Hi there.
This is just a clarification on questions 1 & 2. Did you mean to say in your answer that you recommend 2 tie in points when operating a saw? Pardon me if this was obvious, lil too much eggnog messes with my brain.
Oh and Merry Christmas all.:wave:
Climbing Fool, I am combining my reply to you AND addressing the ongoing topic as well.
My method is to spike up removals, with a lanyard/gibbs ascender combo
(rope=short or a wire flipline =long). I have a 6' nylon web lanyard for back up and/or positioning. 100 %tie in. climbing line clipped on back of belt.
I seldom use a preset rope, unless the tree is BIG. and at 45, yes I like extension ladder to get a head start in the big ones.
I walk up on spikes, cutting off limbs, and on free drops, its me and the lanyard, on spikes. for big limbs that need lowering, I set the climbing rope for more mobility, = SAFER.
I do many trees without ever setting the rope, run up, run around limbing out, fly the top, block down. or pull the pole.
maybe an hour. maybe 15 minutes.
big trees, lowering, whittling,blocking 2-3 hours.
Yes, I am fast. time is money, wheres the next tree? but speed can kill.
But safety is paramount, and I keep that first. at my skill level.
disclaimer to rookies, novices, and wannabes.
I am an experienced climber, and I am in excellent health. It has taken me 30 years+ working with trees, and half that many climbing, to get to this point. it will take you all day to do what we skilled climbers can in an hour or two.
Do not think otherwise, or leave me out of your accident lawsuit.
saws are dangerous, climbing is strenuous, difficult and dangerous.
combining the two has gotta be 10 times as dangerous at least, for rookies.
new climbers must do every task with safety first, 100% tie in climbing
(connect 2nd lanyard or rope before disconnecting 1st when passing over obstructions.),
2 tie-ins when cutting. in case you cut one, understand? a rope and lanyard, 2 lanyards, 2 ropes, whatever.
being on a rope gives far greater positioning, setting a high tie in point first if possible, and will save a lot of time moving rope.
You have the rest of your life to do the tree safely and correctly.
It all goes wrong in an instant. one bad move or decision. and its all over. ever been hurt while climbing? tied to a tree? in the air? alone?
pretty god d amn far from the hospital.:censored: :censored:
can you start your chainsaw, and cut your climbing rope or lanyard, and climb down with one hand, cause you cut the other hand half off?
I nicked a hand once, IN A HURRY, and had to rappel out and go to the ER.
Could have been a lot worse.
Sure I'm grumpy, seen too many people hurt.
mostly young people, unskilled, overconfident smarta$$es, who ask and don't listen. waiting for a reply just to ask another question without processing the first answers.
IN A HURRY.