Climbing school or books

[Little A's]

Hi everyone, first post here...I recently purchased a bucket truck and chipper to do storm cleanup in NY and when that is over I am planning to do a little tree work at home. I currently run a lawn and landscape business and have done a fair amount of tree work but have not been up in the canopy of the tree. I know some of the tree work will not allow the bucket truck and will need to be climbed. My question is: would it be much better for me to learn to climb at a climbing school, for example the Peter "treeman" Jenkins school out of Atlanta or could I do justice to learning through books and videos. I don't have time to work for someone and learn the "ropes" so to speak...so I would appreciate any opinions on that specific school or others as opposed to leaning on my own through good books and videos.

Thanks,
Greg

 

[Pelorus]

If you are going to perform surgery on living patients (other than euthanizing them), I would hope that you will take the time to understand them, and learn how to treat them properly. Otherwise, you are just another money-grubbing hack.
Get some books / videos, AND attend some practical courses. Otherwise, you are not getting a nutritionally balanced diet. Trying to take educational shortcuts would be like trying to lose weight by via diet pills.

 

[northernclimber]

My opinion ' go to school its not just something you pick up one week an d the next your a pro,there's enough lawn guys who do half ass tree service around don't need anymore. Take the time to learn the trade and go to school. That's just my opinion tho

 

[TreeGuyHR]

hands on workshops (school) is great, as are vids and books, but what you have to do is put in hrs in trees. Your best bet is to hire an experienced climber and work with him. He will do about 90% of the work as you flail around. And you WILL flail. Unless you were born part Orangutan, with chainsaw and rope skills.

I still remember the first time i was given the chance to do something on rope. I just had to climb up around 10 ft. and cut a limb off a maple tree (using a flip line and hooks -- this was a long time ago). I think it took me a half hr, and the tree looked like it was on the front lines in WWI from all the spike holes and tears :msp_w00t: The second time is another story; the take-down took most of a day for what an experienced climber could have done in 3 or 4 hrs. You will get better if you put the time in, but only if you work safe, or you won't BE putting any more time in.:msp_ohmy:

 

[Little A's]

Thanks to everyone that answered...I appreciate the advice and will use it!

 

[kmcinms]

Good advice in here

I had a climber remove a couple huge trees and watched him do some amazing stuff. Built like a squirrel. Out of two climbers that did work for me, they both are lean and pretty much ripped. I couldn't do it. I'd be the hack these guys are speaking of, probably a dead one after trying some of the stuff these guys do.
Even after going to school, I'd hire a good climber that I could learn the "ropes" from. This is something you only get one shot at.

 

[kmcinms]

Hire an ISA Certified Tree Worker.


They are going for about $10. an hour on the open market.

that stinks....