Should I climb this tree?

[mikewhite85]

I am visiting family in CT for Christmas and we have this maple (I guess about 80ft) that looks as if it will eventually fall on the house. I am wondering whether those of you who are more experienced than I think it is safe to climb?

Formerly dual-trunked, one side fell into the road years ago, leaving half the stump and roots rotted out. However, the other side has been holding its own for as long as I can remember. The inner portion is rotten but the outer 4 or 5 inches are pretty solid. I doubt the rot goes up too far as the branches and canopy seem pretty healthy.

I don't think it would be safe to do any shockloading on a false crotch so I am going to drop each section as I descend the tree, only rigging down sections of some large lower branches that would hit the side of the house if I did otherwise. In my opinion, I think it is safe to do so. I have however, never climbed a tree that had so much rot so I am wondering what you guys think before I go ahead with the project. I appreciate your wisdom. Thanks!

 

[mikewhite85]

Here are a couple more:

 

[treemandan]

Its hard to tell without actually being there to get " the feel"but if you are just going to climd and drop limbs it looks to be doable however onve you strip it the pole will become more likely to wiggle around having no limbs to slow it down.
You could "guy" it to another tree to help keep it up and tossing a rope up there and tugging to see what happens might be good.

 

[treemandan]

Yes, it looks like there is a tree behind the target tree that you could string a rope through to guy the target tree. I would do that.

 

[treemandan]

I suggest you don't climb it.

Maybe someone with a bucket truck could knock it down for you and you could do the cleanup. It's about a fifteen minute job out of a bucket dropping the pieces.....


.....if you climb it, it could take a lifetime.

Or that.

 

[treemandan]

Yeah, don't climb it based on what we say over the wire.

 

[tree MDS]

...or to look at it another way. If you have to ask, don't climb it.

Valid point.

 

[lync]

That white picket fence should come apart easily, a few sheets of plywood and a bucket would be all over that tree. The tree has extensive rot but the woundwood looks good. Error on the side of caution.

 

[jomoco]

If I were doing it, I'd set a speedline in the top, in a supportive configuration, without even climbing it first. Then I'd go up and relieve the tree's brush in a balanced manner, a little off one side, then a little off the other. The limbs that do have to be lowered should be speedlined on a second line, less shockloading, and never applies the full weight of the branch on the tree.

Of course the smartest, safest, fast way to remove it is with a crane.

jomoco

 

[limbwalker54]

Hard to get the feel from those pics but I would agree with dan that you could get away with guying it.....unless you had a bucket readily available and budgeted in the job. If you haven't given the price yet, price in a bucket and if you get there and feel shaky in the top after you guy it, just come down and get the bucket involved.....better than riding that baby down to the ground.....

 

[tree MDS]

If I were doing it, I'd set a speedline in the top, in a supportive configuration, without even climbing it first. Then I'd go up and relieve the tree's brush in a balanced manner, a little off one side, then a little off the other. The limbs that do have to be lowered should be speedlined on a second line, less shockloading, and never applies the full weight of the branch on the tree.

Of course the smartest, safest, fast way to remove it is with a crane.

jomoco

With all due respect jomoco: I think both of the methods you mentioned above are a little...shall we say "extreme".

A regular old bucket is probably the way to go here. Treeco's estimate of 15 mins may even be accurate.

 

[jomoco]

With all due respect jomoco: I think both of the methods you mentioned above are a little...shall we say "extreme".

A regular old bucket is probably the way to go here. Treeco's estimate of 15 mins may even be accurate.

Well, it's like I said, that's how I'd do it, and I aint no bucket boy, see?

jomoco

 

[tree MDS]

Well, it's like I said, that's how I'd do it, and I aint no bucket boy, see?

jomoco

 

[lone wolf]

no one here can tell with 100 percent accuracy if it will break even in person when climbed let alone from a picture.better safe than dead pull it over or bucket it

 

[mattfr12]

it can be done. just be careful how much stress you put on it. and make sure you are the one hew is comfortable about climbing it, not what we are saying. ive climbed them rotten and without any bark left on them.

is thier anyway to make it safer? like another tie in? if thier was another tie in pretty close to the tree i would do it all day.

can you take a pretty small top off of it so you dont stress the tree to much?

just look at your options if i lived close enough i would knock that down cheap for you with my bucket. it couldnt take 30-45 min. looks pretty straight forward.

if you have any questions please ask dont do something that will cause you to injure yourself.

 

[Blakesmaster]

I actually like Jomoco's idea of a speed line. Like we did on that one down your way, dano. If you can rig a speed line up to a nearby taller tree ( couldn't really tell from the pics if there was one or not ) and down to a safe LZ, then you can just rig the branches to that instead of loading up the rotten tree you're on. If that's not an option, check out the lift rental prices for a few hours in that neck of the woods, definitely a safer alternative than rigging to that old hazard. Either that or search out one of our CT members with a bucket and see if they'll work for some Christmas cheer, lol...

 

[rob b]

If there is a big enough tree near set a pully block, set a rope in the bad tree then jack it back with a rope along cut it at the butt and piece it down.

 

[VT_Tree_Wrecker]

http://www.arboristsite.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=73974&stc=1&d=1215231195

...or to look at it another way. If you have to ask, don't climb it.

That was my thought when I read the post title

 

[outofmytree]

Use a bucket mate. Much cheaper than a new roof or fence or worse still a new you.

 

[mikewhite85]

I think I'll guy it to another tree about 50 ft behind it and give it a whirl. If it's a little too shaky when I get high, I know someone with a bucket truck that I could hire. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to manage without it though. I'll just cut small pieces and rig down some of those lower branches that would hit the house.

I am limited on gear as all my stuff is in California (I'm doing the job for free at my parents' house) so a zip line is probably not going to happen. I'm borrowing stuff from a guy I went to high school with though I may buy a new rigging rope.

Thanks for all your help. I appreciate the input!