how old too old?

[ropensaddle]

Hello members, I posted this because trying to get idea
of how long on average, climbers remain climbing! I'm not
a spring chicken no more and long day in a tree has its
toll but still manageable . One thing is not as physically
strong as I was in youth, but am more experienced and
don't waste energy as I once did! I don't care to show
off or race to the canopy! I take my time and plan my
moves before I climb so efficiency has improved, and up
to this year was much faster than any young climber
I had worked around by doing efficient climbing. I was
doing two trees today a most difficult trim over gazebo
and flower beds everywhere and it whooped my a??
the other tree was dead elm hard also.Well I finished
piece down and day but sure feel spent! Any older
climbers get that way? Partly because have bucket
and do not climb as often!

 

[clearance]

Like anything, whats in your head matters the most. I was looking at treework out at this lake in the bush, I saw an old guy falling and bucking spruce and pines, 70'-100' stuff, maybe 24" dbh. He told me he could only fall for about 3 -4 hours a day now, he was running a 038 Mag. He had put a lot on the ground, layed out pretty good. I got talking to him, told me some logging stories, the guy is 75.

 

[rebelman]

Residential presents a series of challenging climbs, manuevering to position for a good cut becomes quite telling. Spikeless as always when pruning.

 

[D Mc]

Working more efficiently is definitely the way to go. Learn the new climbing techniques (if you haven't) and invest in some of the new equipment (again, if you haven't). It has really made a difference in reduction of effort and physical strength to still move efficiently into and through the trees.

I spent years free climbing without a belay, unsecured footlocking 50 ft ascents and one handing my chainsaw. All things pretty much guaranteed to wear out your body (if not kill you outright). But you are suppose to get smarter as you get older and be able to recognise and implement superior and safer techniques.

Being self-employed is an asset where you can call it a day when you need to. Older or not, working too tired or in too much pain is dangerous.

DMc

 

[Grace Tree]

Ropensaddle:

I really notice it. The reserve just isn't there. At 59 I find that I have to be more aware of hydration and not skipping breakfast or lunch. Fatigue breeds mistakes so if I'm climbing I try to stay aware of my mental alertness. If I feel it slipping even a little it's time to get back on the ground. There's always tomorrow.
Regards,
Phil

 

[Treetom]

I've mostly free-climbed for twenty-five years plus with the same climbing setup, Klein climbers, saddle and lanyard. Rarely use a climbing line and still have a throw weight and line in my gear bag, purchased in '95, never used. I always figured that setting a climbing line is a waste of time, throwing a little rope over a limb to pull up a bigger rope or climbing way up in a tree to set a line.. Well, now that I've hit 52, and the muscles no longer compensate for my lack of technique, I've decided to get a saddle with a floating dee ring (or two) and gain some new skills to compensate for my waining physical prowess. Good post. And thanks to all for the fancy climbing knots you've been posting. Who knows, you may have saved some old man's life.

 

[treevet]

Why is it accepted for other tradesmen to work into their 60 s and not an arborist? At 58 I lift weights 6 days a week on a split routine (upper body and lower). Run one day 4-6 miles, and do a combo stairmaster and airdyne bike 40 mins the other for 6 days a week taking off when an hour or more racquetball match happens. Hand grippers are a must. Norm Bernher (miss sp?) who I worked w many years ago, a two time national climbing champion, was still climbing at 85 from a newspaper art my sister sent me from Flemington, NJ. He had cut down to 3 days a week. Hope he s doing ok if anyone out there that knows him hears this.

 

[Jim1NZ]

The WORLD tree climbing champ, Bernard Strauser is 39...

 

[jmack]

That young punk!

Bern is a wiry guy probably 5ft. 8inchs tall and 160lbs. He moves through a tree with balance and speed. He is a smooth climber with a very high strength to weight ratio. I wouldn't be surprised if he could do 50 chin ups.

hey if ya cant do 50 chins in a row, its time to hang it up

 

[jmack]

Hello members, I posted this because trying to get idea
of how long on average, climbers remain climbing! I'm not
a spring chicken no more and long day in a tree has its
toll but still manageable . One thing is not as physically
strong as I was in youth, but am more experienced and
don't waste energy as I once did! I don't care to show
off or race to the canopy! I take my time and plan my
moves before I climb so efficiency has improved, and up
to this year was much faster than any young climber
I had worked around by doing efficient climbing. I was
doing two trees today a most difficult trim over gazebo
and flower beds everywhere and it whooped my a??
the other tree was dead elm hard also.Well I finished
piece down and day but sure feel spent! Any older
climbers get that way? Partly because have bucket
and do not climb as often!

holy c how old are you? i worked wit guys in their 70s ladder climbers and some hard core rope climbers, removals all week will definatly take its toll, i dread turning 25 cuz i know ill be out of it:hmm3grin2orange:

 

[D Mc]

At 58 I lift weights 6 days a week on a split routine (upper body and lower). Run one day 4-6 miles, and do a combo stairmaster and airdyne bike 40 mins the other for 6 days a week taking off when an hour or more racquetball match happens. Hand grippers are a must.

You sound like a nut! And just when do you have time to work?

