So I was trimming this palm tree...

[jomoco]

Magargal's article on the subject has a pic of the fire dept guys rescuing some unfortunate fellow.

http://www.swtreesandturf.com/articles/1606/safety11606.html

It may indeed just be a southwest thing with wash fans in this climate?

I know guys have died from it in phoenix and nevada relatively recently as well.

jomoco

 

[jefflovstrom]

Have any climbers died in Australia from wash fan frond bags falling on them and asphyxiating them outofmytree?

12 here in SoCal since 02.

jomoco

Those were reported, maybe more! I dont get it OOMT! Why do you insist on video and documents from guys that know what they know? Are you questioning old timers that were removing ALL the fruit and also shape the ball and move around a CI safely? Maybe you just like to argue,
Jeff Lovstrom

 

[outofmytree]

Have any climbers died in Australia from wash fan frond bags falling on them and asphyxiating them outofmytree?

12 here in SoCal since 02.

jomoco

I will get the exact information later but from memory the standard is pruning from below the skirt with 3 years growth or less. More than that and you bucket or rope over the crown as shown above.

The potential for death by suffocation is well known but I have no knowledge of fatalities in Australia.

 

[outofmytree]

I am still trying to visualize how that happens, is it from trying to prune from the bottom up? The hurricane weather here rarely allows that mush build up, but I have seen them pretty thick, I would not want to mess with them like that. Hell I don't like doing it when I can reach them from the ground.

The small palm you see in my pictures above had about 400kg of "skirt". Imagine that mass pressing down on your polebelt and covering your upper body. It bends you out backwards like a nasty wrestling move. The dust is thick and chokes you and the mass presses the air from your lungs. I would rather fall than suffocate under that stuff.

 

[outofmytree]

Those were reported, maybe more! I dont get it OOMT! Why do you insist on video and documents from guys that know what they know? Are you questioning old timers that were removing ALL the fruit and also shape the ball and move around a CI safely? Maybe you just like to argue,
Jeff Lovstrom

You have the bare faced cheek to ask ANYONE else if they post just to argue? After you harangued treeslayer for a fortnight?

The most important thing to me is that you make it home safely at the end of each work day guys.

This is the reason I share knowledge and ask others to do the same. I always took you to be petulant, rather than obtuse. It is up to you to prove which it is.

 

[ROOTSXROCKS]

The small palm you see in my pictures above had about 400kg of "skirt". Imagine that mass pressing down on your polebelt and covering your upper body. It bends you out backwards like a nasty wrestling move. The dust is thick and chokes you and the mass presses the air from your lungs. I would rather fall than suffocate under that stuff.

Thank you, that makes a much clearer picture, as I was imagining it pressing you against the tree, Truly a nasty way to be trapped.

 

[EdenT]

Dear Diary,

It has been 2 days since the expedition by our colleagues Jomoco & Lovstrom departed in search of the hallowed "Old School Method for Pruning CI Date Palms".
I worry for their well being for we have had no word in the past day.
The men are in high spirits, but that subversive 'Doc' has been telling stories around the campfire. Roots has said he's staying away from skirt and this concerns me. He could go the same way as SoMe of the other men.
The popcorn supplies are holding up ok but we had to send runners for soda.
In God we trust.
opcorn:

 

[ROOTSXROCKS]

Dear Diary,

Roots has said he's staying away from skirt and this concerns me. He could go the same way as SoMe of the other men.

My momma told me there was teeth in there, Im skeered.

 

[jomoco]

Dear Diary,

It has been 2 days since the expedition by our colleagues Jomoco & Lovstrom departed in search of the hallowed "Old School Method for Pruning CI Date Palms".
I worry for their well being for we have had no word in the past day.
The men are in high spirits, but that subversive 'Doc' has been telling stories around the campfire. Roots has said he's staying away from skirt and this concerns me. He could go the same way as SoMe of the other men.
The popcorn supplies are holding up ok but we had to send runners for soda.
In God we trust.
opcorn:

Fear not Eden darling, it takes time to gather old VHS footage and convert it all to a digital format.

In the meantime I invite you to post up your own CI palm pruning methods so we can compare methods.

Please try and not make us old schoolers look too bad sweetheart!

jomoco

 

[treevet]

Dear Diary,

It has been 2 days since the expedition by our colleagues Jomoco & Lovstrom departed in search of the hallowed "Old School Method for Pruning CI Date Palms".
I worry for their well being for we have had no word in the past day.
The men are in high spirits, but that subversive 'Doc' has been telling stories around the campfire. Roots has said he's staying away from skirt and this concerns me. He could go the same way as SoMe of the other men.
The popcorn supplies are holding up ok but we had to send runners for soda.
In God we trust.

