Climbing queen palms, help needed

[n8huntsman]

Hello. I've been trimming queens with an extension ladder, but now they are approaching 30' and the ladder is becoming dangerous. I was really considering using a tree stand and flip line but after some reading also want to consider more traditional approaches such as... an SRT and ascender? Can someone give me some suggestions on methods to use so that I can begin to research this stuff so that I can do it in the safest manner possible? Climbing with ropes has been intriguing to me forever, just never got into it. If this is a better method than the tree stand, I'd prefer it, just want to start small to learn. Some things I'm concerned with are throwing a rope over the palm. I don't want to hurt the heart of the palm. I'd also like the ability to start small on use the same technique on smaller, 20', palms without hurting them. Is there a better technique such as a false crotch that can be used on these trees?
Thanks

 

[mattfr12]

Rent a lift rope climbing isn't something you wanna just jump into. tie one knot wrong its lights out.

 

[arborjockey]

Tie another ladder onto the end of your extension ladder. or how about this.....call a tree company and go back to cleaning gutters while you practice climbing for awhile.Then again anybody can climb....1st thing go buy some spikes.....no no wait rent a bigger extension ladder....no no get the lift yeah yeah get the lift. :msp_razz::msp_razz:

 

[n8huntsman]

tie one knot wrong its lights out.

That's why I'm here! I'm going to do it. How safely depends on how much help I get. I don't expect to be spoon fed, just pointed in the right direction, and maybe a safety check before I buy or do something. I'm not going to do something I'm not 100% comfortable with. Please don't forget that everyone started somewhere.

 

[jefflovstrom]

Seems like you would be better off getting some training. One day with Jose Mercado at your site will pay for itself.
Jeff

 

[k5alive]

I try not to throw a rope in palms, i've seen them snap at 20-60 ft. You can rent an electric man lift for cheap and get done faster, i used to use ladders but one split on me like a zipper. best advice i can offer

 

[arborjockey]

we use these In bicicletta sulle palme

I looked up Queens palm to see whats going on
by studying google images this is what I conclude


#1 climb up the placed 2x4
#2 climb up on the back of your truck
#3 push it over, prune it, put it back

 

[k5alive]

damn i wish i knew italian

 

[beastmaster]

We have a 32 ft extension ladder just for those rare kings and queens over 25ft. I am not comfortable on ladders my self at lest tell their secured at the top. Once tied in my self they can take that Da_ _ed ladder. I have only seen one queen over 35ft and have done it several times. Its maybe 37ft. I use the ladder, then spike up rest the way. Don't take that as a green light to spike kings and queen palms. It really makes them ugly with a bunch of holes in them, and if They regularly grow that tall I would find an different technic.
Where in murreita are you finding queens that tall? I work that way every now and again.
Hell don't you have a pole saw? Prune them with it, or use it to push up a running bowline on the end of your climbing line. and climb up. Might be kind of slow, but their not that tall. Bid them real high and call me. I'm in Riverside.
No matter where your at out this way some illegal with a p/u truck will spike em for almost nothing and underbid you anyway

 

[beastmaster]

damn i wish i knew italian

www.
treeclimbing.it
Cycling on the palms
The "bicycle" represents a revolution in the concept of climbing palms. So named because of its two metal circles, this tool offers us a great operational safety and, unlike traditional crampons, not damage the door jamb of the plant.
Although its history dates back to Switzerland in the thirties, where he was born to use forestry, we have to Spanish, and in particular to Jose Sanchez Plumed, the recent introduction of the bicycle in the world of palm trees.
In the present version, the steel bands are adjustable to allow adaptation to changes in stem diameter. Small platforms allow us to work "standing" with great comfort and less fatigue.
Cycling on 2003 palms
Photos of Mark Asprea

professional courses contact technical knots about us equipment trees links

 

[arborjockey]

:msp_sadh we forgot to tell you their $2,500:msp_unsure:

 

[n8huntsman]

Where in murreita are you finding queens that tall?

My neighbors back yard, lol. It's about 30' right now and I believe it's still growing. It may be done, but regardless, if there is a safer way to get up there, I'd like to attempt it.

Prune them with it, or use it to push up a running bowline on the end of your climbing line. and climb up. Might be kind of slow, but their not that tall.

This was on my list of considerations. So I think I may focus my research along this path. Thanks

Bid them real high and call me. I'm in Riverside.
No matter where your at out this way some illegal with a p/u truck will spike em for almost nothing and underbid you anyway

This is actualy not for money. My neighbor and I are good friends. I have about 15 queens that will be tall somday too. I'd like to learn how to get to them, before that happens. I'm a little OCD about them and would like to trim them 3 or 4 times a year; every time a pod forms, a branch turns brown, or starts to droop. Hiring someone or renting a bucket would get far too expensive for that and spiking them that often would totally wreck them. This is the reason I'm after a better solution.

