First attempt at tree trimming need some advice please

[tuckerward]

My name is tucker and i have been interested in arboriculture for a while now but mostly i am just interested in the climbing and trimming aspect of it. So i just recently ordered a rope/ tree climbing set off of wesspur.com but i still have about a week before i get it so im just wanting to get some pointers. First off my plan is to install a friction saver from the ground then run my climbing rope through it so i have that and spurs and flip line one my accent. But my only worry is that i guess im gonna use a blakes hitch to hold the "free end" dont know the technical term ...of my rope but idk if i wanna trust my life to a knot im not 100% sure i can tie it right everytime so do i have other options of knots/ascender/decenders that will work both for holding me and decending to the ground when im done?? Any advice will be greatly appreciated btw i have already ordered a copy of tree climbers companion just havent got it yet

 

[TreEmergencyB]

read the book when you get it it will all become more clear then. Keep the spikes off for trimming and learning. You MUST learn to trust the rope and YOUR knot that YOU tied. Become very familer with it and practice practice practice it b4 you leave the ground. Get your rope high and set the knot get about 4 feet off the ground and bounce on it. My mentor made me hang upside down my first time, i wouldn't keep my hands off the rope or tree. IMO the blakes hitch is pretty bulletproof if tied correctly. Be sure to learn the tautline hitch as well, not to many use it anymore but in a pinch it can be tied with one hand. (emergency situation) My mentor taught me that incase you are moving up a tree b4 your tied in from above and break an arm or somthing. I learned to get out safety from standing on a set of spikes and a flipline with one arm stuck behind my back.

Most importantly read that book! and learn how to rope climb b4 you strap on the spikes.

 

[tuckerward]

Thanks man that helps out a lot but where can i get a "mentor" like you had i mean this isnt something i wanna go to school or make a profession out of you know but if i can get real good or good enough to be able to help friends and family out to save them some money that would be great like can you just take a class from someone or what i live in texas btw

 

[TreEmergencyB]

my mentor was my first boss at a tree service, was a small one crew company where he was a certified arborist, so i kinda got paid training on the job. IMO that is the best way to learn out in the field working for someone who knows what they are doin. I did ground work for about 2 years b4 my feet left the ground.

 

[Tree Pig]

here is some good reading, lot of the info came from Tree Climbers Companion and other good sources.

Click to Read

 

[IL Arborist]

Climbing

I def agree with all of the above. When your talking about climbing I would seek out a mentor before ever entering a tree. There are far to many risks when you don't know what your doing. Becoming a knuckle dragger for your local tree service will give you the insite you need of basic tree crew operations. Observing a climber who knows what he is doing is the best way to start.

 

[tuckerward]

here is some good reading, lot of the info came from Tree Climbers Companion and other good sources.

Click to Read

Thank you sooo much man all this stuff helps out a lot i really appreciate your time doing this and if you have any more pointers/tips please feel free to share it doesnt matter how random it may seem to you i guarantee its all valuable to mem thanks again to you and too all that have helped