Lightning tree

[BJM]

View attachment 283752

This is my uncle's tree. He states it has been hit by lightning. The tree has a 4inch strip of bark missing from halfway up to the top (which is dead). The tree looks healthly otherwise (however from reading other info maybe its not healthy).

I am not a professional, but he wants to remove the tree. I have climbed and removed some trees, but nothing with lightning damage. I plan on an inspection climb to check it out.

Question: Is this do-able or is it a crane job?


Yes there are wires, main road, houses. My plan is to climb and attach a pull rope and top it. Sounds simple right? I doubt it.

Let me have it....

 

[k5alive]

Kinda hard to tell at the distance if lightning killed it. Down here if lightning hits a big pine the whole thing usually dies.

 

[beastmaster]

It's doable, but be careful not to bite off more than you can chew there. Its not a rookie tree. Even if your skill level is up to it, and be honest
With yourself. There are potential disasters all around that tree. Can you safely evaluate that top when you get to it? I'd think twice before climbing on that dead top to put in a tipping line. Depending whats under it(the tree)you might have to take that dead top in several cuts, or drop it with pin point accuracy. No room for mistakes.
Do you know how much brush is going to come off that tree? Pretty big pile if you don't have a crew and chipper truck at your disposal. You'll need traffic control during the whole job. Signs, cones flag men, not just your buddy's out there waving their hands. The whole tree probably should be chunked down. That is assuming its clear under the tree, can't tell from the photos. Quickly moving those logs out of the way without some kind of equipment is going to be slow back breaking work.
If you used a crane it would have to be a big one and it might be slow going with the wires and all. There is a lot you can't see in the photo to judge drop zone and what not. I think the hardest thing about that tree will be the logistics on the ground.
I wouldn't do that tree without a top knoch crew on the ground that could keep me moving up in the tree.
Do you do this for a living and have a good crew and equipment at your disposal? If the answer is no, Ied let someone more experienced with insurance do it.

 

[old_soul]

beast gave lots of good advice there

If it really was hit by lightning, you have to be careful of the wood being split. By this i mean vertical cracks running up and down the trunk of the tree.

May not matter much as the tree stands in the pic, but as you start taking it apart the splits will move and could open up, peel out on you. Bad news if you're tied in 60 foot up.

I've noticed, on lightning trees, the splits make it more difficult to hold a good notch and to direct the tree where you want to go. Sometimes one side of your notch is already compromised by the lightning and not leaving much for holding wood. to get it to hinge in the needed direction.


Good luck

 

[BJM]

Thanks guys.

I guess now, he just wants it topped.

 

[Gologit]

Thanks guys.

I guess now, he just wants it topped.

Okay, but let us know what happens. You just got more good advice in two posts than a lot of guys get in six months.

 

[jimmy shannon]

View attachment 283752

This is my uncle's tree. He states it has been hit by lightning. The tree has a 4inch strip of bark missing from halfway up to the top (which is dead). The tree looks healthly otherwise (however from reading other info maybe its not healthy).

I am not a professional, but he wants to remove the tree. I have climbed and removed some trees, but nothing with lightning damage. I plan on an inspection climb to check it out.

Question: Is this do-able or is it a crane job?


Yes there are wires, main road, houses. My plan is to climb and attach a pull rope and top it. Sounds simple right? I doubt it.




Let me have it....

Would agree with the last threads author.Cant tell whats to the left of tree and whether thats a safe drop zone.If you cant drop any of those branches I would put a pulley up top and rope a few at a time with straps.Its a crap load of brush and a tedious amount of limbing.At least two ground guys.Get it stripped,butt hitch the top and chunk it out.Its totally doable as a climbing gig but it definitely falls into the professional category. Plus you say theres wires and a house,what kind of wires?phone and cable or high tension?If your not 100% confident about it,dont mess with it.My two cents.

 

[Carburetorless]

Better move the mail box.

 

[BJM]

Thanks guys! It all went decent. Climb was good, view of downtown Portland, OR (from Vancouver, Wa).

Top didn't fall excatly where it should have, due to a bad face cut (not clean enough).View attachment 285273View attachment 285275

 

[beastmaster]

Any thing get broke?

 

[TreeToronto]

Contact an Arborist

many of the jobs are meant with the professionals one so if you want to do this on your own you have to one of them because its a risky job and you can hurt if you want to take a professional help for you job hire an arborist who can handle your professionally and with their experience. so i suggest you if you contact an arborist who can resolve your problem in the best way.