I do think how long you are going to be affective as a climber is 50% attitude and 50% genetics. I could always run faster, jump higher and get into more trouble than anyone else I knew as a kid. Was pretty sure I was destined to burn out, not fade away. But I am still doing what I love to do. For me the pain starter fairly early from repetitive use injuries but it has never progressed to a point where it permanently stopped me or became unmanageable one way or another. Just something you learn to live with.

Another thing I have noticed is that the pain doesn't necessarily get worse, it is just kind of there. I no longer fear that it will become debilitating but accept its presence. There are very few physical jobs or activities that you can do the same way as you did as a teenager but with the experience gained and desire I am still taking down the big stuff, and being hired by other companies to assist in those difficult removals, and still get a rush from being in a tree up high.

DMc

 

[bet]

Like anything, whats in your head matters the most. I was looking at treework out at this lake in the bush, I saw an old guy falling and bucking spruce and pines, 70'-100' stuff, maybe 24" dbh. He told me he could only fall for about 3 -4 hours a day now, he was running a 038 Mag. He had put a lot on the ground, layed out pretty good. I got talking to him, told me some logging stories, the guy is 75.

wow i will love to do that at 75 that guy must be a legdend

 

[Rftreeman]

I'm only 36 but I have an old friend (the guy I learned from) he is 64 and climbs everyday, all he does now is train people, another friend who is pushing 60 and he too climbs pretty much 4 days a week.

 

[rahtreelimbs]

I am 44 and have been climbing for 12 yrs. or so. I do mainly spikeless climbing.

The guy that said it is all where you head is pretty much on the mark!!!

Pruning big trees I often equate to a chess game.............know your moves 3-4 moves in advance.


Reading here and the other sites to stay on top of new gear/methods helps a lot too!!!

Old school climbing may be cool in somes ways............but for ther body it isn't!!!

 

[treevet]

You sound like a nut! And just when do you have time to work?

I do think how long you are going to be affective as a climber is 50% attitude and 50% genetics. I could always run faster, jump higher and get into more trouble than anyone else I knew as a kid. Was pretty sure I was destined to burn out, not fade away. But I am still doing what I love to do. For me the pain starter fairly early from repetitive use injuries but it has never progressed to a point where it permanently stopped me or became unmanageable one way or another. Just something you learn to live with.

Another thing I have noticed is that the pain doesn't necessarily get worse, it is just kind of there. I no longer fear that it will become debilitating but accept its presence. There are very few physical jobs or activities that you can do the same way as you did as a teenager but with the experience gained and desire I am still taking down the big stuff, and being hired by other companies to assist in those difficult removals, and still get a rush from being in a tree up high.

DMc

I am a nut. A fitness nut. Up at 7 , 5 min drive to gym by 730. 30 to 40 min work out. At work at 830, quit at 430 or less. Eat, then run bids, fix something or dump maybe,then make calls . Out the door at 9 for run or bsment stair/bike. Go to sleep around midnight. Get up next day and do same all over. Genetics, attitude, skills, equipment seem to be the theme here. I was also always the toughest kid in my class from lst grade to Paris Island. But as someone once said "fatigue makes cowards out of all of us", Patton I believe. 22 page thread on not chainsaws but just the tooth/raker. Most important piece of equipment you got is the bod, IMO. You got to work out and put the fork down when it is time esp. when you get older and that is what this thread is about.

 

[adam]

I'm 52, climbing almost every day, and if I don't, I do some ugly .... like chipping or lot clearing. Yesterday I've done this cabling and removal of broken limbs. And I'm still recovering, watching front lawn that needs to be cut ( "Mow another day", was it one of the James Bond movies?).

 

[diltree]

My dad will turn 71 years of age this June, and he takes down trees from the bucket every day, and every once in a while he will break out the climbing gear.......

 

[treeseer]

Yesterday I've done this cabling and removal of broken limbs.

Interesting tree. What did it look like before?

 

[Highclimber OR]

Hello members, I posted this because trying to get idea
of how long on average, climbers remain climbing! I'm not
a spring chicken no more and long day in a tree has its
toll but still manageable . One thing is not as physically
strong as I was in youth, but am more experienced and
don't waste energy as I once did! I don't care to show
off or race to the canopy! I take my time and plan my
moves before I climb so efficiency has improved, and up
to this year was much faster than any young climber
I had worked around by doing efficient climbing. I was
doing two trees today a most difficult trim over gazebo
and flower beds everywhere and it whooped my a??
the other tree was dead elm hard also.Well I finished
piece down and day but sure feel spent! Any older
climbers get that way? Partly because have bucket
and do not climb as often!

It is about energy conservation and experience especially when you get older. Most Climbers I have known have climbed into their mid 60's or so if they can keep going. Old Man Wright was 82, he took down a big fir on Saturday and dropped dead Monday morning . You got the right idea, you don't have anything to prove. You will know when it's time to hang it up.

 

[Blinky]

You're too old when you believe you're too old... it's different for everybody. At 47 I can work steady all week climbing and pruning big trees but when I start doing technical takedowns I'm worth 3 to 3-1/2 days out of every 5.

More accurately, when I work at my own pace I can go all week climbing all day every day. When I have to press for time, I wear out faster and recover slower.