Getting Faster

[cntrybo2]

Well, I have been at this climbing game part-time now for about a year and a half and yesterday I felt really good about it. In the past, I have always taken work very slow, double and triple checking my knots and climbing system and working towards gaining 100% confidence in my gear and knots. In doing so, jobs that would have taken a more experienced climber only hours, have taken me all day or the better portion of a day. Yesterday, I had to do some pruing for a customer in two seperate trees. I had to remove four laterals from one stem and five from another. These branches were showing signs of rot and were hazards to his yard and driveway and neither by any means were difficult but there were some ground obstacles and what not. I started working at 8:30am and was puting my rope and saddle back in the truck by 10:45am. It was one of those days where I worked about 60' up, moving through the canopy easily without feeling like I was fighting to move around....I felt like I finally was able to move freely and get the work done and enjoy myself. I just wanted to share this with you guys... It goes to show, taking it slow in the begining really does pay off and as frustrating as it is, keep going because things will get easier the more you learn to work with your gear instead of against it.:greenchainsaw::greenchainsaw:

 

[clearance]

Good post, get good, then get fast. Another one, a little fear is good.

 

[md_tree_dood]

Definitely agree that a little fear is a good thing to have. An extra glance at your climbing system could be the difference in your safety. There are certain knots that I never look at once I've tied them, and others that I always double check due to frequency of use and application. Glad to hear you're feeling more comfortable.

 

[Raymond]

Right On! Yeah I trust my ropes and knots more than anything around me. You're right that's the first thing you have to have is trust in your gear.

Few of my own pointers if I may...

Make every move count. Learn to sit back in the right comfortable position the first time.

Throwing a rope. If you can't hit the right spot the first time, don't beat yourself up trying, then having to moving out further to make it. Go on out to where you know you can make it the first time.

Keep your ropes tangle and knot free at all times, with your groundmen pertisapating in this as well.

Know what your groundmen are capable of. Take an extra minute and make sure they totally know what you're both doing, when running your ropes.

Keep your saw sharp and clean. A halfass dull saw could get you hurt or cause serious property damage.

Keep your thoughts free of unrelated crap. When up in a tree the only thing you need to think about is what you're doing at that moment.

Make every move count is worth mentioning again.

 

[oldirty]

Keep your thoughts free of unrelated crap. When up in a tree the only thing you need to think about is what you're doing at that moment.

yup.

 

[tree md]

I remember when I started out I felt like a fish out of water climbing with gear. I had always been a natural climber but when I strapped the gear on and had to trust it I was very shaky. I remember trying to remember my climbing knot and leaning into my saddle and ropes and wondering if I would ever be able to remember all the things the guy I was working for was trying to teach me. He told me first thing I was going to have to do was learn to trust my ropes and gear. It's a good feeling when you start getting it down. Then you can move on to bigger things. Funny, I lean into my ropes to make cuts and walk out on limbs without a second thought now. It's second nature to me. You will inevitably get faster as you get more familiar with your gear. Just don't rush. That's when accidents happen. Many a climber has been hurt on the last tree, last cut on a Friday trying to hurry up and get the weekend started. I agree, a little fear is a good thing.

 

[MonkeyMan_812]

I remember when i first got comfortable in the trees. I felt like i was on top of the world. It feels good to feel good in the tree.

 

[treemandan]

Right On! Yeah I trust my ropes and knots more than anything around me. You're right that's the first thing you have to have is trust in your gear.

Few of my own pointers if I may...

Make every move count. Learn to sit back in the right comfortable position the first time.

Throwing a rope. If you can't hit the right spot the first time, don't beat yourself up trying, then having to moving out further to make it. Go on out to where you know you can make it the first time.

Keep your ropes tangle and knot free at all times, with your groundmen pertisapating in this as well.

Know what your groundmen are capable of. Take an extra minute and make sure they totally know what you're both doing, when running your ropes.

Keep your saw sharp and clean. A halfass dull saw could get you hurt or cause serious property damage.

Keep your thoughts free of unrelated crap. When up in a tree the only thing you need to think about is what you're doing at that moment.

