Arborist 101: advice to folks that want to climb

[Bermie]

Formally trained... Treevolution and Merrist Wood...now, does trying stuff learned on AS count as formal training? I had years of horticulture and landscaping behind me before ever leaving the ground!

I try to meet up with climbers whenever I travel...nice to try or different stuff without the work pressure.

 

[treeslayer]

I try to meet up with climbers whenever I travel...nice to try or different stuff without the work pressure.

goes both ways, too. I meet a LOT of climbers while traveling, and the :censored: I see is mind boggling. Darwin would have a field day with some of the "treeguys" I've met. Seen way too much stupidty, and I have noticed (learned is not the correct word in this instance ) a lot of don't do's.

 

[rob b]

I did a 16 week internship in college for a large mostly commercial tree business They had me in a harness the first day and ive been climbing ever since 1993. The scariest thing is seeing two old men with a ladder and a chainsaw!

 

[Nailsbeats]

Been climbing and cutting for money since I was 12. Trained by my father who was an Asplundh foreman. Formally schooled and trained to climb poles at 19, Electrical Power Distribution degree. Found aboristsite a couple years back and went all new school and balls out with gear, while maintaining the foundation my father laid.

 

[Treetom]

I've been climbing since I was 5-years-old: trees, buildings, antenna towers, bridges. After college I decided I wanted to cut trees when I grew up. My first "bull ropes" were 50-ft 3/8" nylon ropes, 2 joined together with a fishermans knot in the middle so I could rope down the high stuff. I eventually graduated to Samson ropes but not before using 1" diameter hemp, easy to grip, but very heavy. My first saddles were the old leather linesman belts my old man picked up at yard sales, the same place I got my first tree saws, Mini Macs and Power Macs. A friend of mine that works for the City bought me my first Kleins, without pads, as payment for cutting down some oak trees for him. I made my own pads out of some wide Tandy belt leather I had, held together with 1/4-20 bolts and sewn together by a shoe repairman. For years, my lanyard was a 3/4 inch hemp rope, no snaps or beeners. Climbing line, didn't need that, I spiked everything. Or just used the bull rope. In the mid-nineties I got my hands on a Bailey's catalogue and made some improvements to my climbing set up. I joined AS in 2005. No longer self-taught.

 

[outonalimbts]

goes both ways, too. I meet a LOT of climbers while traveling, and the :censored: I see is mind boggling. Darwin would have a field day with some of the "treeguys" I've met. Seen way too much stupidty, and I have noticed (learned is not the correct word in this instance ) a lot of don't do's.

:agree2:

Met some interesting types over the years, you wonder how they made it this long...

I especially like the Hispanics- these guys know how to work, last week I was driving down the road, and I start to pass this yard with 6 guys in the tree-
it was like 40 degrees F out, none had shoes on, no safety gear at all, swinging machetes around crazy like in this ladies tree!

I watched them for a few minutes, then I shook my head and kept on going.

The tree has that "Tree Hacker" kind of look they paid for now. Perhaps in a couple of weeks I will stop by and leave my business card and a pamphlet about proper pruning.

:chainsawguy:

 

[lego1970]

A little of both, but mostly taught.

 

[ozzy42]

Maybe I should have made this a poll. I like hearing how you guys started, but please conclude with an opinion. Something like:

"I am mostly self-taught" or "No, I was properly trained"

Properly self trained.

Learned most of what I know from reading ,a few lessons from some vets here and there,and some hard knocks.Well actually quite a few hard knocks.

I would have prefered to have been properly trained,but the guys I worked with were tough guy cowboys.
They always got er done ,but I decided early when I went on my own on to go the safe way.

The little bit that I was taught was from a few old guys,and old school.
So I am still learning.

In this game if you ever stop learnig,,,,you're backing up.

 

[gumtree]

I am professionally trained by the Sherrill tree catalog, a joke of a college course, Tree Climbers Companion :rockn:, On Rope, and way too much YouTube. I started a blog that is going to start with the basics and gear to help ignorant folk like me not make the same mistakes as me. Please Check it out. http://talesofatreeman.blogspot.com

 

[canopyboy]

Self taught. Did everything you're not supposed to. Chainsaws and treework on the ground all my life. But climbing.....

Was climbing around the rafters on oily machinery in the building where I work. 50' to the concrete. Decided I should talk to the safety office about fall arrest. The guy had me watch a 30 minute video, and it showed some guys doing rescue. They let me buy a "self rescue kit" which had two ascenders and a static rope.

Then I decided to take down a 24" dbh red oak in front of my house. Got some friends to work the ground for me, and up I went. No spikes. Fall arrest harness. Geez that hurt. Got about 30' up and went to work. First branch was about 7", and longer and heavier than I thought. First lesson in rigging. Scared myself bad enough when it started to move that I had the guys on the ground cinch the ropes down and I bailed. Re-evaluated and went back up. I could barely feel my legs when I got down, but I was hooked.

Then I got the TCC and a better harness and things improved. Eventually got spikes too. This summer made the hobby official with a real company, insurance, license, etc.

