Anybody hear of a trunk snapping?

[JohnVander]

I got a job the other day removing a dead Scotch pine about 40' with alot of mass in the top. The climb to top it was easy except that the tree swayed a ton with very little movement(on my part). I ended up creeping up the trunk very quietly topped it, attached my bull rope, and got it down with little fuss. The tree was at least 28'' inches across at the base so it seemed safe. The wood seemed real lite when I was bucking it up. What do you guys think, could the trunk have snapped. I'm about 195 pounds.

Thanks
John

 

[Eagle1]

Did you band on the base of the trunk with a mallet? Or drill threw to see what kind of heart wood was left?
I can not say for sure, but 28", unless there are signs of decay or splits, you Might be safe.
Whenever I climb something dead, I try to tie in on a separate tree., if I can.
At the very least, perform a check on the tree.

 

[Eagle1]

Bang....not band.

 

[JohnVander]

Way more mass at the top, it had real significant limbs in the top third. I'd say a reverse pyramidal shape from 15' up. After the tree was down some of the neighbors told me the tree was long dead, I wonder if the roots could have gone? Like I said the wood was sound but very light. I guess I need to get a digital camera so I can really show you guys what is going on.

Thanks for the help,
John

 

[Lumberjack]

After you cut the top out, if you had a good LZ, then you coulda pulled on the bull rope and see if you could break it, if conditions allowed.

Depending on what killed it, it coulda had root problems, which killed it, compromising the tree while it was still alive, and even more so when it died.

Glad that you made it.

 

[Trees Company]

I don't think it would have broke. I don't want to sound big headed but I've seen my father who's been a climber and Nothing else for 32 years go up a poplar stem about thirty fet high and at a about a 70 degree angle that was over some sheds and the stem was pure cork. The spurs sank full depth with ease and it held, he's also about 195. So I don't think your weight would have been enough.

 

[Lumberjack]

Originally posted by Trees Company
I don't think it would have broke. I don't want to sound big headed but I've seen my father who's been a climber and Nothing else for 32 years go up a poplar stem about thirty fet high and at a about a 70 degree angle that was over some sheds and the stem was pure cork. The spurs sank full depth with ease and it held, he's also about 195. So I don't think your weight would have been enough.

Tht is too broad of a statement, and opens up liability. You say that it was safe, yet you havent even seen the tree, its base, or anything else concerning the tree.

Some trees that are dead will hold you, but are totally unsafe.

Good intentions with false recommindations still kills.

 

[Trees Company]

To broad of a statement

Thats why I said "think" not 'know' . Do you really think my opinion will be used as standard by anybody? I doubt it.

 

[Newfie]

Where's Rocky when we need him?

 

[Eagle1]

Where's Rocky when we need him?

The sad truth about that is the poster of this thread is a new commer with a good beginner question. Rocky would have ripped him apart and we might not have had the oppurtunity to keep him around.

 

[MasterBlaster]

I climbed 2 million dead trees, no big deal. I also not climbed 4 or 5. You have to know when you can, or can't. If the tree moves too much, I stop and rethink the situation.

I've seen no post in this thread that requires unleashing a Rocky upon it.

 

[rborist1]

:Eye:

 

[Eagle1]

I've seen no post in this thread that requires unleashing a Rocky upon it.

That is no bash. It is the cold truth. Can you tell me with truth that you do not agree?

 

[Trees Company]

MasterBlaster hit the nail right on the head.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Did you set a pull rope in the tree and tug it before you ascended? How do you know if the root system is sound? How do you know if the trunk is sound?

Do you want to die young?!

Climbing dead trees is the most dangerous aspect of our profession. Stack the deck in your favor by doing some testing before you climb. A ded blow hammer on a lanyard is an easy testing device. Give it the thump test. Even better is a cordless drill with a long bit.

It really bothers me when advice gets thrown around without anyone even seeing a picture of the tree. Even with a pic the advice can't be too specific. After reading the advice given here and on other threads it shouldn't surprise anyone that people are getting killed doing treework.

Tom

 

[MasterBlaster]

So whats all this bad advice, Tom?

 

[Trees Company]

I don't think its fair to say that we or who ever you refer to are contributing to non safety. I just don't know how to say or convey what I mean on almost anything on the internet. Considering the interpritations of some of the responses. I don't know how to make anybody grasp the sense of where I'm comming from. If your refereing to myself, I just can't explain the degree of excperiance that my father has. I just don't know what to say besides some times you gotta do what you gotta do as far as climbing goes.

 

[MasterBlaster]

One thing that will help in conveying your thoughts more effectively is to preview your reply, and take a look at how the words you typed come across when read.

You'll get better at it as you do it more often(no $hit).

 

[Eagle1]

What bad advice as right. My first reply was what you just said about the thump/drill test. After that, it is anyone guess here because we are not on the job site in question.

After reading the advice given here and on other threads it shouldn't surprise anyone that people are getting killed doing treework

Very harsh don't you think? Are you saying we are killing tree care workers?

 

[MasterBlaster]

Hey me first!

Tom must be getting some lunch.