Make every move count is worth mentioning again.

Least they didn't give the liscense plate to the wrong guy

 

[treemandan]

Give it a few more years

then you will go back to slow, sleepy even. leaning back with a soda checking out the horizons, looking down and thinking " maybe I need one more groundy"

I climbed two today to TD them, little bit of work, the third had a hanger, a real quick srt with a handsaw( its been awhile since I used one, almost put it through my knee cap trying to start it). Well the thing came down just fine as the guys pulled it up on the pulley and off the house,a real little doinker limb.
So I bail down to the porch roof, it was high at 25 feet easy, I was kicking the stuff off the roof and then just turned around and jumped. It just seemed so natural, I jumped a few feet up and then went zinging on the friction hitch down to the ground... without smashing back into the side of the house, perfect trajectory, a real 3 pointer. I put a few steps into that jump as well.

A little kid saw me from across the driveway, I was singing " Rock The Casbah" like if Frank Sinatra was doing it the whole time , I hit the ground looked up and there he was. I asked if he saw me jump off the roof singing like Frank Sinatra and he said he did. I told him he should keep his little butt off of roofs and he cracked a toothless smile.

I wonder if he knows what a muessin is or even why one would stand on a radiator grille.

 

[Raymond]

TreeManDan I owe ya one.

 

[Tim'sTree]

I remember when I started out I felt like a fish out of water climbing with gear. I had always been a natural climber but when I strapped the gear on and had to trust it I was very shaky. I remember trying to remember my climbing knot and leaning into my saddle and ropes and wondering if I would ever be able to remember all the things the guy I was working for was trying to teach me. He told me first thing I was going to have to do was learn to trust my ropes and gear. It's a good feeling when you start getting it down. Then you can move on to bigger things. Funny, I lean into my ropes to make cuts and walk out on limbs without a second thought now. It's second nature to me. You will inevitably get faster as you get more familiar with your gear. Just don't rush. That's when accidents happen. Many a climber has been hurt on the last tree, last cut on a Friday trying to hurry up and get the weekend started. I agree, a little fear is a good thing.

I'm also a bit of a newcomer to the world of tree climbing. I'm at the point where I have plenty trust in my ropes and gear. I think it's relatively easy to trust the equipment (assuming it's used correctly), everything is tested and rated. My problem is that I have much more difficulty trusting the unknown - the tree.

One hears accounts from one extreme to the other. Lunatics who will climb anything no matter if it's dead or alive and live to tell about it, to extremely experienced climbers who have been killed due to some unknown non-apparent tree defect.

I've read that the rule of thumb for your TIP should be 4". This of course is a pretty broad statement given differences in species and individual tree structure. I've seen climber's tie in at points that I wouldn't. It turns out to be safe and I ask myself "how do you really know?" Time and experience right?

 

[tree md]

When I started out the guy who taught me said a good rule of thumb is to use your calf size as a standard for size of limb for TIP. I have used smaller limbs but always have multiple limbs for backup should the limb fail. Actually he told me not climb any higher than calf sized limbs. Not sure how scientific that is but I am a lot heavier than I was when I started out. 5" to 6" is about as small as I trust my weight on now. Some things to look out for as far as structural integrity are cankers/cavities on the trunk or limbs, lightening damage, hollows and splits. It's always important to inspect the trunk and limbs before and during your climb to spot potential weak spots. Especially when you plan to trust your own weight and rig from the tree. Also, it's best to rig from a different leader than you are tied into. That isn't always possible and I was taught to always choose a TIP lower than your rigging point if you are lowering from the same leader. One exception to this rule would be when you are blocking a spar. Then you want your TIP above your rigging point (the block).

 

[Blakesmaster]

One exception to this rule would be when you are blocking a spar. Then you want your TIP above your rigging point (the block).

You really want to get that one started again, md? lol...

I never thought about keeping your tip below the rig point ( as in before you start blocking the spar ) I always try to get it as high as possible for the movement advantage. But having it a few feet lower would not impede progress that much and would be a bit safer. Good thought.

