dead pine tree climbing

[Fireaxman]

[Not going up anything with peeling bark, to paraphrase Sunrise Guy] ... is undoubtedly the best, safest advice, but there aint no money in it if yer hungry, and there aint no satisfaction in it if you just want to help somebody. I've been up a few with pretty lose bark that were still solid and hard as a rock from the surface to the core. ....

I posted this back in April 2007. June of that year a friend asked me to remove a dead pine for him "...before the hurricanes get here". I checked one out that had moderately peeling bark, decided it was sound, climbed it, and pieced it down to about 20 feet. It was "... still solid and hard as rock from the surface to the core ..." at that point.

But, when I cut the spar a couple of feet from the ground, I found it to be riddled with termites. I thought I had a picture of it but I cant find it tonight. Makes sense when you think about it. Subteranean termites start at the ground and work their way up. Top can still be plenty hard, and the bottom ready to go at any moment.

I got away with it that time, but by Grace, not skill. Since then I have adhered a lot more closely to Sunrise Guy's philosophy. Consider this a recant of my earlier post.

 

[ozzy42]

I won't climb them if the branches are starting to break off on their own.
If all the branches are prety much still in the canopy,and the tree is straight,I'll climb but no shock loading,bombs away,or small limbs,a lil at a time.

Now dead leaners are a whole different story.Hell,I don't like the live ones unless I have a nearby tree to tie in to.

 

[Dadatwins]

Did one today, still had pine cones from last year, no needles, still had tight bark, trunk wood was still wet. Base at mulch line was 2/3 rotted thru. Tree was only 50' and spiked 1/2 way up to pop the top out. Hard to just look at one part of tree when making decision, have to take overall condition and fully evaluate each tree. making general decisions about anything in this business will get you hurt or worse. Be careful.