Ladders

[pantheraba]

Here are some ladderwork pictures.

I basically do not like to use one, but sometimes it seems the only way.

 

[mightyoak]

when I use a ladder, it is used very safely during a removal, often I need to ascend the tree a few different times, if i'm pulling 30' of the top out with inexperienced help, I must make the bowline hitch, pre-load the pull line with the pick- up truck, then re-enter the tree. the first time up I will spike to a good tie in point, after this the ladder can be utilized, I climb the ladder with the saddle on, tied in to my DRT, every step up the ladder I advance my friction hitch, I found my self my self being safety conscience after my december 1st 2004 wake up call, during a long tiring removal I ran a climbing spike half way thru my big toe, in the joint behind the toenail, fortunately it missed the tendon, the white sock with the pencil sized hole in it is in my pick-up truck, a visual safety reminder..

 

[pmuscato]

God help you.

 

[Dadatwins]

I am not a big ladder fan either, I will use them to get in a tree but try to avoid working from it if at all possible. I would rather tie in overhead to another tree close by to avoid working from a ladder. Sometimes like the pics show there really are not a lot of options. My only fear of working uprooted stuff like pictured is the root ball settling back and the tree coming back up vertical.

Mighty Oak, welcome to site, get some experienced help and search around the site for some info on a Big Shot and pulling trees over with trucks, you are working way to hard. glad your spike injury was not serious, be careful.

 

[pantheraba]

My only fear of working uprooted stuff like pictured is the root ball settling back and the tree coming back up vertical. .

That was definitely a concern...we checked the roof contact points periodically to see if the tree was trying to lift up.

Once we got the winch on the trunk and could lift it and then set it back down on the roof we had a rough gauge if things were changing too much. The trunk was still very sound (some others we did were smashed/shattered and barely attached to the rootball) so we were wary.

 

[treeseer]

I love ladders and use them often. Looks like you used that one responsibly, and to good advantage. Keep up the good work and pictures!

 

[TreeJunkie]

Looks dangerous to me. Rigging that wood like that next to the ladder looks like an accident waiting to happen. Rig it up from the ladder, under cut and then get the ladder out of there. Finish the cut with a polesaw or power pruner.
Actually thinking about it alot of what you were cutting there you might have been able to do with the power pruner alone.

 

[BoesTreeService]

I dont know about the ladders, but the worker in shorts and knee high boots is making one helluva fashion statement. I dont allow shorts on my job sites. I do like to use ladders to make entry into trees at time...I know I should practice more with the big shot but I stink at it. I prefer to climb to set my ropes most of the time if its possible.

 

[Koa Man]

Almost every entry I make into a tree is done with a ladder. A 12 ft. straight ladder will save you a lot of energy. You can usually reach the first lateral on most of the trees here with it. After that, climbing in the canopy is easy. To me the first 10 ft. from the ground is the hardest climb. I do not like to cut anything from a ladder, unless both me and the ladder is tied in.

 

[rbtree]

For pruning, both our 12 and 8 foot orchard ladders are indispensable. I have a 28 foot extension ladder which gets used often to aid in tree entry, and I'll use if if needed to work from, as long as I'm tied in.

 

[pantheraba]

I dont know about the ladders, but the worker in shorts and knee high boots is making one helluva fashion statement. I dont allow shorts on my job sites.

Appearances are deceiving...those are gaiters ($100 jobbers) keeping debris and swampmud out of the Vasque hiking boots...that fellow learned to use them on OB out in Colorado...though some of the folks down there (Katrina) used knee high rubber boots.

It was really hot on that roof in September.

 

[pantheraba]

Looks dangerous to me. Rigging that wood like that next to the ladder looks like an accident waiting to happen. Rig it up from the ladder, under cut and then get the ladder out of there. Finish the cut with a polesaw or power pruner.
Actually thinking about it alot of what you were cutting there you might have been able to do with the power pruner alone.

First, you gotta have one. We just used what we had. Whenever it looked like a piece might hit the ladder I would straddle the trunk and snug down tight, maybe have one foot on ladder...if it did hit the ladder it wouldn't be the end of the world...ladder was cinched tight to the trunk. It was a hassle repositioning for each cut but worked out well.

There weren't any overhead belays...any alternative ideas on how to remove the tree are welcome...no bucket or crane available.

 

[pantheraba]

I love ladders and use them often. Looks like you used that one responsibly, and to good advantage. Keep up the good work and pictures!

Thanks for the vote of confidence...lots of naysayers...which is OK, folks can see things that I may not...and may have better ways (safer) to do it.

But sometimes you don't gotta be the best, you just gotta be.

 

[Sbusta]

If you have to work from a ladder you should look at these I doubt you would ever use a conventional ladder again http://www.scorpro.co.nz/

 

[Koa Man]

Sbusta,
those ladders look great...how much do they cost? Wonder what shipping to Hawaii would be?

 

[Sbusta]

Koa Man. Eric has a section for enquiries and pricing on the web site I had the 6mtr ladder when I did trees but just do stumps now. I think the cost was around $1200NZD about $830USD very safe stable and productive well worth the money IMO.

 

[SteveBullman]

got a mate who worked innew zealand, hes always going on about something they referred to as A ladders. is that what that is?

 

[mightyoak]

dadatwins: thanks for the warm welcome, I gather much information from this outstanding site, I'm most guilty at times of working way to hard, I rely on the property owner/owners to assist me in removals, according to their ability,the ladder assist, is used only under what I consider ideal conditions, the few 30'+ tops that I've landed, were done with much calculation, well balanced crown, minimal wind loading, most of all attention to detail on the face cut, holding wood/hinge wood, geometry. I have a retired mech. engineer as a parent, I like to think I have a few ounces of engineer blood in me..

 

[Bodean]

Guy I work for sometimes, just told me of one of his climbers, Just yesterday this fella they call "Big Country" was cutting from the top of an orchard ladder holding a powerpruner over his head cutting. This Guy "Big Country" wanted to pop the branch off clean but ended up peeling it down and when the tip hit first, he kept cutting until the butt knocked him off the ladder breaking his foot. I don't understand why a climber doesn't climb for funky cuts.
when in doubt, rope it out.

 

[tree md]

As some here know I am not a fan of ladders. I got hurt using one. I have never used a ladder for entry on a tree. I prefer using a throw ball or big shot and belaying up. However, I do understand having to make due with whats available to work with.