 

[Blakesmaster]

You really want to get that one started again, md? lol...

I never thought about keeping your tip below the rig point ( as in before you start blocking the spar ) I always try to get it as high as possible for the movement advantage. But having it a few feet lower would not impede progress that much and would be a bit safer. Good thought.

But then again there is the possibility of a rigged piece smashing into your climb line or rigging rope rubbing yout frictionsaver or something of that nature when your tip is below the rig point. I'll have to dwell on this a bit more.

 

[KodiakKen]

trust your equipment

slow and safe is better than fast and dead. I went to help my cousin cut a large limb over his driveway..he wanted to cut it..ok..no problem. threw a line over a low limb..tied him in..kicked his feet out from under him..the look on his face..priceless...I said..do you trust that rope now..I ended up doing the work..but didn't mind. If you are uncomfortable. nerves will get you hurt. another instance..same cousin..climbed a ladder to cut a dead limb...had my saddle and rope with him..he fired up the chainsaw..I was about half way up the ladder yelling and screaming before he stopped. I said..hey dumbars..tie into the tree. no matter what you won't hit the ground..about 6 minutes later after he refused a bottom cut..the limb busted his 24 foot ladder in half putting him hard nut to tree. needless to say..he hasn't climbed since. be safe and know your stuff. If you don't know..get help. Good Luck

 

[JeffL]

I'm in the same boat. Been climbing not full time for about a year and a half now, it really came together for me this winter. I'd been comfortable with my gear awhile, but my mindset becoming more adapted to working in a tree. As far as a planned route, spotting a tie in that gives me the best accessibility, planning where I'll work first, where I'll go after that, etc etc. Just trusting the trees in general. Being more comfortable getting a bit of a run and taking some swings to reach limbs I would have gone to the bottom of, and worked my way up a lateral, to avoid taking that nerve racking swing. Its just in general become alot more fun. And my awareness has become alot better. You stop worrying about the basics, and are able to focus on the stuff that really gets you around quicker.

And I'm not a huge guy, 5'9", 155lbs, so I generally have no hesitation getting myself stood up on 2-3" wood at the top of the tree, so long as I can be tied into another lead, and buckstrapped in and comfortable. Depends on the species really. Oak, I dont worry about too much. Some maples in good condition, sure. Other stuff is on a case by case basis. :greenchainsaw:

 

[tree md]

But then again there is the possibility of a rigged piece smashing into your climb line or rigging rope rubbing yout frictionsaver or something of that nature when your tip is below the rig point. I'll have to dwell on this a bit more.

I was taught to tie in in the next good limb below the rigging point in the event the rigging point failed. The logic being that hopefully your TIP will remain intact. I've never had a rigging point fail nor have I ever had a problem with pieces smashing into my lifeline or rope friction/melt through. You just have to use common sense and look out for those issues before you make your cuts. Personally, I prefer to tie into a separate leader than what I'm rigging from whenever possible.

 

[JeffL]

I was taught to tie in in the next good limb below the rigging point in the event the rigging point failed. The logic being that hopefully your TIP will remain intact. I've never had a rigging point fail nor have I ever had a problem with pieces smashing into my lifeline or rope friction/melt through. You just have to use common sense and look out for those issues before you make your cuts. Personally, I prefer to tie into a separate leader than what I'm rigging from whenever possible.

I'll tie into another tree entirely if possible! I'd rather take a big swing any day, then be tied to a piece of wood as it free falls to the ground.

 

[Raymond]

I'll tie into another tree entirely if possible! I'd rather take a big swing any day, then be tied to a piece of wood as it free falls to the ground.

Every tree?

 

[JeffL]

Every tree?

Ok, not EVERY tree, but if it makes sense to, I will.

Like the 4 dead poplars I took down last week, with one big white pine right next to em. Took 10 minutes, set a line, went up the pine, got a friction saver set nice and high in the tree, came down, and ready to work 4 trees without so much as a worry about rigging off them or failure. But thats just me.

Poplars were maybe only 55-60' each, but standing dead a year+ nonetheless, and had to be rigged down due to their location.