new to climbing

[sparky985]

I've got a few trees that need limbing and one that needs fallen. I've been searching around for climbing kits and wanted to ask any advice for where to look (websites) and competent brands and such. Have found the National Tree Climbing Program site. Any and all help would be quite, well... helpful. Thanks.

 

[troythetreeman]

if youre not thinking of making a career out of this i dont recommend you do this
if youre not extremely competent with a saw on the ground i would strongly advise against this
hire someone
if youre looking to save money just have them put it on the ground and do all the clean up yourself
might be cheaper then a set of gear anyhow(1-1.5k for basic equipment) and you have a much lower chance of killing or crippling yourself
anyone whos good at something makes it look easy, what youre talking about here is anything but easy

 

[RacerX]

Pro's do make it look easy so for a neophyte you might be heading for trouble. If you're limbing, can you use a good handsaw and do you have a clear drop zone? A chainsaw in a tree in the hands of an inexperienced operator can have deadly consequences. With a handsaw and nothing below you would really only need to concentrate on your climbing. Do you have any experience? We're here to help just don't want you to get in over your head.

 

[chad556]

I taught myself to climb and the others who have posted so far are not joking. Its dangerous. Knowing what I know now, I sometimes shudder at the things I did and managed to get away with on the first few trees I climbed. That said make sure you:

#1, arm yourself with knowledge, watch youtube videos of climbing, find a qualified instructor/mentor, read the Tree Climbers Companion by Jeff Jepson (best reference for beginning climbers anywhere).

#2, Get the right gear, dont skimp out on a $100 set of rusty old linemans gear you see on ebay. Probably the best kits I have seen are sold at wesspur.com and these include all the climbing gear you will need as well as a free copy of the Tree Climbers Companion. You can always sell it later, don't trust your life to used old gear you know nothing about. Don't forget about basic safety gear as well, helmet, safety glasses, chaps, hearing protection.

#3, Practice practice practice. Try out your gear in a tree you plan to remove. From a height of less than 15' practice ascending and descending, clipping in your lanyard to position yourself. Get comfortable leaning into your ropes in a comfortable working position at a low height before you move on to using actual tools at heights. Get comfortable on your spurs if you get them to do your removal. Go up and down as many times as you need to without tools to get the feel of moving about the tree in them.

This isnt a small undertaking as I am sure you know. The safe route would be to hire someone to do this who knows what they are doing. But if you are set on learning to do it yourself then follow the guidelines I have set above and use your common sense. Best of luck and be safe! There are many members here who would be happy to answer your questions along the way if needed, use this resource!

 

[Zale]

If you don't have a wife, children, family or friends, go for it! Get a couple of estimates. I bet it will be cheaper than the cost of new gear.

 

[Newguy12358]

I usually do not give advice, here comes the but.. I am a person that likes to do everything myself. I have quite a few trees that need pruning and some that have to come down. I decided that I would get into climbing and absolutly have my heart set on doing this my self. fast forward to now 6 months later, I've purchased everything but a harness. I am a qualified climber of small antenna towers 75' or less at my job, and have climbed trees as a kid and to hunt from. I had some storm damage recently and feel I did the smart thing and hired an arborist $250 later tree is gone and I'm still playing with my 2 year old kid and also have the ability to do any other hobby or project I want to do. Through wathcing videos, reading books, and playing in the back yard I will say that the climbing and the cutting are 2 completely seperate things that should be learned independantly. These guys (Arborists) spend alot of time and effort to learn what they do and I don't believe it can be learned safely without full time dedication and at the very least a few good years of hands on work. Of the all Arborists I've talked to,,, all would rather help you than see you get hurt. So finally my advice, Unless you want to become an Arborist or if you absolutly have to do it yourself rent a lift for about $300 a day. The Arborist might cost you more sooner but alot less later. I hope I convinced you and not discouraged you. All this is only IMO.

 

[DangerTree]

I've got a few trees that need limbing and one that needs fallen. I've been searching around for climbing kits and wanted to ask any advice for where to look (websites) and competent brands and such. Have found the National Tree Climbing Program site. Any and all help would be quite, well... helpful. Thanks.

Well Sparky I think you need more information. What kind of trees Giant Sequoia, Beech, Oak Elm are they 50' tall or 250' tall are they healthy or sickly would you be saving money by purchasing gear and doing yourself? In general a person should be competent at cutting while on the ground first and frankly that takes time at least a year of regular saw work. Not that it's wicked dangerous to do it in the tree but that bad technique while cutting can leave you in a predicament very quickly! I recall a climber I once knew (while he wasn't dead that is ) that was topping a fairly heavy fir tree at about 100' when a gust of wind rocked the top. It broke off and fell down between his feet and through his flip line. The wind came up again and twisted the top cranking him into the tree with the flip line. He passed out and had to be removed from the tree in order to fit him for a casket. He was dead before anybody could get to him. Just an example of what could happen with bad technique and a gust of wind. Do you know anybody that can help you? You should not climb a tree without a rescuer at least have the old lady stand by with the phone in hand.