Got Climbing Classes for HomeOwner?

[BillyB]

I have a bunch of large oaks on my property I would love to prune and would like to learn how to do this safely the right way. I'm thinking a class would be a nice approach but am having difficulty finding one. Has anyone every heard of such a thing for homeowners? Can you put me on a trail to find a good one in Minnesota, preferably the St Paul/Minneapolis area?

 

[Del_]

I own my home and I took classes.

I'm sure some of the guys rented or lived with their parents though.

 

[BillyB]

Good to hear Del. Did you find them worthwhile? Who put them on, i.e. private arborists? DNR? some educational institution?, and how did you find them?

 

[LIG]

I took some AGMA mountain guide and rescue classes that help with rigging. Local climbing gyms will offer similar things. Depends if the instructors are good though and a belay lesson isn't going to cut it. John Long's climbing anchors was a good book. Also, lot of good stuff on youtube. Wesspur sells some decent dvd's - working climber. I'm sure with how advertised "tree stuff" *com is they'll be some books and dvd's on there. Real hard to recommend stuff just because of the danger of the activity and how few people is seems do it. A chainsaw will rip through a tensioned line (steel or not) in less than 1/2 second. You could rig something perfect, but judge the branch or tree wrong and break out of an anchor point. I like how you said Oak trees. Probably the best tree to start on. Very easy to see a dead vs living branch on that variety typically. And they're usually strong. A 4-5" branch usually can hold my 200lbs. Having said that I wouldn't rig a climbing line or catch line to anything less than the thickness of my thigh and if you do make sure the wood is stressed in the direction it grows not perpendicular.

What would probably be really cool is if you could groundie for a local crew on the weekends and then practice in the tree with the climbers. Good luck.

 

[lostone]

What would probably be really cool is if you could groundie for a local crew on the weekends and then practice in the tree with the climbers. Good luck.

This is what I would really like to do, I was able to help a gentleman on here about 12 years ago on one small job he did. I don't remember his name where it has been so long and would really like to find someone local and do it this way. Just groundie for them and try to make things easier for them in exchange for knowledg on safe climbing.

I have purchased:
Tree Climbing Basics
The Tree Climber's Companion
Recreational Tree Climbing - Newcomer's Guide

While I haven't bought any gear, I have been reading on here to see what people that work it for a living like, I plan to wait and see (hope) I can get someone local that could guide me before I would purchase any equipment.

 

[BillyB]

The state society of arborists offers a class annually each fall but thought it too advance to take on a nonprofessional beginner climber. Following their advice, however, I did find one at one of the local community colleges. I spoke with the program director. Seems like a good option but will cost a few hundred dollars. Others may wish to search for similar programs in their area.

 

[lostone]

Wow, I went down and got with a local rock climbing place about learning to climb and when I started talking to them about using a Blakes hitch they all started looking at me like I had a death wish and told me they don't teach that type of climbing there. They where saying that they didn't teach anything like an arborist would use and that their type of training didn't cross well into the type that an arborist would use.

 

[Tex68w]

I would love to learn as well. I did some rock climbing in college (12+ years ago) but I have no clue where to start. I reached out to some local tree removal companies in regards to helping out as a ground guy in order to learn and I never heard anything back. Rather frustrating.

 

[BillyB]

Here's the class I found in the Minneapolis / St. Paul MN area: https://www.hennepintech.edu/program/courses/search?Courses[CourseNumber]=LNDC1145

 

[lostone]

Here's the class I found in the Minneapolis / St. Paul MN area: https://www.hennepintech.edu/program/courses/search?Courses[CourseNumber]=LNDC1145

I found something similar to that as well.

Course Tracks
The Arborist Apprenticeship Program is accelerated and requires completion of six semesters in two years. A new two-year apprenticeship group is started each September, and class attendance is required one Saturday per month. Participants may select from one of two program tracks:

• Track 1: Classroom Training Only – Requires 144 hours per year of classroom and other training.
• Track 2: Classroom and Field Training – Requires classroom training in addition to 2,000 hours of practical field experience. This track will fulfill all requirements for certification as an Arborist and Line Clearance Arborist.
  
