Just didn't feel right

[xrockdawgx]

I'm not a "pro", I'm a home owner that climbs and does my own work. That being said, I am hoping to get the view point of the pros. As the topic eludes to, I was @ the top of one of these georgia pines. I removed limbs on the way all up, all the way up. My intent was to top it and block it down as it has a good lean towards the state owned building next door. When I got to the top it just didn't feel right. All elements were in my favor but my gut said otherwise. So, the top is still there, along with the rest of the tree minus limbs.
I'm confidant that I am not the only person to have had one of these "don't feel right moments". So the question is, when the pros experience this how do they react to it? Pic for reference.

 

[BuckmasterStumpGrinding]

That is the part that gets people killed. If it is free falling it shouldn't be that much of a ride. Rigging it down is where most problems come in. That being said free fall it and make sure you are tied in properly. Be really careful about making sure nothing hits you on the way down.

 

[beastmaster]

Gut feelings on one hand based on what you observe are one thing. Sometimes your subconscious mind picks up stuff.
But unless your psychic, it might just be your mind messing with you. I've had dreams before i started a dangerous removal that i was going to die, I've had people tell me they had had dreams or feelings something would happen. Ive pushed all that a side trusted my skill and instinct did them anyway
Its easy to get spooked sometimes, knowing the difference between your mind messing with you, or your subconscious picking up a real problem your conscious mind misses is key. Most the time its just your mind not your instincts. You have to push through it.

 

[benjo75]

Looks like 3 or 4 more limbs and the top will be done. As far as being nervous, I usually check everything multiple times and make sure everything is as good as I can possibly do it. It doesn't hurt to come down and take a break and eat a bite then walk around the tree and look at it from all angles. Sometimes you will see something you didn't see before. If there's nothing else to do then you have to just do it.

 

[Zale]

When I get that feeling, I smoke a lot cigarettes. It happens to everyone. I would go back up the tree and set a line or use a throw line to it and drop the tree in that wide open space.

 

[beastmaster]

If the tree appears healthy, and it can't be free felled, just go small. I'd catch that top right below where it right angled out. It don't weigh nothing. Then take pieces you fell comfortable with.

 

[DR. P. Proteus]

You just have to figure out how to get to a point where it does feel right. Good luck! I will say that, for greeny like you, having a good guy on the ground will at least help make things feel like they are starting feel right.

 

[ChoppyChoppy]

Shoot I get the shakes on a step ladder. I'm a logger, no climbing. Mostly mechanical harvesting.

 

[JeffGu]

Sometimes I just clean up the jobsite, say that I'm done for today, and come back the next day. Amazing, sometimes, that you can't even remember what you were spooked about the day before. But, that's not a great state of mind to be in. If you're not production climbing on a tight schedule, just do something else for awhile and worry about it the next day. As mentioned, walk around the tree and look it over, note the lean angles and stuff... sometimes the spooky feeling just goes away.

 

[TheJollyLogger]

Have you considered taking up meth? It seems to be a popular anxiety solution with a lot of new climbers these days.

 

[miko0618]

Is it even possible to hit anything with that top? Notch it towards its natural lean with a few degrees towards the direction you really hope to hit. If the fibers hold, you'll have a glorious moment of accuracy. If they pop on the way over, well... no biggie. Theres nothing to damage anyway. Now, if you need to rig that top... a good, smooth groundie will give you no bounce at all. A heavy wrap, no give rig will give you a little swing but not as bad as you think. Now... sometimes it gets scary. You can go down and set slings to another rigging line lower. If the tree would fail, you could catch yourself. I've never done this. I go up as high as I can and work with pieces that wont kill or damage anything. I feel like thats the safest way about it. Its like flying... once you committ to it, you might as well enjoy it cause theres nothing you can do anyway.

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[xrockdawgx]

Hello all and thanks for responding. I had a visitor that kept me offline for a few days. His name was Matthew, "Hurricane Matthew".
1. Meth does not qualify as an adequate solution to any problem in my eyes.
2. Thank you all for the advice and techniques on how to take this down. As my visitor did not.
3. Thankyou to those that replied to the " just didn't feel right" question.
It was just the same feeling that kept me alive in multiple situations in a plethora of overseas locations. I've learned to trust it. If I had tried it most likely nothing bad would have happened. Regardless, I am here to try it again tomorrow. Or the nest day. Whenever it feels right.
I was back up in the trees again today, removing branches and taking a leaner that had become a threat to the neighbors garage.
As long as my pervious injuries don't cause any issues I am seriously considering an occupation that will keep me up in the trees when I'm done with the military. Time, and much knees will tell. Once again, thanks for all the replies.

 

[TheJollyLogger]

I guess based on your recent visitor, that tree wasn't quite the threat, or risk you thought it was. Have you considered getting some actual training?

 

[miko0618]

I guess based on your recent visitor, that tree wasn't quite the threat, or risk you thought it was. Have you considered getting some actual training?

This site isn't actual training?? [emoji12]

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[xrockdawgx]

Removing all of the limbs minus the top few reduced the threat level of said tree. I would love to get some form OJT training, however, between my work schedule and my 5 kids, time is an extremely precious recource. Google Earth screen shot of the tree and proximity to govt building.

 

[miko0618]

Removing all of the limbs minus the top few reduced the threat level of said tree. I would love to get some form OJT training, however, between my work schedule and my 5 kids, time is an extremely precious recource. Google Earth screen shot of the tree and proximity to govt building.

Removing the limbs on a pine reduces stability and mass. Not saying this is always the case. Leaving a ball on the top of a bare tree could increase the stress to the stem in wind.

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[treesmith]

Shoot I get the shakes on a step ladder. I'm a logger, no climbing. Mostly mechanical harvesting.

I hate ladders with a passion...

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[treesmith]

Have you considered taking up meth? It seems to be a popular anxiety solution with a lot of new climbers these days.

Best answer!

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[TheJollyLogger]

I love how everyone wants advice on how to cut, not whether or not to cut.

 

[Erwin]

If you did not do the final cut yet up there and you have not injured yourself yet (5 kids and a wife depends on you!), DO make sure the you make the proper (face cut for the hinge) with the proper depth. If you don't and you are secured to the trunk with a flip line as I can only imaging, the weight of that top as it smash down will pull your flip line and strangle u!!! think thrice before u do something u don't have the proper training or experience. Hope that u r well.