Last day climbing

[bighugetrees]

Well it was for my dad. In the mid 80's his good friend had crashed and Ultra-lite, small airplane, into the top of 170 foot fir tree south of Tacoma, Washington. He climbed down but the plane was stuck in the tree.

The plan was to have a helicopter drop a cable down and lift the plane out, but needed a climber to attatch the hook. So over 150 feet and in full rotor wash, tree swaying 15 feet from side to side, he said he could not spit to save his life. He discribed reaching out as the hook was swinging around and all the wind.

He did get the plane down safe and himself too. I will try to find old pictures or maybe someone had a video camera that day, but not sure about that.

Anyway, that was his last day in a tree. Think it would be mine too. Anyone agree? I know there are some of the best climbers in the world on this site, but anyone ever hear of something like it or been a part of something like it?

Just a story I thought I would share about my dad and his time in the trees.

Thank you,

Dan

 

[TDunk]

Cool story, even cooler that your own dad was the climber. I'd would have never done that. Nope, no way. That's about 100 ft. to tall for me.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

It would have had to have been a big pay out, that is a lot of work getting to the top. I've been higher on a (very) few occasions.

 

[Saw Bones]

Well it was for my dad. In the mid 80's his good friend had crashed and Ultra-lite, small airplane, into the top of 170 foot fir tree south of Tacoma, Washington. He climbed down but the plane was stuck in the tree.

The plan was to have a helicopter drop a cable down and lift the plane out, but needed a climber to attatch the hook. So over 150 feet and in full rotor wash, tree swaying 15 feet from side to side, he said he could not spit to save his life. He discribed reaching out as the hook was swinging around and all the wind.

He did get the plane down safe and himself too. I will try to find old pictures or maybe someone had a video camera that day, but not sure about that.

Anyway, that was his last day in a tree. Think it would be mine too. Anyone agree? I know there are some of the best climbers in the world on this site, but anyone ever hear of something like it or been a part of something like it?

Just a story I thought I would share about my dad and his time in the trees.

Thank you,

Dan

Thanks for sharing that with us. I would have been worried about the rotorwash shaking the plane down on top of me. I did a rescue once where two guys went off a curve on a rural road, and their pick up was hung in a tree about 30 feet over our heads. The guys fell out of the truck at some point and we found them in serious condition on the ground under the truck. Another fool and I ran in and got them on a board real quick and pulled them out from under the truck where we felt a little safer working on them. The truck stayed in the tree until we were gone, I would have liked to see them get it down.

 

[Tree Pig]

During my military days I (more then once) fast roped from a helo to the top of the tail section of a C5 only about 65 ft but it was pretty hairy.

 

[bruce6670]

During my military days I (more then once) fast roped from a helo to the top of the tail section of a C5 only about 65 ft but it was pretty hairy.

Why did you need to do that ?

 

[Tree Pig]

Why did you need to do that ?

how else would you get up there.

Nah just kidding. Training for team that speacialised in anti-hijacking and military aircraft, I could tell you more but then I would have to kill you lol.

 

[rbtree]

Great story, Danno!

 

[treemandan]

During my military days I (more then once) fast roped from a helo to the top of the tail section of a C5 only about 65 ft but it was pretty hairy.

I guess your right 65 feet isn't much... if you are walking it. Height adds up quick but if you can swim shallow I suppose the deep ain't to bad although the chopper sounds fun.

 

[Tree Pig]

I guess your right 65 feet isn't much... if you are walking it. Height adds up quick but if you can swim shallow I suppose the deep ain't to bad although the chopper sounds fun.

Walk... walking is for legs. I prefered to get a ride there. The helo was about 20 feet above the tail section and we rapelled on to the top of the tail.

 

[bighugetrees]

Not sure about the pay out, but not enough I'm sure. Thank you for the replys.

 

[StihlRockin']

...I could tell you more but then I would have to kill you....

Strange; I've found myself saying the same thing... many times. LOL!

StihlRockin'

 

[outofmytree]

During my military days I (more then once) fast roped from a helo to the top of the tail section of a C5 only about 65 ft but it was pretty hairy.

Funny the things you can do in the military that would be OHS dynamite in civilian life...

Climbed with a navy demo'guy who told me of a joint op where two of his team got broken legs from rapid rappels on to ship decks in high swell. Ouch!

As to a plane in a tree. You need more c4 dude.

 

[Hddnis]

Cool story. Your dad was good.



Mr. HE

 

[Tree Pig]

Funny the things you can do in the military that would be OHS dynamite in civilian life...

Climbed with a navy demo'guy who told me of a joint op where two of his team got broken legs from rapid rappels on to ship decks in high swell. Ouch!

As to a plane in a tree. You need more c4 dude.

A sounds like same thing fast ropping and they mis judged the rising deck and didnt brake in time.

 

[outofmytree]

Yeah thats how he described it.

They must have been damn goos if they were anything like him. I swear he had a prehensile tail hidden away somewhere. This guy was 4 weeks in trees and racing 10 year vets. Lots of non-tree experience and absolutely no fear.

 

[bighugetrees]

Easier cross over coming into tree work with military experience. Had a guy working with me that had only worked in an office. Asked me what do we do or do we work when it is raining? I was like, we live in Seattle man, get a coat!

"Some men you just can't reach." Quote from Cool Hand Luke.

 

[Tree Pig]

Yeah thats how he described it.

They must have been damn goos if they were anything like him. I swear he had a prehensile tail hidden away somewhere. This guy was 4 weeks in trees and racing 10 year vets. Lots of non-tree experience and absolutely no fear.

The no fear part is what makes it easy. If your comfy hanging in a harness (rappelling parachute or whatever) then its just a matter of changing what your climbing or jumping out of. Its kinda like we are to dumb to realize how dangerous it is.

 

[Tree Pig]

Easier cross over coming into tree work with military experience. Had a guy working with me that had only worked in an office. Asked me what do we do or do we work when it is raining? I was like, we live in Seattle man, get a coat!

"Some men you just can't reach." Quote from Cool Hand Luke.

I could never work out there, too hard to climb in a poncho liner.

 

[bighugetrees]

May be able to get a video

Talked with my dad today. The tree was a cottonwood. Close to 5 feet at the stump. There was a news helicopter that shot the whole thing and it was on the news that night.

My uncle may have also been shooting footage from the ground. I will work on this. Should be cool to see what I am talking about.