You know those days....

[Jeff]

You know those days when climbing is GREAT! It may be a big tree, a hard climb or a long day, but you're totally convinced that you have the greatest job in the world and it's so satisfying that you would (almost) do it for free?

And then, there are days like today, at the other end of the spectrum. High temp of 22 (-6 C), wind 20 to 30 miles per hour and light snow falling all day. Good size 3 leader oak overhanging the front of the house to be removed. Would be an easy bucket truck removal, but the @#$%! mechanic didn't properly fix everything last week that he was supposed to fix and the bucket is back in the repair shop! Numb fingers, wind burned face, wind rocking my TIP all over the place, limb walking out over the chimney on the slippery snow covered bark, spikes don't want to stay in the frozen wood, saws have to be primed and choked EVERY start 'cause its so cold. You starting thinking you must truly be crazy for doing this for X dollars per hour. Would this be worth it for 5X per hour? No. 10X? Maybe..

I'm not the only one that does this, right?

 

[treewill]

The good days wouldn't be that good if the bad days weren't so bad. Every tree climber who stays with it has to accept the love/hate of the job. Just my opinion.

As for me, I thought I was clever; escaping Oregon winter, coming to New Zealand. But I spent today doing cypress removals in pouring rain, battling 90mph winds. I guess the joke is on me this time.

 

[Crazy_Jimmy]

In 2011 after we had 69 consecutive 100 degree days I really started thinking. Luckily we have had a couple mild summers since then. But we all have our good days and bad, I think I try and block out the bad stuff .haha

 

[Mark Chisholm]

That's the ticket Jim. Control your thoughts and the bad times breeze by.

 

[Pelorus]

Currently here (2 hours north of Toronto, ON) it is -22F with a windchill of -36F.
Wood stove is struggling to keep the house at 68F.
No climbing today, or yesterday, or in the immediate forecast. Some days you are farther ahead to not try to get stuff done that can wait until better weather. Hard on equipment and human life.

 

[Mark Chisholm]

Word!

 

[Bixler]

Man, you guys are lucky, it's been 60 and sunny here for days on end. Perfect weather, boring!

 

[Phil]

I thought about this a lot on those winter days when I had to put my ropes in the truck so I could untie the knots. Plus, the body does not stay young and nimble forever. My solution...keep my eyes open for a job in the municipal sector...which I now have. It is way more boring and my days of climbing at work are over, but I still get to notch and drop or do bucket work and since I have a strong background in working productively and safely, I've been helping with in-house training. As a bonus, I'm not super sore at the end of the day either. Tree work is fun, but when you do it on a daily basis, it gets old. I found myself changing jobs every cpl years or so to change things up. Several years on the private side, 4 years in line clearance while running my own gig in the off hours, now on to municipal/gvt work. I will say this, despite the govt work being way more low key, the benefits are way better from what I used to have. There are issues to be sure (promotional methods, politics, not being able to fire lazy sacks of crop) but everywhere has issues of some sorts. For the sake of self-preservation, I feel I have made a good choice.

If I didn't have a child, I always liked the idea of contacting reputable companies and working out 4 or 6 month work stints around the country/world changing locations/employers to follow the nice weather. Very gypsy kind of life style but a huge opportunity to learn and advance.


"To be satisfied with a little, is the greatest wisdom; and he that increaseth his riches, increaseth his cares; but a contented mind is a hidden treasure, and trouble findeth it not." - Akhenaton

or in modern english:
"Mo' money, mo' problems"

 

[oldoakman]

Phil,
I agree with your views of muni work. I have also followed the same general course you have and totally enjoy my current position. As to your gypsy reference, you should find a copy of Heartwood, an epic poem about gypsy tree work set in your area. The author is a former tree worker that is an english professor at some college in Nebraska. I forget his name. It is different reading for sure. You might be able to find it on Amazon.

 

[marlinspiker]

thats why I'm home drinking coffee today.

 

[bwktreeserv]

Oh man! Im from Oregon but in CT visiting family. Was out sledding with my 2.5 yr old this morning and thinking how happy I am that I wasn't climbing today. Brutal with the wind. Stay safe!

Ben

 

[treehumper]

When my mind starts heading in that direction I just remember working in the corporate jungle and it makes the day much, much, better!