I was kinda hopin the old sage would make an appearance. Does he look and act like the guy that helped Patrick Swazee in "Road House"?
opcorn:

 

[outofmytree]

Hmmm Sam Elliot +

 

[treevet]

Hmmm Sam Elliot +

..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCwMlLBNhsA&NR=1

 

[tree MDS]

Nice work TV. The swayze was an ok dude really...in retrospect.

Now back to those nasty palms: I'm surprized nobody had any thoughts on my post regarding page twelve of the sherrill cat. It looks like they got something that would work pretty slick worked out.

 

[outofmytree]

Nice work TV. The swayze was an ok dude really...in retrospect.

Now back to those nasty palms: I'm surprized nobody had any thoughts on my post regarding page twelve of the sherrill cat. It looks like they got something that would work pretty slick worked out.

No catalogues in upsidedownland mate. What's on page 12 of yours?

 

[tree MDS]

No catalogues in upsidedownland mate. What's on page 12 of yours?

I just a small pic, but it looks like they are suggesting pulling a 1/4" piece of black widow micro bull line (rated at 7400 lbs) with a spliced eye over the crown, with a pulley of some sort through it to work off. then it goes back down to a porty on the other side of the palm. I suppose you could use a friction saver as well. Not sure why the porty though...

 

[tree MDS]

I guess the theory is that its easier to pull this stuff through due to its small diameter and light weight (180' weighs 3.5 lbs), but still strong enough for life support.

 

[outofmytree]

I just a small pic, but it looks like they are suggesting pulling a 1/4" piece of black widow micro bull line (rated at 7400 lbs) with a spliced eye over the crown, with a pulley of some sort through it to work off. then it goes back down to a porty on the other side of the palm. I suppose you could use a friction saver as well. Not sure why the porty though...

Ah. Check out this video. You will see that system in action.

http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=118813

It is commonly referred to as an adjustable false crotch. The portawrap is used to ensure the rope is secure and to allow a competent groundie to lower a climber out of the tree in case of an accident. I would not recommend using such a system for a 360 degree pruning job on a palm as you run the risk of cutting the bull rope and dropping yourself out of the tree! I use it for access only then switch over to a pulley & webbing sling false crotch wrapped around the heart of Washingtonia palms.

Yale XTC fire works equally well for dragging through the heads of palms due to its close exterior weave. The real challenge lies in dragging the knot which joins the throwline to the climbing line through the head of the palm. I have found that if you get a fair way out from the base so that the line is about 45 degrees to the ground you can "work" the knot through the head with a little practise. Ok, a lot of practise.

 

[EdenT]

Dear Diary

Dear Diary,

DISASTER!!!
At dusk last night some of the men found an outgrowth of C. indica. In the ensuing fracas the entire beer ration and most of the popcorn rations were lost. If TMD hears about this, (and the Dan hears everything), the men may learn that the 'Sticks and Stones' idiom is wildly inaccurate. Runners have been dispatched.

Morale has begun flagging. Treevet, our spiritual leader, has been trying to shore up the men's spirits by showing old Patrick Swayze movies, although he remains ideologically opposed to our quest.

On a more positive note we have received word back from the Jomoco Lovstrom expedition. Reports are sketchy but some progress is being made. It is clear that the strain is affecting Jomoco as he addressed me as a woman throughout his last missive. I reassured him of my and the men's continued support for his mission. As always we pray to God for their safe and speedy return.

In God we trust.
opcorn:

 

[treevet]

I do what I can. :smoking::agree2:

 

[jefflovstrom]

Dear Diary,

DISASTER!!!
At dusk last night some of the men found an outgrowth of C. indica. In the ensuing fracas the entire beer ration and most of the popcorn rations were lost. If TMD hears about this, (and the Dan hears everything), the men may learn that the 'Sticks and Stones' idiom is wildly inaccurate. Runners have been dispatched.

Morale has begun flagging. Treevet, our spiritual leader, has been trying to shore up the men's spirits by showing old Patrick Swayze movies, although he remains ideologically opposed to our quest.

On a more positive note we have received word back from the Jomoco Lovstrom expedition. Reports are sketchy but some progress is being made. It is clear that the strain is affecting Jomoco as he addressed me as a woman throughout his last missive. I reassured him of my and the men's continued support for his mission. As always we pray to God for their safe and speedy return.

In God we trust.
opcorn:

Relax Eden, you really need to relax.
Jeff