Climbing Evergreens

[troutbum]

Hello all...I've been lurking around the forum for a while now, and decided to get on board.

For the past 3 years I've been running a cut crew, now its time for me to start climbing . We are a pretty small company, with only one climber on staff. We don't climb everyday, but a few times a week, and 90% of the trees removed are either lodgepole pine, or spruce. As I live just over 9000 ft in the rockies.

After a lot of reading, I'm wondering if our climber is working as safe as he can. For removals he will spike up and head up with his flip line w/o any additional TIP. Usually removes all limbs as he ascends, and logs down the stalk.

Ive watched him drop hundreds of trees like this, so thats what I know as the right way. So is there anyway to make this system safer? I just cant figure out how/where to tie into these trees.

Thanks
Steven

 

[lone wolf]

Hello all...I've been lurking around the forum for a while now, and decided to get on board.

For the past 3 years I've been running a cut crew, now its time for me to start climbing . We are a pretty small company, with only one climber on staff. We don't climb everyday, but a few times a week, and 90% of the trees removed are either lodgepole pine, or spruce. As I live just over 9000 ft in the rockies.

After a lot of reading, I'm wondering if our climber is working as safe as he can. For removals he will spike up and head up with his flip line w/o any additional TIP. Usually removes all limbs as he ascends, and logs down the stalk.

Ive watched him drop hundreds of trees like this, so thats what I know as the right way. So is there anyway to make this system safer? I just cant figure out how/where to tie into these trees.

Thanks
Steven

So just a flip line no climbing rope am I getting that right?

 

[moondoggie]

Cut the limbs on the way up. Using the climbing /lanyards. Then tie off up top.

 

[troutbum]

So just a flip line no climbing rope am I getting that right?

Yep...he carries a rope up and will use it to switch saws, or to get the rigging rope, but usually doesn't tie in unless hes pruning....no spurs if we aren't taking the whole tree

 

[lone wolf]

Yep...he carries a rope up and will use it to switch saws, or to get the rigging rope, but usually doesn't tie in unless hes pruning.

Well he dont have a failsafe if his lanyard gets hit with the saw. Tie in with both to be safe always. If he gets cut or injured he aint coming down with a lanyard he needs a rope. Ever try to come down with all the tendons cut in one hand and no rope?

 

[TheJollyLogger]

ANSI guidelines require two tie ins while cutting, one of which must be a path to the ground.

 

[troutbum]

Thanks for the info...after researching climbing more, I began to realize we could be climbing safer.

 

[lone wolf]

Thanks for the info...after researching climbing more, I began to realize we could be climbing safer.

Indeed, well at least you may listen.

 

[lone wolf]

And two hands on the saw as much as possible.

 

[troutbum]

I've got a wife and kid to come home to...

 

[BC WetCoast]

Get an adjustable friction saver, wrap it around the tree and put your climbing line through the eyes. This will give you the second tie in point. When you're blocking down, keep it lower than the lanyard. If you cut yourself, you can just rappel down your climbing line.

TITS - tie in twice stupid

 

[troutbum]

BCWetCoast, Thanks for the reply...
Thats what I was thinking for blocking, I appreciate the confirmation.

I'm still trying to figure out the how to get a rope into the tree to tie into while ascending. I can see getting a throw line into some of the pines, but most of the spruce are so dense it seems impossible.?.?

I appreciate all info and advice.

 

[BC WetCoast]

Most climbers won't put a top rope in a conifer when they remove it. Climb up and limb as you go, blow the top and block down. Your tie in's go with you.

 

[troutbum]

It's all coming together now! Gonna order a couple friction savers today. Hopefully we'll be done spraying next week and I'll be climbing.

 

[thetoolnut]

BCWetCoast, Thanks for the reply...
Thats what I was thinking for blocking, I appreciate the confirmation.

I'm still trying to figure out the how to get a rope into the tree to tie into while ascending. I can see getting a throw line into some of the pines, but most of the spruce are so dense it seems impossible.?.?

I appreciate all info and advice.

You don't put throw lines into a spruce, pine or other densly limbed softwood. Spike up it with a steel core flipline and have your climbing line choked around the stem using a prussik loop or a running bowline. Flip up your steel core lanyard and then then bring up your climbing line behind it. Spike up another bit then repeat. There are so many things that can go wrong working at heights that to just rely on one tie in is stupid in the extreem. Add a pro saw running at 24 m/s into the equation and the risks increase ten fold.

 

[TheShanks]

Flipline on the hips, and climbing line set up on the bridge. When you get to an obstical with the flipline throw one end of your climbing line around a higher set of braches and the stem. Tend the slack and then keep climbing. I used to prefer climbing with 2 flip lines but I found now I can advance quicker setting my climbing line a few feet higher and using it to climb past more obstructions at once.

One you blow the top use the friction saver choked on the stem so you have a point for your climbig line to run should you need to rapell. Yes its more stuff to climb up with, but it can save your life.

 

[troutbum]

Thanks for all of your replies...I've been super busy dropping and hauling trees, but finally had the opportunity to do some climbing today. Some one had already come through with a pole pruner, but the h.o. wanted more dead wood out. Threw a bag, tied in, used a ladder to enter, then climbed as high as needed. I did a few with the hand saw before i powered up.

I'm pretty stoked.

 

[JRoland]

Nice. One thing though, make sure everyone is agreed on how high you'll be deadwooding before you start otherwise you may end up body thrusting back up to get that one dead limb right above where you're tied into in the photo.