New Teaching Technique

[NYSawBoss]

My new climbing instructor has told me to take off all of the extraneous ???? as he calls it off of my saddle. He has me going at trees as close to the old school way as possible. He wants me to get a feel for what it was like to climb when he first started. His opinion is that the invention of a "climbing chainsaw" was the worst thing to happen to our industry. He said all the climbers became literal tree huggers cutting only what they could reach with the chainsaw. His methods are great and his technique is something to marvel at. The way the man uses his rope..you'd never need to bring anything else into the tree.

tony

 

[rahtreelimbs]

Originally posted by NYSawBoss
His methods are great and his technique is something to marvel at. The way the man uses his rope..you'd never need to bring anything else into the tree.

tony

Please elaborate!!!

 

[NYSawBoss]

Well....a lot of new climbers--like myself-- bring things like nylon web slings and carabiners into the tree for redirecting. He just uses his rope as he calls it "the right way". The man will walk up the underside of a 30' long lateral limb shooting up at more than a 45 degree angle. I dont know but in my opinion the man has major skills.

 

[rahtreelimbs]

I hope he doesn't use the tail of his climbing line to rope out limbs!

 

[MasterBlaster]

Sounds like my kind of guy!

http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9953

 

[MasterBlaster]

Originally posted by RAHTREELIMBS
I hope he doesn't use the tail of his climbing line to rope out limbs!

I do that all the time for light rigging, sometimes my lanyard. That's why I don't care for steel-cored ones, except for mebbe pine TD's.

 

[Stumper]

Hmmm...... He may be a very good climber. That's great. Speaking for myself, a FEW gadgets make it a lot easier for me. I don't care what someone else carries on their saddle or how they enter the tree so long as they can get it done right.

 

[Dadatwins]

Think its great that someone is teaching you some old school techniques as long as they are done safely. I think it is important for someone new to know how to deal with a tree with just a rope and belt and not have 100 lbs of hardware up there with you that you are not sure how to use and adding to the confusion. Learn the basics and add the bells and whistles later. The gadgets can and will make the job easier but you need to know why first. good luck and be careful.

 

[Matt Follett]

For Sure!!!! I think this is the best way to learn! When I teach the climbing course at my school, I have everybody start off with the very basic, no split tail, not even a clip or 'biner, , That way it makes it difficult to reposition, and you think more about the chess game...

And my climbing man Dave has been (sorry Dave if your listening he he ) going to school for fun 'cause, well what ever... anyway he is a SOLID climber, and they made him go back for a whole semester, and climb basic... I think he even got to enjoy it once in a while!

Toys are great, and modern climbing tech is wonderful, but you can develop sloppy habits, that if you think ahead, like you didn't always have the toys... you'll be more efficient at the end of the day... and that's what we all want, whether it means more production, or more strength to lift a beer at the end of the day.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Did someone say beer?

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Do mechanics think of combo wrenches as gadgets when an open-end adjustable [Crescent hammer to some] will work just fine? Would an accountant use a mechanical adding machine instead of a gadgety calculator or computer. Does anyone walk or ride a horse to work or do you use your computer controlled horseless carriage?

Everything we use is a tool. Calling tools gadgets denigrates them.

Learning basic climbing skills and fundamentals is a great way to become a better climber. In time, deal the tools back into your hands.

It sounds like you've got a good teacher. How long has he been climbing? He sounds like my climbing mentor Gary. Uses his head and thinks through for solutions. But, for every Gary and ??? there are many more who would benefit from learning basics and then move to progressive climbing skills.

Share some of the things that you've learned.

 

[BigJohn]

I would ride a horse to work. I wish I could. That is actually a dream of mine.

 

[Dadatwins]

Originally posted by Tom Dunlap


Everything we use is a tool. Calling tools gadgets denigrates them.

Yikes, when did you become the defense lawyer for the tool industry?

 

[Nickrosis]

One man's tool is another man's gadget.

One man's gadget is another man's tool.

 

[Newfie]

Originally posted by Nickrosis
One man's tool is another man's gadget.

One man's gadget is another man's tool.

I'd rather be a gadget than a tool.

 

[arboromega]

a gadget is an electrical or mechanical device and is usually small by definition. alot of our climing equipment (pantin,microscender,blahblah) would meet this definition.

NY learning the olderstyle is very important imo...but once you have the basics you speak with your teacher about adding certain pieces of gear to your style. Id stay with this guys tutoring for a bit though if you are comfortable working with him. good luck

 

[glens]

Originally posted by NYSawBoss
The man will walk up the underside of a 30' long lateral limb shooting up at more than a 45 degree angle.

How does he use his rope "the right way" while doing that?  What if he wants/needs to get above his tie-in point for a few minutes with the full intention of coming back down the same way; what does he do for a redirect, or does he move it, or merely climb above it?

One man's right way is another's needless pain in the ass sometimes.

Glen

 

[MasterBlaster]

I call that 'walking up the backside'. I hate doing it, but sometimes ya gotta. It'll slap a whupping on ya!

 

[Stumper]

Originally posted by glens


One man's right way is another's needless pain in the ass sometimes.

Glen

A succinct summation Glen!