Learning to climb and having trouble.

[Paul Brown]

Hey, I'm just starting out on my tree climbing and I have this problem where I'm climbing up about 30-40ft. Before I reach the first limb. I freeze up and get really nervous for some reason. I've been reading on here for a while and I known a lot of you say "either you got it or you don't" I hope I got it because I would really like to make a career out of it. It's not im scared of the heights it's just when I go to cross the limb things start to run in my mind like my gear is going to let me down or my spikes are going to kick out. I'm not sure what it feels like to kick out because it hasn't happened but the thought of it scares the **** out of me.. The only time I really feel safe is when I'm tied in to a higher limb, and sometimes it's hard to do with my throw bag from the ground. Any suggestions on getting past that feeling, if you don't mind to swallow your pride is there anyone when they first started this work who had the same feelings, and how you got past it.by the way the tree I'm trying to build my confidence is a gum tree that's about 100ft tall that is planned for removal.

Thank you for your time and help!

 

[juttree]

I never met anyone who wasn't like a scared kitten the first time they tried climbing to any heights, it does get easier though. You'll learn to trust your gear the more you use it.
If your having a hard time reaching a high crotch, get yourself a big shot.
Good luck and keep trying, if you want it bad enough you'll get it.

 

[TheJollyLogger]

No, I'm not going to say either you have it or you don't. But I will ask you a few questions. Did you take driver's ed? Did you go to school? Everything else in your life you have been instructed in. But strapping a chainsaw to your ass and climbing 40 or 100, or even 10 feet in the air, how hard can that be, right? Yes you're freaking out, because you're 40' in th air with no training. You can't learn to drive on the internet, and guess what, you can't learn to climb hereb either. What you don't know will kill you, and you aren't even asking the right questions.

 

[woodchuck357]

I don't remember climbing my first tree or climbing my first rock, I have always climbed. I do remember the first time I climbed with equipment, and I still have those same feelings some times. Time spent with various climbing accessories will give you more confidence, but I hope that, like me, you will never be totally at ease trusting your life and limb to supports be they man made or natural.
You didn't say how much training you have had, but I teach spur climbing with a belay and have people practice spurs kick out several times, both strapped in and just hanging on. I climbed many trees when I was younger with just hands and feet that had no limbs for 20 feet or more and thought nothing of it. I weigh much more these days and am not nearly as strong so if I didn't rely on ropes, straps and all the other stuff I would have to stay on the ground!

 

[juttree]

Climbing trees and working in trees are two totally different things. If your just practicing climbing the tree which is what it sounds like to me (its planned for removal so your trying spikes on it), I say go for it. If you're planning on doing the work, then I totally agree with TheJollyLogger, you need training.

 

[Paul Brown]

Well the training is coming from my pops, he's been climbing for around 30 years. But he's old school, so it's either you get your ass up there or stay on the ground and run the rope.. I been watching him and hes been telling why he does this and that my wole life, but like I said when it comes to asking him about being nervous, I get, come down, you don't have any business up there. So, I guess I'm just gonna have to suck it up and just do it! @woodchuck357 can you tell my how you go about practicing kicking out? Thanks again

 

[MasterBlaster]

I had zero training when I started. My first time, the fat foreman told me to "Just climb up there with this rope and tie it in so we can pull this pine over." It wasn't a huge pine - maybe 40'. All excited, I slapped on spurs (no saddle) and free climbed up, tied the rope, and climbed down. About halfway down I buried the spur in my calf.

Do you have an experienced climber that will mentor you? And if not, are you willing to purchase training DVDs? I suggest Jerry Beranek's "Working Climber" series. The 80 bucks you spend will be well worth it and it just might save your life.

Good luck, brother! Climb safe!

 

[woodchuck357]

The easiest way to get spurs to kick out is just to climb while driving the spikes less and less until they don't hold. Since you are climbing the same tree over and over, you should have no problem finding a place that spurs will slip out. Knees tight to the tree will let the gaffs dig in less. Have your belay person keep the rope with a little slack so you will actually get the feel without dropping far. When I was first climbing with spikes I asked the guy training me what would happen if both spurs came out at the same time. His response was "don't worry you will hang on" and I did! At that time we were mostly climbing with no ropes and without the strap around the tree until we got to working height.

 

[MasterBlaster]

ALWAYS use your lanyard. When a limb blocks your ascent, toss your climb line to the next (even better, as high a limb as you can reach) limb and tie in before repositioning your lanyard. You will NEVER fall if you do this.

ALWAYS USE YOUR LANYARD

 

[Zale]

Nerves are park of the game. If you are just starting out, its to be expected. Practice makes perfect. As far as how to deal with the nervousness? Heavy consumption of drugs and alcohol.

 

[T. Collins]

I feel like the range you are talking about is where you will start to feel the movement in the tree from wind. Your body takes a while to get used to being on something that's moving around like that, it will make you nervous and unstable feeling. If you have been in a tree for a long time on a windy day, you still feel the swaying for a while even after you are on the ground! Climb up to where you are nervous, and stay there for a bit, drop down 5 feet, move around there for a bit, climb up 10 feet, etc... Just give your mind and body some time to get on the same program-

 

[Peter.s]

climb with 2 lanyards - only safe way to get above a limb without being tied in.

 

[MasterBlaster]

That sounds good, but it's much easier to use your climbline.

 

[Peter.s]

its not always easy to get it up there and when your dealing with time obsessed people its faster to toss another lanyard around and keep on climbing.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Your climbline IS a "lanyard."

 

[TheJollyLogger]

climb with 2 lanyards - only safe way to get above a limb without being tied in.

Really, It's the ONLY safe way?

 

[EcoTreeCo]

Sometimes you just have to take a breath and calm down. Having your dad barking at you can't help much. If you're just nervous, that will mostly fade. You'll always have those moments where something spooks you, it's what keeps us constantly relying on the safety options we typically have at our disposal.
"Old school" has its merits and it's drawbacks. It's your life and your climb. Sucks to have the expectations of a production climber when you're just getting started. Been there.


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[TreeAce]

climb with 2 lanyards - only safe way to get above a limb without being tied in.

If you decide to use this method, be sure and use lanyards with completely different connectors. Hooks, carabiners that all look the same can get confusing.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Meh...

 

[Chuck D]

I'm sure you will be alright. you got a good hearty desire to do it and I think that will overcome any obstacles in your way!
What I have done is use your lanyard or flip line and climb up to the first crotch and then take your safety line and throw it over that crotch and bring it down and clip into your belt.
Then unhook your lanyard and put it over the crotch also then you can unhook your safety line and climb some more to the next crotch and then you can throw it high up over a crotch maybe four or 5 feet above your head if there is one with your safety line