spur is quite the news! I have never spiked a tree that is not coming down, but I have spiked a tree with no helmet when no one was around.....

[/ QUOTE ]


Have you been reading Dr. Seuss again?
grin.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New threads New posts

Back
Top Bottom