learning to climb on gaffs

[Kevin]

Tom,
Is this what you would call the "industry standard"?

 

[FBerkel]

Tom,

Sorry I made an acedemic exercise out of something with such obvious emotional content.

-Fred

 

[coydog]

i use geckoes because i have sensitive shins ( i used to climb with buckinghams with soccer pads underneath). I like them but i don't use them everyday, i think they might wear out with daily heavy use, but for my purposes they are heaven. by far the most comfortable not to mention lightweight gaffs i have found yet. but they aren't the most heavy duty, and could have a tendency to kick out in punky wood, i keep them sharp and they work very well in hardwoods especially.
another reason to tie into the center ring on your harness when topping is if the spar splits it is less likely injure the climber than if tied to side rings.
no first hand experience here but mike maas brought this up in an earlier thread and i thought it was worth repeating, its something i've been trying to do(when i remember).

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Kevin wrote: Is this what you would call the "industry standard"?

Is this directed at me? I can't follow what you're asking. Please clarify.

Fred wrote: Sorry I made an acedemic exercise out of something with such obvious emotional content.

Same as above, I'm confused

These threads get a little loopy and hard to follow. Seems to be a little easier to talk about climbing with gaffs in one thread and the seasonal pace of work in a new thread.

See you guys next week, I'm heading up to St Cloud, just south and a little east of Lake Wobegon, for our chapter conference and TCC. Be back Monday.

Tom

 

[Ryan Willock]

just signed up for the arbormaster class!

 

[StIhL MaGnUm]

Good morning everyone,

I've been gaffing for probally 1 1/2 years and I've been thinking about getting a new saddle soon,and I was just interested in which one's you guy's like to use when gaffing?I prefer seperate leg strap saddles I don't know about you guy's though...I'll have to give Sherill a call and order a new one soon I guess.

Later Rob....

 

[Kevin]

You might consider a saddle with shoulder straps or suspenders if you plan on having a saw hanging off your belt.

 

[treeclimber165]

Originally posted by Kevin
You might consider a saddle with shoulder straps or suspenders if you plan on having a saw hanging off your belt.

WHY?

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

Maybe because it would take some of the load of your waist and put it on your shoulders, particularly while running the 084 in the tree.

The choics between lag straps and swing seat type saddles will depend on your climbing style. The leg straps allow more flexability but the trade off is they are less comfortable to hang off the rope in.

 

[Ryan Willock]

i'm no pro but i like the floating double D saddle that i got from wes spur, has seperate leg straps

 

[Kevin]

Prevents climbers crack.

 

[Ryan Willock]

climbed 30' today and limbed the pine as i went up with my fano's learned how to use a blake's hitch last week, now as i gaff my way up i am using my flip line and climbing line

 

[kf_tree]

ryan
one thing that i think went unsaid in this thread is, take baby steps. don't try and take big strides when spiking up a tree. just take lots of little steps going up. it saves the legs on big removals.

 

[Ryan Willock]

i only take about a 6" step at a time anyway i'm short so its not like i can take a big step, i'm 5'10"

 

[Ryan Willock]

limbed a pine up to 30' today with my fano's and then repeled down and droped it. had to limb it to clear a dogwood

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

The way i learned it is don't take steps more then boot top high.

Juts dont follow that advise if wearing lineman boots

 

[Stumper]

Appropriate for hip boots though, right?

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

If you want to gaff in waders..... Phhhhttttt

 

[Ryan Willock]

went up to 35' again today i really appreciate all the help and advice!!!!! since i have been using a life line and a blake's hitch for a backup i have had almost no fear of hight...almost if possible i would like to talk to some of ya'll on the phone some time. i have been thinking about a knot that isn't listed in any of the books that i think might make a good knot for securing yourself in a pine and repeling back down when your done in the tree. i can't quite discribe it on the computer, i sure some of ya'll use this knot now for some thing or orther. i don't know its name can't find it listed either.
thanks,
ryan

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

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