Hazard tree question.

[beastmaster]

I have a question about a tree I chickened out in years ago. It was a huge ponderosa pine in a state park. 70 in dbh, the top broke out maybe a 100 years(or more) ago about 40 ft up, and 4 leaders now 40in grow out and up from the base of the break 30 or so feet up. The tree had been dead a long time but seemed sound. It was near a picnic area was why they wanted to remove it.
When I climb up I saw it was completely hollowed out, down maybe 10 feet. with maybe 4 or 6 in of sound wood all the way around. I removed one leader in one cut.
This is where I started getting creeped out. I felt like they were probably balancing each other out and these leaders looked huge all of a sudden, and I was worried the hollow shell would collapse because of the weight distribution change. I came out of the tree. We ended up trying to pull it over with a big tractor against the lean and it set back. I ended up putting another notch in it above the first and let it fall in the picnic area.
Can changing the counter balance by removing a large amount of weight from one side change the structural integrity of a tree enough to cause a failure?
That was over 20 years ago, but I'm still curious about that situation. Thanks. Beastmaster

 

[beowulf343]

Can changing the counter balance by removing a large amount of weight from one side change the structural integrity of a tree enough to cause a failure?

Yes.

 

[tree md]

Sounds like your spidey senses were trying to tell you something... It's good to pay attention to that feeling when it feels like someone just walked over your grave...

 

[arborsoldier]

I think you made a wise choice. Tha fact that is was dead is reason enough. There is no way to know what is anchoring it any longer. If it was dead a long time, it was likely that the roots were decaying, not to mention that it was hollowed out.

 

[pbtree]

I think walking away was sound wisdom

 

[squad143]

I think walking away was sound wisdom

That, and other decisions are why you are still walking today.

 

[flushcut]

:agree2: with all the above!

 

[beastmaster]

Thanks for the feed back. I like to think us climbers have a sixth sense, but it probably has more to do with our minds processing information on a deeper level.
Our minds can take in more info subconsciously then we can consciously be aware of. That nagging feeling that something isn't right, and trusting that feeling is what keeps us alive. Beastmaster

 

[treefaller25]

I have a question about a tree I chickened out in years ago. It was a huge ponderosa pine in a state park. 70 in dbh, the top broke out maybe a 100 years(or more) ago about 40 ft up, and 4 leaders now 40in grow out and up from the base of the break 30 or so feet up. The tree had been dead a long time but seemed sound. It was near a picnic area was why they wanted to remove it.
When I climb up I saw it was completely hollowed out, down maybe 10 feet. with maybe 4 or 6 in of sound wood all the way around. I removed one leader in one cut.
This is where I started getting creeped out. I felt like they were probably balancing each other out and these leaders looked huge all of a sudden, and I was worried the hollow shell would collapse because of the weight distribution change. I came out of the tree. We ended up trying to pull it over with a big tractor against the lean and it set back. I ended up putting another notch in it above the first and let it fall in the picnic area.
Can changing the counter balance by removing a large amount of weight from one side change the structural integrity of a tree enough to cause a failure?
That was over 20 years ago, but I'm still curious about that situation. Thanks. Beastmaster

Good judgement call.Sometimes we must be men and man up.Its always the climbers descision.If you dont feel comfortable doing it sometimes is best to dropback and rethink your options.I dont know how things in the tree bussiness work out in Cal.,but I probly consider doing 1) crane removal on that one ,2)using another tree to crotch off in,3)a spyder lift if crane acess is not premittable.I can sudgest thoughts.Hope they help out.