New Guy with Questions...

[Jason N]

Hey fellas,
I've read and looked at a lot of your postings. Really good stuff. I've gotten a lot more respect for what you do just by starting to try and climb (with gaffs)... Lots of strength and stamina necessary for sure. Anyway, I recently purchased a weaver saddle and climbright wire core flip line (have had bashlin gaffs in the basement for a year or so). What I am finding very quickly is that the gaffs really dig into the insides of my shins. Any suggestions for overcoming this challenge? Or is it one of those things that you just need to "suck it up" till you've gotten used to doing more climbing?


Also, is it unheard of to offer "free service" from someone (like me) looking to learn about tree climbing (SRT, gaff, etc.) to someone that is in the business?


Jason

 

[treeclimber101]

Tighten them to the point your foot goes numb , you get youst to it and it will stop that rubbing immediately , also make sure they are adjusted for you calf length and when you climb rock your body weight avoiding putting your entire weight on one insole at one time , this will stop the pain inbetween your heel and your toes ... Your spikes are primarily for trunk removal so with being said learn how to set a line high and this will ease your accent and offer relief of leg fatigue...

 

[Jason N]

Thanks treeclimber101 for responding. You created a couple more questions, though. Where, exactly, should I adjust them to? Is there a certain height or measurement? When you say set a high line, what do you mean? Lean closer into the tree? Keep the spikes more vertical? I really appreciate your feedback. Now you see why I'd like to hook up with someone, but in the meantime, I'll keep picking at people's brains... Thanks again...

:yourock:

Jason

 

[treeclimber101]

The pad should sit right under your knee on the inside , the strap if they have straps should sit on top of calf muscle and believe me tight is better than having the leg iron stabbing the bottom of your knee bone , and as for the high line I mean a climbing line not a lanyard , you should get the tree climbers companion and read it front to back its great to educate the basics , think of it this way with the climbing line set high in the tree all the weight of your body sits on your waste instead of the bottom of your feet and you will see that there are many different ways to "climb" a tree ... When you walk up the tree take short tight steps ...

 

[capetrees]

Also, is it unheard of to offer "free service" from someone (like me) looking to learn about tree climbing (SRT, gaff, etc.) to someone that is in the business?


Jason

It seems a lot of people i here have done just that, offer to work for someone for free to get the experience. Some guys are decent enough to pay you too from what I've read in here. Look around, there may be some in your area. Good luck.

 

[PaulPollard]

Huh, I learned spur-less climbing first. If you get your line set nicely its just the difference between foot locking or humping your way up compared to risking putting a hole through your ankle? You can get foot ascenders if your having a problem at first.

If you ever decide to do a bit of work while you up in a tree, some people frown upon using spurs for a prune job, and someone might get real upset if the "new guy" starts going up their specimen Maple with spurs to take out some dead wood or something

I think it's easier to make a mistake with spurs on as well, the dreaded gaff out and face slide down the stem is always a possibility when all your weight is on the lanyard. Usually the lanyard is your second tie in point for the cut, in the old forestry days you just didn't cut your lanyard.

Anyway, you should learn how to sharpen them if your going to use them. I worked with a 60 year old ex-forestry turned residential guy who wore spurs all his life and he shuffled around in semicircles with his toes pointed out, like he was moving around the girth of a huge Fir tree or something. The bow legs on top of that. You can learn a lot from people like that.

 

[Jason N]

Thanks for the input, guys. I do have the tree climbers companion, but it has been a bit since I've read it. Probably a good time for review... Thanks again.
Jason