 

[n8huntsman]

www.
treeclimbing.it
Cycling on the palms
The "bicycle" represents a revolution in the concept of climbing palms.

I saw these several months ago when I first started searching for a better method, but since this is not for profit, it's out of my price range. This is what lead me to contemplating the hunting tree stand. I saw a video on youtube where a Hawaiian company was using a modified climbing tree stand to do just this and it looked like a good idea. I've also heard others on the forums use it as well. I just need to make sure that I have an addition point of tie in because falling isn't an option. So I don't know if this could be a flip line, or maybe a running bowline?

 

[n8huntsman]

Check these out, although you've probably all seen it.
Spikeless palm climbing platform - YouTube
Pure Life Palm Trimmers : Spikeless Coconut Climbing on Maui Hawaii - YouTube

 

[arborjockey]

I saw these several months ago when I first started searching for a better method, but since this is not for profit, it's out of my price range. This is what lead me to contemplating the hunting tree stand. I saw a video on youtube where a Hawaiian company was using a modified climbing tree stand to do just this and it looked like a good idea. I've also heard others on the forums use it as well. I just need to make sure that I have an addition point of tie in because falling isn't an option. So I don't know if this could be a flip line, or maybe a running bowline?

Whats the name oh that company in hawaii? not sharp cut is it? Loop runners around the trunk work. 30' isnt very tall .You could push a cinching hitch up with a polesaw/pruner whatever. I think the trunk on those maybe a little small for a tree stand. We look down on them hear. :msp_thumbdn:

J.D sharp. A.K.A.... J.D hooker is a con man.

 

[mikewhite85]

SRT is the way to go for queen palms. We do it all the time. Just throw your throw weight over the top (no big shot needed for any queen palm), tie it to the trunk, and use RADs to ascend. It's really simple and easy. You can also get high up in the palm as opposed to lanyarding below the base of the peticoles. Look up RADS SRT on youtube. There are different variations of it but all you need (aside from your normal gear) is a gri gri, hand ascender, and micro pulley (buying these 3 will be cheaper than renting a lift and will last much longer than 24 hours ). I don't even footlock or use a foot ascender as it is easy just to walk of the trunk. Once I am at the top I put a lanyard through a couple of the fronds and go to work.

You might also want to use a rope to lower the massive date clusters as they explode everywhere when they hit the ground. Queen palms are fun and a pleasure to trim- as opposed to most other palms, particularly Washingtonias and Canariensis. bleeeh!

 

[n8huntsman]

Nah, the name is Pure Life. Here is the video; Pure Life Palm Trimmers : Spikeless Coconut Climbing on Maui Hawaii - YouTube
I also found another video of a guy using a tree stand; Spikeless palm climbing platform - YouTube

 

[n8huntsman]

Whats the name oh that company in hawaii? not sharp cut is it? Loop runners around the trunk work. 30' isnt very tall .You could push a cinching hitch up with a polesaw/pruner whatever. I think the trunk on those maybe a little small for a tree stand. We look down on them hear. :msp_thumbdn:

J.D sharp. A.K.A.... J.D hooker is a con man.

Nah, the company name is Pure Life.
[video=youtube;8Zq7O_nAR5s]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Zq7O_nAR5s[/video]

 

[n8huntsman]

Also found this video of a guy demonstrating the climbing tree stand;
[video=youtube;W1AvcA1F7uM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1AvcA1F7uM[/video]

 

[arborjockey]

Nah, the company name is Pure Life.
[video=youtube;8Zq7O_nAR5s]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Zq7O_nAR5s[/video]

WELL PLAYED

The ascent seemed awkward. Then I watched just the ascent a couple of times and its pretty cool. You use more of your core/abdomen as apposed to your legs.
In the post I put " we look down on those here" its not as though I wasn't a believer its that the 1 guy who uses them here (J.D.) is a con artist. He 1st brought them around and people thought he was an idiot. He proved it by brining early model stands that take him and his :monkey: 10 min. to ascend 40ft. I talk to a guy today named Bee. He owns Veteran Tree Service here. He said he ordered a ultra light plastic tree stand from a reputable company and it ended up being to flimsy to use. He digs em' though, he has 3 aluminum stands. After the video I have a deeper appreciation for the stand.:msp_biggrin: