Removal without spikes?

[huskycandoit]

I'd probably have my climbing line choked off with a running bowline (or one of those fancy FS setups) plus lanyard around the tree. I would use a big loop of 1/2" line, girth hitch it around the stem, and use it for a foot suppourt.

It would be a PITA, but it would work......at least hypothetically. I am assuming a larger stem here, with a relatively small stem, loop runners would work for your foot step.

Why would you do all that when you can just put on your spikes it only 4 straps.

 

[alanarbor]

It was a hypothetical situation, I wouldn't be caught dead on a spar with no hooks

 

[Lumberjack]

When working down the trunk I hookup, I just dont see a reason for ME to wear spikes all around the canopy (spreading or central). When it comes to chunking down the spar I call for my spikes and I am back in buisness in under 3 min normally. Yesterday it took a little longer because the wind kept blowing me around.

Different strokes for diff folks. No two trees are the same either.

 

[MasterBlaster]

This is all so silly. Ya trim with no hooks, and vise-versa on TD's.

Nuff said.

 

[tnttreeman]

With you on that 100%, MB.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Jason-ya gotta wear heavy, double or triple soled lineman boots or they will hurt. Not the spurs fault its the boots.

No, you need to get some high end ice boots, such as LaSportiva. They are made for rich people to live in cleats for vertical ascents. From what I'm told you do not feel the sturip of your gaffs at all

 

[jason j ladue]

the stirrups dont bug me, its the shins where i feel it. the pads dont fit me quit right and they twist. also the stirrup parts slides over the heel... i need different boots.

 

[TimberMcPherson]

We had a crap set of spurs in the co that I started with, so I never wore them unless it was totally nessesary. I avoid using them still unless I have to, generally the only go on once I get down to the stem. When I first started my co with spikes starting at $400 I did a few takedowns cutting in toeholds. NOt a perfect system but it worked.

 

[duartebigmex]

I think that is is good to use spike for removals.
But personaly i don't care for them.
Spikes is just one more thing to worry about.
I have seen and heard to many stories about people getting into accidents with them.
I have done tons of removals with out them near house,cars,obstacles and power line.
I have done great with out them. :blob5:

 

[dhuffnmu]

WOw this all seems pretty weird to me. Just for the simple fact that I have never seen anyone or worked with anyone who didn't wear spikes on takedowns. Like someone said different strokes for different fokes. I just personally couldn't see it. Since I started climbing I wear spikes for all takedowns. That was just the way I was shown and got comfortable with. I will admit when pruinning I feel weird without them. For me it seems harder to move about.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Today I went into my toolbox and foundone of my gaffs missing screws, some fancy machine screw that I did not have anything like.

Still had a big silver maple TD to do.

Crappy pic since it was near 6 PM when I took this (we had a honey locust added too it) but I did this 75 footer sans gaffs with no real problem, untill I had those 2 ft shiners to make with the 385.

Did some minor rigging with hand lines, some big stems with the GRCS and a lor of jump and peel cutting. Lots of other material in the yard making it impossible to just crash a whole lot of stuff down.

There were 4 or 5 cuts where spikes would have been nice, but many more where they would have gotten in my way on a limbwalk or tight crotch.

Oh and we left it like that because my client descided to leave pulling it over for next week when I'm billing him hours