This may seem like a very amateur question, but bear with me. I have always been an incredibly enthusiastic tree climber, in the most amateur sense of the title. I like to think I am rather good, I've never used a rope but also never hurt myself in 3 or so years of climbing pretty much everyday. I was wondering if that's something professional arborists even consider, I'm not saying free climbing with a saw or anything but maybe you need to set a line, a false crotch or investigate something, do you ever just shimmy on up? If so, to what extent is it acceptable to free-climb?
Free climbing
- Thread starter plang228
- Start date
Help Support Arborist Forum:
NEVER!!!!!
at the co. I work for they had atleast 3 guys fall out of a tree because they were not tied in when doing something up top all resulting in broken arms/wrists. those are just the guys that still work there so there could be more i dont know about. these were all "low" falls just think if you were up 60 feet and slipped, your done!! end of story
always stay tied in
Carburetorless
ArboristSite Guru
I free climb back into the truck at the end of the day, and even that feels weird sometimes.
Having never worked in the business I didn't know the line was so clear, but I understand.
treemandan
Tree Freak
Dam! You can actually get up that high before you get scared? Me? 2 feet.
squad143
Tree Guy
In my younger years, some mornings I was afraid to get out of bed..................
Thought I'd have to chew my arm off a couple of times.
Dam alcohol.
Thought I'd have to chew my arm off a couple of times.
Dam alcohol.
dts99
ArboristSite Operative
just yesterday i was doing a 99% on the ground storm damage clean up, and i had to climb up a jap maple i didnt feel like going way up to the other truck to get my gears so i free climbed with a saw lanyard around my neck like a man purse, went up oh 4 feet or so, cut 2 branches, but dont ever do that!!!!
how big can a jap maple get? i free climb those SOBs all the time....well i still have my harness on to carry my handsaw and lanyard in.
dts99
ArboristSite Operative
it wasnt big at all, but i shoulda at least had a lanyard for chainsawing
Fireaxman
ArboristSite Guru
Like you, Plang, I was always a very enthusiastic free climber. But Hurricane Katrina so thoroughly over-taxed my free-climbing abilities that I realized there had to be a better way. I had several very dangerous near-misses that convinced me i was near the end of my 9 lives.
Try Rope Climbing! I guarentee you will like it! It is simply amazing how secure and comfortable you can be in the top of a tree with a little gear and some training. All you really need for equipment is a New Tribe Saddle and a few feet of GOOD rope to get started (I recomend Blaze, Tachyon, or Ivy).
A good "Coach" is to be highly recomended before you get in a tree, but Peter Jenkins of Tree Climber's International has some good beginner's videos you can look at to stimulate your interest. A close freind of mine informs me that if you can afford a trip to Georgia, Peter's classes are excellent and a lot of fun. Peter also offers on-line instruction, but again a personal coach or formal class is very important in the initial stages, especially to be sure your Tie In Points are sound and your knots are correct.
Check out this Link:
Beginners
Try Rope Climbing! I guarentee you will like it! It is simply amazing how secure and comfortable you can be in the top of a tree with a little gear and some training. All you really need for equipment is a New Tribe Saddle and a few feet of GOOD rope to get started (I recomend Blaze, Tachyon, or Ivy).
A good "Coach" is to be highly recomended before you get in a tree, but Peter Jenkins of Tree Climber's International has some good beginner's videos you can look at to stimulate your interest. A close freind of mine informs me that if you can afford a trip to Georgia, Peter's classes are excellent and a lot of fun. Peter also offers on-line instruction, but again a personal coach or formal class is very important in the initial stages, especially to be sure your Tie In Points are sound and your knots are correct.
Check out this Link:
Beginners
Last edited:
tree md
Addicted to ArboristSite
My free climbing days ended when I left my childhood behind and became a professional climber at the age of 21. If you ever showed up to work for any service besides Bubba's, you would be laughed off the lot if you showed up without at least a rope, saddle and lanyard... Think of it in terms of the amount of time you spend off the ground... If you do it for a living everyday, there is bound to come a time when you get hurt if you are not doing it by the book and with the proper gear... Just the law of averages. A professional climber uses professional gear and follows the safety guidelines that are there for a reason.
formationrx
ArboristSite Guru
free climbing....
you can make 1000 moves right .... but one wrong move will send you to your death.... check out the story of dan osman.... he was world record free climber.... watching his videos i was amazed by how good he WAS.... died at 35....
you can make 1000 moves right .... but one wrong move will send you to your death.... check out the story of dan osman.... he was world record free climber.... watching his videos i was amazed by how good he WAS.... died at 35....
VA-Sawyer
Addicted to ArboristSite
I have been known to free climb 4 or 5' but that is pretty much it. The way my luck runs, I always stay tied to tree at heigth, else some rabid squirrel will pick that moment to attack!
Rick
Rick
sgreanbeans
Treeaculterologist
u guys use ropes!!!!
Carburetorless
ArboristSite Guru
He died jumping slack; Didn't he?
I think, he made like a 750' jump, then he decided to do it again, but he used the same rope and it snapped.
tree md
Addicted to ArboristSite
I remember reading the story. There was a thread on it here years back. Seems he left the setup overnight and came back to make the jump in the morning and something went wrong over the course of the time lapse. Used the wrong rope or something, I can't remember. He was amazing to watch though.
formationrx
ArboristSite Guru
.....i heard two ropes crossed and then burned and snapped..... the jump was over 1000 ft...... he was going up to remove his set up and decided to make a few jumps.... the rope was up there 3 weeks unprotected..... i like to remember him for the way he lived not how he died.... he did it all..... he climbed with gear and free climbed..... he was an awesome free solo speed climber.... he would make these two handed jumps up sheer rock faces.... watch this lovers leap fast climb.... you tube- HQ Rock Climbing Free Solo Speed Climb Dan Osman
ROPECLIMBER
ArboristSite Operative
- Joined
- Jan 19, 2012
- Messages
- 373
- Reaction score
- 22
Found a few threads on here but the links no longer worked,
Paul
LiveLeak.com - Dan osman Xtreme free climber 2!!
Paul
LiveLeak.com - Dan osman Xtreme free climber 2!!
2treeornot2tree
Dont cry, just do it
So he was like base jumping but catching himself with ropes instead of a chute when he died? Thats hardcore.
