Help for one-legged climber

[Reban]

UPDATE -- I THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT, HELP, AND IDEAS!!! I'm busy setting something up now with some of the nice people who responded (led by Tom Dunlap), and I will post a new thread, hopefully with some pictures, when my hubby has had the chance to climb again!! Love you all, Reban (actually, Rebecca).
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Hi there --

My husband has a degree in forest management and was a tree climber at a landscape company until he lost his leg to the pelvis, in a motorcycle accident 2 years ago. He dreams about climbing again, whether or not he ever does it professionally.

I'd love to pay for an expert instructor to brainstorm with him, and help him figure out what rigging he could use, and how to modify techniques to make it possible for him to do again... His arms and right leg are very strong.

His birthday is in 10 days. Anybody have any ideas how I could set this up so I could surprise him with an afternoon with an expert? We live in the Boston area.
Thanks, Reban

 

[PUclimber]

One guy you might try to get ahold of would be Mark Chisolm. He's a super guy and a great innovator and he's out of New Jersey. He's a 3 time tree climbing champion and a super guy. One other guy you might try to get a hold of would be Tom Dunlap in Georgia. Those two guys are very innovative and are almost always willing to help. You might check out the Treebuzz.com for help with getting a hold of these two guys as they're active over on that site. Also there's a lot of top notch climbers who are willing to help out. Good luck with your venture.


Also if you could pass along some contact information like a phone number that would be great to get a hold of you if someone is willing to help you out.

 

[Reban]

Thanks for the ideas PUClimber.
My cell phone is [removed due to lots of great responses!], if anyone wants to contact me with ideas.
Cheers, Reban

 

[iliketrees]

a friend once told me about a no legged climber. apparantly he got around just as good as anyone else in the tree. so, it can be done! good luck. hope this is some encouragment.

 

[curdy]

I can't provide any help personally or refer any names. BUT, I would like to cheer your husband on, good for him! Kudos to you as well for effort and support!

Please keep us all posted with the progress!

 

[SteveBullman]

good for him indeed! if it were local to me i'd gladly volunteer my help to get him off the ground......im sure any arbroist local to you would do the same thing! good luck with that!

 

[SteveBullman]

these people could well be worth a look

http://www.treeclimbing.com/

 

[maxburton]

Your husband probably already knows about foot ascenders, but with one of those babies you can really move, and you only need one leg.

 

[arboristman]

i can see how it is very possible.
even with no legs.for sure with one leg.
the use of setting your rope with a throw bag or pole saw,and he can easily pull himself up a tree and steady himself with his one leg to make proper safe cuts.
and in time,once he gets used to it,i believe he could get around up a tree about as good as he used to.
with a positive attitude and a strong will,this is for sure a reality.

 

[begleytree]

Boys now this is an eye opener. I always knew climbing got in your blood, and we all have days that are too hot, the wood is too heavy and the customer is a PITA and we swear at ourselves for ever getting into this line of work.
goes to show ya that you don't know what you got, until you lose it for a while.

can't offer any help but what others have said already, just wanted to tell Mr reban good luck and climb high. when he gets aloft again, send us some pics this way. I admire a man who doesn't quit and goes after what he wants.
just looking at those pics on a bad day would really center a man again.
-Ralph

 

[Magnum783]

Try PMing Boston Bull
Good guy has given me some good advice. I give my great admiration to you husband for just thinking about getting back up there. Good luck wish I could help.
Jared

 

[9th year rookie]

I might be able to help.

I'm 20 minutes West of Boston.
Not quite an expert in the tree yet, but working on it...

I don't know about schedule, but I would like to get together on hashing out some ideas. I will call the 617# this weekend to discuss.

I used to design and build structural/mechanical systems, prototype stuff mostly, "outside the box" concept development (more on the lines of DOD military stuff, but....it's all good, science works on tree gear too. I don't know if that's the kind of thing you were getting at, but I enjoy the geek stuff almost as much as climbing.

Couple ideas: If a prosthetic is possible, it would be easy to fabricate something resembling a spike, probably more comfortble than conventional climbing w/spikes (take-downs only). For pruning, instead of a spike, have a contact surface w/multiple micro-spikes, sort of like velcro, but steel/titanium, that would catch on bark, but not too much damage to the tree.

 

[lobsta1]

Reban,
YOU have my admiration. When one spouse is seriously injured or almost killed, normal reaction is for the other spouse to try & coddle & protect the injured party. To me that is the worst thing someone could do the other. To actively encourage & support your husband is showing how much you not only truly care for him but also truly respect him.
THAT is what will make his part a little easier.
Al

 

[BostonBull]

Good luck with everything! You may try to contact Dr. Brian Kane. He is a professor at Stockbridge out at Umass Amherst. Great climber and I bet he would be willing to help out.

 

[SRT-Tech]

what about usng a 4:1 mechanical advantage pulley system? a climber with limited use of legs can easily haul themselves up, and the cam locks off as they rest. Tehre are many "man" rated (lifesupport) pulley systems out there for exactly this use. Would save the tree form spike damage too (in the case of the multiple spike prothesis.)


the CMC 4:1 haul system has a remote release for the user to unload the cam.

one would simply need to throw a weight, pull a static rope over the limb, attach the 4:1 system, raise it up, anchor the static rope near the gorund (a disabled climber can do all this unassisted too), then clip in and start hauling themselves up.

i use a similar system for building on rope work access, with a bosun seat . I do believe several recreational tree climbing places use a similar system for raising wheelchair bound climbers up into the canopy.

 

[ROLLACOSTA]

wow best of luck,I hope your husband climbs again,hey get him to come on here!!

 

[elmnut]

Contact National Grid in Syracuse NY, Ask for the forestry dept.,they employ an excellent tree climber, great attitude, climbs with a prosthetic leg.

 

[Reban]

Thanks to everyone and keep brainstorming!

Wow, I thank all of you guys!

I've already spoken with Patty Jenkins from Tree Climbers International, and Tom Dunlap over at Tree Buzz. We're definitely going to make something happen for his birthday, although anyone in the Boston area is encouraged to post or call me, since so far, location is the major impediment...

About my helping to make this happen -- if it were up to me, I'd have him chained to a desk, but he'd probably whither away and die.... He actually proposed to me in the intensive care unit when he woke up from the coma, but I said I'd marry him only if he promised me no more motorcycles. I couldn't take tree climbing away too! I don't want to change him from the guy I fell in love with.

I've attached our wedding pic -- He's walking down the aisle on his prosthetic leg -- a very hi-tech titanium leg with computerized knee.

Thanks again, and keep sending me those ideas! I promise to post a picture of him actually climbing, when it happens!

Love,
Reban (actually, Rebecca)
617.759.2727

 

[Reban]

And another thing...

Oh, and once he's in on the surprise, I'll show him this thread so he can see all the wonderful support there is out there, and to be able to talk to you guys himself.
Thanks again,
Rebecca

 

[SteveBullman]

Oh, and once he's in on the surprise, I'll show him this thread so he can see all the wonderful support there is out there, and to be able to talk to you guys himself.
Thanks again,
Rebecca

cool, and he'll get to see how lucky he is to have you....but im sure he knows that anyway!