introduce myself

[safeT1st]

Hello to all the members. My name is Harry and I am a fit 41 yrs. As a boy my father instilled in me a respect and interest for ropes, knots, splicing and rigging.He logged northern BC in the thirties and told me stories of the "steam donkeys" and high riggers. He let me try his spurs and taught me to splice,tie and care for 3 strand when I was 12. All the rope work has been used and retained over the years. I have this interest that is hard to put in words but it's a passion.Now, with some time and money I have researched (books,videos,catalogues,questions) and purchased some basic gear for SRT and spiking.Safety is my #1 priority.My goal is to learn and practice until adept enough to groom 1 acre of coastal forest,(fir-2nd growth,large arbutus,alder).Wind storms have created some hazards to man and cottage,also need to let light in. Gear should arrive(WEsSpur) any day.As questions arise I hope to get some assistance here. I work full time in aircraft maintenance and have no desire to be a pro,simply to work like one.T/C 's Companion also on order.If there is anyone in the OK Valley willing to let me observe from a safe distance I would be thrilled.More than happy to help with clean-up at day's end. Saw the talk about topping trees,is it ever acceptable to top a large fir,4' dia. ? My book will tell me when it arrives but what knot is illustraited on pg 13 of WesSpur ctlg (2007)? Attaches climbing line to thimble and then thimble to biner.Half a fisherman ? Hope I haven't cross forumed too much but I am 101 material .Thanks, safeT1st.

 

[clearance]

Welcome to the site. Here goes, I am a certified utility arborist (c.u.a.), I am allowed to work around power for Hydro. I have been climbing for about seven years and running a saw for well over twenty. Forget about the tree climbers companion, it will not help you cut anything, it is all about getting your rope into the tree and humping up it. All you need is a decent belt, spurs, a steelcore and some rope. I have climbed thousands of trees beside powerlines in B.C., thousands, some I cut down, many I sidelimbed. I climbed every one with spurs, removing or sidelimbing. Some of the trees I trimmed had been climbed before with spurs, some will be climbed again with spurs. They are all still alive, still green. You will hear all sorts of crying and whining here about how spurs kill trees, never seen or heard of this in B.C., its all bunk. Climbing with spurs is the safest way to go, even most people on this site admitted it in a poll. I'm around Kamloops, how close are you?

 

[beowulf343]

Hi harry-welcome to the site. Lots of good info here. Btw, that knot looks like a double fisherman.

Clearance, not going to argue with you-i've spent a dozen years on spikes too and agree that they are safer when working around power, plus i prefer them for removals. But this guy is not a pro-other styles do have their uses now and then. If he wants to experiment, more power to him. Besides, i thought the tree climber's companion had one or two pages about climbing with spikes.

 

[clearance]

Besides, i thought the tree climber's companion had one or two pages about climbing with spikes.

Yeah, one or two pages, compared to 50+ pages of humping up the rope. And some of it is bunk, like double wrapping your steelcore, which is only needed on skinny or slimy trees. Says you can climb with flat sole boots, you can climb with running shoes as well but.....

 

[safeT1st]

Hello Clearance

I'm just north of Kelowna. I have a set of lineman's gear and have practiced at low levels.Not comfortable with short gaffs on thick ,flaky coast firs or interior pine. Felt good otherwise , no fear , just caution. Thus ordered better spurs and harness.Steel core and rope also on the way. Think you might be right about no serious harm to these thick skinned trees . Although I'm pretty sure these Arbutus trees will require rope work as they are not a friendly climbing tree unless if a person were experienced it would probably be an interesting day. They have hard trunks ,paper thin bark, always slope heavily to the sun, limbs everywhere like a maple and less predictable than most as far as cutting and assessing.I am looking fwd to the challenge but plan to be safe and allow lots of time. safeT1st

 

[clearance]

Why you want to cut them arbutus trees? Like there not too many around. Maybe you could hook up with a tree service in Kelowna. There are more than a few around now 'cause of the pine beetle. As far as knots, all you need to know for now is the bowline, the tautline and the figure 8. Thats it for climbing at the basic level, always worked for me, thousands of times.

 

[safeT1st]

Hi harry-welcome to the site. Lots of good info here. Btw, that knot looks like a double fisherman.

Clearance, not going to argue with you-i've spent a dozen years on spikes too and agree that they are safer when working around power, plus i prefer them for removals. But this guy is not a pro-other styles do have their uses now and then. If he wants to experiment, more power to him. Besides, i thought the tree climber's companion had one or two pages about climbing with spikes.

Thanks for the welcome beowulf, I should mention I am going to mentor my son who is enthusiastic like I was as a boy and feel he should have a line on . I would have a hard time living with myself if any thing happened to him. Must set good examples for our children in all aspects of life.I know these are some of the experiences he will remember all his life and carry on to his .One day when we putter on the coast property he will be my 'Grunt' . I found him a beautiful pair of seasoned Paris boots which now fit him. safeT1st.

 

[clearance]

Thanks for the welcome beowulf, I should mention I am going to mentor my son who is enthusiastic like I was as a boy and feel he should have a line on . I would have a hard time living with myself if any thing happened to him. Must set good examples for our children in all aspects of life.I know these are some of the experiences he will remember all his life and carry on to his .One day when we putter on the coast property he will be my 'Grunt' . I found him a beautiful pair of seasoned Paris boots which now fit him. safeT1st.

Paris boots huh? Thats very cool, I have an old pair of Paris caulks. In the downtown eastside, southeast corner of Hastings and Carrol, there are, or was the faded letters on the brick "Pierre Paris and Sons" My mother in law used to pick up specially made boots there for her dad, back in the '50s. He was a longshoreman and they made him special boots for his foot that had been crushed at work. He walked funny and one wore out quickly, imagine sending your daughter down there now, kind of sad.