 

[Mikecutstrees]

Hey Gumtree,

I appreciate your trying to help out new climbers, but you have alot to learn yourself before giving out advise. Start by climbing and working with the lean and not against it. Also geckos are about the most expensive spurs you can find, newbies might want to start with something easier on the budget. I commend your Blog, working your first tree around power lines isn't something I'd advocate to new climbers either. Work safe..... Mike

 

[treeseer]

Like ozzy, properly self-trained, in the field, with all the help that a full library can give, and great examples from clever colleagues.

 

[lxt]

Gumtree,

I did check out your blog, doesnt say much about you as far as experience, does show that you have bled doing tree work????? Not good!!

Im not sure if you are experienced enough to provide suggestions, techniques, etc.. on a blog??? No disrespect...there are many much more experienced than you (determined by your blog writings) that should....but dont give advice, opinions, suggestions, etc...

you do have a wonderful & beautiful family..... SO STAY SAFE!!!

those wanting to learn the right way: find a good instructor!!! read & understand the basics, Never go it alone.... and much more!!

this is a growing problem in our trade, many see us who have been doing tree care forever..making it look easy, they learn how much it pays in some instances & this prompts them into giving it a try (self taught) to add a little diversity to an existing biz (usually lawn care/landscape). I have never & I mean never met a self trained trimmer who can do what a professionally trained trimmer can do with the same amount of time under their belt!!

this is especially true in line clearance, I have been responsible for training many, many many trimmers.....funny how a residential tree company owner puts his slate out there & states he can do all phases of tree work.....when hired in line clearance he starts out as an apprentice & all his self taught doings/ bad habits....would get him killed! in some instances I was amazed he had`nt killed himself in residential work already.

some of these types take the pro teaching methods & re-learn so to work safe & gain further insight & knowledge...while the other side of that coin there are those who think their way is the best....they dont last long!!!!



LXT................

 

[D Mc]

Professionally trained by one of the most innovative climbers and riggers I have known. Being a crew leader required not only the knowledge but the physical ability to do whatever was required. This included big, gnarlly removals over multi-million dollar homes, with or without crane assist, and the ability to perform and understand the most delicate trimming.

We can all be thankful for the easy access to information these forums provide but it will never remove the need for in-the-field training.

If you are an arborist you have chosen a very complex and diverse profession that will provide a lifetime of challenges.

Dave

 

[tree md]

I started out working for a landscaping company who had an arborist on staff. It usually fell to me to work with him, run ropes, saw and drag brush. About a year later I went to work with a small tree service owner. Worked a couple of weeks on the ground then he let me climb when I asked to, under supervision. I guess I was lucky that he was getting old and preferred to give me directions and let me climb. I climbed for him full time for about 3 years and continued to contract with him for about 10 years. I also climbed a couple of years for the larger outfits before I went out on my own so I guess I was formally trained. I learned a lot on my own though. Most of my rope climbing has been self taught and a lot of it has been from reading about other's techniques right here on AS, other sites and books.

I think nothing beats hands on training. If you live long enough to learn what "not" to do you might make a pretty good climber. Hands on training with a mentor gives you the experience to intuitively know WLL's. After a while you intuitively know what is a SWL on rope as well as what you can do with a crane. After you know that you can figure out a lot of neat tricks on your own when it comes to rigging.

 

[Giel]

Self taught on the tree climbing bit, but had a few years experience rock-climbing. Professionally trained on felling. Started out with a forestry education that I didn't finish. First tree was an Elm removal next to a house. Bought a second-hand chainsaw (the old alumminum-cased 020) and borrowed home-made spurs. Managed to cut my rigging line with the first branch hanging off it, the heavy ended bounced off the wall right next to the window. Oops. Finished it ok though, i.e. without damage.

Worked for 6 months with a local tree service as a groundie with occasional climbing thrown in. Learned a lot from the guys there. Went back to university (different study) and did free-lance climbing on the side. At the end of uni, some 5 years later, I did a tree climbing course of a week, just for the fun of it.

Thinking back to that first job still makes me shiver occasionally. Totally irresponsible and not a :censored: clue what I was doing.

Cheers,

 

[treejock1]

I pretty much just watched for a while and one day my crew chief said "GEAR UP!!". After 2 days of watching me I was off on my own. Of course I had questions on some of the harder trees(such as no central lead to hang ropes) but mostly learned by doing. Taught myself to work from a crane. I think becoming a good climber requires an equal share of "mentoring" and "just do it
".

 

[mbayer]

tree climbers companion

I am very interested in beginning to climb Ive heard alot of guys on here talk about the book the tree climbers companion, so i looked it up and saw there is several different copies. wondering which one i should get.also any other sources of info would be appreciated.Thanks

 

[Adkpk]

I climbed every tree in my neighborhood as a kid. But it took 40 years to find out how to get up on the first branch if it was out of reach. Thanks to you guys on AS. Totally self taught. I've read all the popular climbing books and have gone on to a few others recommended by ISA on tree care. Trees are good friends.

 

[Mikecutstrees]

I am very interested in beginning to climb Ive heard alot of guys on here talk about the book the tree climbers companion, so i looked it up and saw there is several different copies. wondering which one i should get.also any other sources of info would be appreciated.Thanks

I'm only aware of two. One in english and one in some other language that shouldn't be spoken here in this country. Get the one in english..... Mike