  

 

[lostone]

Hmmm, post wouldn't let me break and keep responding. Anyway it appears to be a full on course and not the cheapest to say the least. The 2K hours wouldn't be an option since I don't work as an arborist and keeping a full time job that I have held for 28 years isn't just going to stop lol. However my work is seasonal as well and if things slow down then maybe I could make up some of those hours. I don't know, I would have to talk with them and see how long I would have to make those hours and have it apply.


http://www.utahurbanforest.org/certified-arborists/apprenticeship-program Is the local program that I can find.

 

[Tex68w]

That's far too involved for anyone with a career or responsibilities haha. Im looking more for an intro to arborist/ropes/climbing and then expand on that via shadowing and assisting an arborist on the side, practice and helping out in any way with a tree service.

 

[lostone]

That's far too involved for anyone with a career or responsibilities haha. Im looking more for an intro to arborist/ropes/climbing and then expand on that via shadowing and assisting an arborist on the side, practice and helping out in any way with a tree service.

I would have gladly followed the same path but it isn't an option here much.

 

[Tex68w]

I would have gladly followed the same path but it isn't an option here much.

No I hear ya, I am facing the same dilemma. I even reached out to several Stihl safety administrators to see about sitting in on the classes they provide to tree service companies and utilities companies. I am still waiting to hear back from my states forestry service, but I am not holding out for much hope. There simply isn't much out there which is hard to understand, because all of these guys have to start somewhere with this. Short of being 18 and attending some associates program or starting from the ground up with a tree service, I am not sure there is much in the way of learning for people like us if you aren't connected.

 

[BillyB]

I found another source of classes: http://treeclimbing.com/
Reputable at home self instruction or instructor lead workshops in Atlanta and Jacksonville. The workshops aren't cheap but class size is limited to 3 so one would get a lot of attention and scheduling is such that you could knock it off in one shot. Basic tree worker class is 5 days.

 

[lostone]

I checked that out BillyB, Nothing withing 100 miles of my location. I got that in a video I had ordered. I think I am going to have to stick with the books when it comes to drt. I can take classes for rock climbing and srt but they won't teach drt.

 

[lostone]

As far as books go I have bought:
1. Tree climbers guide, Sharon Lilly
2. The tree climber's companion, Jeff Jepson
3. Recreational tree climbing a newcomber's guide, D ick Flowers.

Video:
1. Tree climbing basics, Peter Jenkins.

Also been following several Youtube Arborists that show some good video's:
1: EducatedClimber
2. Joe Bisping

 

[BillyB]

As far as books go I have bought:
1. Tree climbers guide, Sharon Lilly
2. The tree climber's companion, Jeff Jepson
3. Recreational tree climbing a newcomber's guide, D ick Flowers.

Video:
1. Tree climbing basics, Peter Jenkins.

Also been following several Youtube Arborists that show some good video's:
1: EducatedClimber
2. Joe Bisping

lostone, thanks for listing those resources!

 

[lostone]

TBH, I believe as far as the books go, Tree climbers guide and The tree climbers companion will cover that end.

The video wasn't that great, but does show and explain what to look for and what to avoid (the books cover this as well).

As far as Youtube goes EducatedClimber really goes into some detail and I really like his videos. There are a couple more that are really good as well once I find them in my bookmarks I will post the links for you as well if you like.

 

[BillyB]

TBH, I believe as far as the books go, Tree climbers guide and The tree climbers companion will cover that end.

The video wasn't that great, but does show and explain what to look for and what to avoid (the books cover this as well).

As far as Youtube goes EducatedClimber really goes into some detail and I really like his videos. There are a couple more that are really good as well once I find them in my bookmarks I will post the links for you as well if you like.

Thanks for the tips!