 

[safeT1st]

I concur

[]

You know , considering where I want to go,you are talking good sense,keep it simple right. Saw work is probably the biggest hazard ahead.I got a great deal on a stihl 066 artic,26".Took it all apart excepting crankcase, cylinder and piston and cant find any wear on anything. The hi-idle cam was broken off and the owner couldn't start it.Looked in on piston skirt and rings : like new.Cleaned everthing,set air gap,lubed all links,gapped plug and replaced the start,choke,idle cam piece.Runs like a top.Would not venture up a tree with it,too big for me.Having re-assembled it I understand why they are so reliable and popular,everything is quality down to the intake sleeve and clamp. 200 $ Can. ! I also have a little Craftsman that is managable. The arbutus trees are plentiful on the property and as I said all are heavy leaners.These trees are notorius for blowing over unexpectantly and I have two that could threaten cottage. If I was smart I would have dealt with them before building but hindsight is 20/20.What about topping a fir ? The tree is healthy but takes southeasters head on in winter and has its roots showing somewhat arond base. I would like it to have less surface exposed to the new winter wind storms we are experiencing. I don't see these storms abaiting. safeT1st .

 

[safeT1st]

Good Boots

My dad had Paris boots,I remember a large gash patched on one where he caught it with an axe. His toe was not quite intact.Grateful I don't live in that city any more, not what it once was. safeT1st.

 

[clearance]

You could top it, but that creates its own problems in the future. You could winfirm it, a.k.a. spiral prune it. That involves climbing and removing branches on the way up. Usually 3,4 or 5 grow out of the same spot on the tree. You saw off one, in a circular manner all the way up. Towards the top you will need a pole pruner or pole saw. If you take off no more than 30% of the branches it will survive and the wind push will be reduced.

 

[DonnyO]

You could top it, but that creates its own problems in the future. You could winfirm it, a.k.a. spiral prune it. That involves climbing and removing branches on the way up. Usually 3,4 or 5 grow out of the same spot on the tree. You saw off one, in a circular manner all the way up. Towards the top you will need a pole pruner or pole saw. If you take off no more than 30% of the branches it will survive and the wind push will be reduced.

Hey clearance, I'm having some trouble with my friction hitch when descending from great height. Being that you are climbing large trees, what hitch do you use when descending? I am climbing on firefly and it is eating up my tenex split tails way to fast.

 

[clearance]

Taughtline.

 

[DonnyO]

Taughtline.

what kind of line?? and how do you tie it, two over two under or one over two under?

 

[clearance]

I got a bit heavier so now its two up, two down. I climbed with what I think is red Yale using a split-tail and a blakes hitch, worked good as well. I just made my split-tails out of another rope, when they wore down I chucked them.

 

[DonnyO]

I got a bit heavier so now its two up, two down. I climbed with what I think is red Yale using a split-tail and a blakes hitch, worked good as well. I just made my split-tails out of another rope, when they wore down I chucked them.

Nice, I've been using tenex split tails for the past few years, had to add an extra wrap to the schwabish about a year ago. I guess now it's time for a new hitch or a new line..............

For the record: I learned on, one up two down, hate to go back

 

[kevinj]

Thanks for the welcome beowulf, I should mention I am going to mentor my son who is enthusiastic like I was as a boy and feel he should have a line on . I would have a hard time living with myself if any thing happened to him. Must set good examples for our children in all aspects of life.I know these are some of the experiences he will remember all his life and carry on to his .One day when we putter on the coast property he will be my 'Grunt' . I found him a beautiful pair of seasoned Paris boots which now fit him. safeT1st.

Hey sefeT1st,

Welcome to As.
We have a lot of fun here.
Especially with Clearance and Donny O.
If you've been following this site for awhile,
You know what I mean...
They promote a lot of conversation amongst the group.
And fire up alot of conservatives.
Which brings about some differences among us...

And I'm sure they are PO'd that Rosie O Donnell is leaving
"The View"

 

[DonnyO]

Hey sefeT1st,

Welcome to As.
We have a lot of fun here.
Especially with Clearance and Donny O.
If you've been following this site for awhile,
You know what I mean...
They promote a lot of conversation amongst the group.
And fire up alot of conservatives.
Which brings about some differences among us...

And I'm sure they are PO'd that Rosie O Donnell is leaving
"The View"

I tried to give you some rep for this. I don't think I'm comfortable being lumped in with clearance though, he's been around AS alot longer than me. And I can FOOTLOCK like a :monkey: Rosie is cool, have you seen her Trump impersonation?

 

[clearance]

Hey sefeT1st,

Welcome to As.
We have a lot of fun here.
Especially with Clearance and Donny O.
If you've been following this site for awhile,
You know what I mean...
They promote a lot of conversation amongst the group.
And fire up alot of conservatives.
Which brings about some differences among us...

And I'm sure they are PO'd that Rosie O Donnell is leaving
"The View"

Pretty mouthy there Kev, I actually got blocked from posting at a "left wing" site here in B.C., I guess 'cause of my pro logging, pro mining views. That website is the Tyee, just type in Tyee on Google. I have tolerance, but some of the views there just slay me, treehugging freaks to the max. I can't footlock, Donny O, you got me there.

 

[kevinj]

Pretty mouthy there Kev, I actually got blocked from posting at a "left wing" site here in B.C., I guess 'cause of my pro logging, pro mining views. That website is the Tyee, just type in Tyee on Google. I have tolerance, but some of the views there just slay me, treehugging freaks to the max. I can't footlock, Donny O, you got me there.

Donny didn't seem offended.
And I'm not being mouthy.
And the only problem with my foot,
is getting it stuck in my mouth.