treeclimber101
UNCLE BUCK
Ever have one of those days where everything pisses you off or goes wrong? I was excited about climbing this tree. Pondarosa pine, maybe 130 ft ,and 50 in DBH. Been a long time since Iv'e climbed a big pine like that. I planed on bigshotting a line up high and SRTing up it, but my throw line has been getting shorter and shorter lately, so I had the great idea of using a fishing reel with some 80lb braid and tie that to my throw ball. First shot works fine, but I know I can do better. Second shot, full power, the line breaks and my throw ball goes to the next state. That was my only one. O.K. I will climb it. The owner isn't there but his two workers are. Their playing music and grab assing. I gas my saw, carry my stuff to the tree(3 trips). They don't want to get out of the truck, it's to cold.
This tree stays the same size 3/4 of it's height. I tell them I need some one to spot stubs on the opposite side as I whip my way up. That lasted 10 min. Their back in the truck, it is cold, I am freezing. I'm mad, my climbing line is stuck under slash. Did I say I was mad?
The tree is taking longer then it should, There is a pumping station under one side and under ground pipes running along side it, and a hill going up the other side I have a small landing pad, I'm getting stressed. The branches are 30 ft long on this puppy.
I figure at lest I'll get the top out today. Bad thing I'll be having those to guys pulley on the rope using the Cat. Did I say I was stressed?
It's freezing, I can't feel my hands, and now the wind kicks up and its blowing the wrong direction to help. Out of no where there is a snow blizzard. I just started working in the mountains a few months ago, I liked it tell today.
The two guys get out of the truck and yell for me to get down before we get snowed in. I don't want to leave my climbing line in the tree so I tell them to send up another line. They tie on a 5/8 bull line, its not long enough to double over so I just tie an end and use an figure 8 to get down. Now tomorrow I have to gaff all the way back up.
I am home now with a cup of hot coffee. I am not mad no more. Tomorrow if we work, you can bet I'll be dropping those pieces in that little ravine next to the nice flat area, and I'll be sitting in the truck watching them guys fight to get them out of there.
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I agree , they deserve a good jam up I mean at least 3ft of crossed 30 ft branches .... Then tell them you did that on purpose so just don't think you suck ...... You may get some ###### looks and maybe a mouse in your lunch box but thats one hell of a point ...