StockBridge Climbing Preparation

[PineFever]

So what did ya decide on

Hey Pink,
Been lurking your thread since you started it. See now your in the tree.
Not being nosy, but just wondering what choices you made for rope, saddle,
friction saver, carabiners etc. About 5 years ago one of my friends came to work with me to help out on the ground, he had never seen anyone work in a tree. A long story short he thought it was the cats meow. He just had to get some gear and get in a tree. We told him slow slow slow was the way to go,
offered him advice on gear, training, techniques, etc. He went out and spent major bucks on a lot of gear and training videos and books, I'm talking like $1400.00 worth. He practiced on a small pine in his backyard where the first crotch was about 15 feet off the ground, until he was confident with his knots, rope and the rest of his gear. About 4 months went by and I saw him in Victorville at Harbor Freight, I asked how his climbing was coming along.
He told me "I found out that climbing is not for me" he said he could not get over 25 feet in a tree and he would freeze, couldn't even reach up and release the tension on his prusik to let himself down, had a friend go to the rental yard and rent a large extension ladder while he sat in his saddle to get him down. At least he listened to the "don't climb alone part". I asked why he didn't have his friend call me, he said he was too embarrassed. Told me he had sold all his gear on ebay.

 

[millbilly]

Why would anyone recreation climb? If I'm climbing I'm getting paid. Never understood rock climbers either

 

[PinkFloydEffect]

Low and slow is the way to go....

You may want to trade that bow saw in on a decent handsaw though..... I'm a silky fan but I am sure if that is more than you want to spend that you can find local product cheaper.

That's what I am trying. Thought this tree was perfect for me.

You mean one of those giant folding pocket-knife style hand saws?

you cut everything you could reach i see. lol.

lion tail is not a compliment when they think of your pruning, young fella. are you up there free climbing or did you get a saddle?

Actually no this picture is from BEFORE the prune I will post after pictures today.

I only lion tailed one branch, the small one. I have been told how bad lion tailing is.

Free climb, wasn't high enough to get seriously hurt(unless I fell ON the saw).

Hey Pink,
Been lurking your thread since you started it. See now your in the tree.
Not being nosy, but just wondering what choices you made for rope, saddle,
friction saver, carabiners etc. About 5 years ago one of my friends came to work with me to help out on the ground, he had never seen anyone work in a tree. A long story short he thought it was the cats meow. He just had to get some gear and get in a tree. We told him slow slow slow was the way to go,
offered him advice on gear, training, techniques, etc. He went out and spent major bucks on a lot of gear and training videos and books, I'm talking like $1400.00 worth. He practiced on a small pine in his backyard where the first crotch was about 15 feet off the ground, until he was confident with his knots, rope and the rest of his gear. About 4 months went by and I saw him in Victorville at Harbor Freight, I asked how his climbing was coming along.
He told me "I found out that climbing is not for me" he said he could not get over 25 feet in a tree and he would freeze, couldn't even reach up and release the tension on his prusik to let himself down, had a friend go to the rental yard and rent a large extension ladder while he sat in his saddle to get him down. At least he listened to the "don't climb alone part". I asked why he didn't have his friend call me, he said he was too embarrassed. Told me he had sold all his gear on ebay.

Yeah I'm really starting to think that this is int for me, I'm wikid bummed to because trees fascinate me. Now if I still get my Arborist certification I can do other stuff besides climb with it right? Tree inspections and root care? Maybe manage a company someday rather than climb. Do the initial inspection and ground work and have my crew climb?

Why would anyone recreation climb? If I'm climbing I'm getting paid. Never understood rock climbers either

It's a nice view when you can't get payed to climb a tree in the middle of the forest. I don't think recreational climbers climb street trees and trees in backyards.

 

[oldirty]

Yeah I'm really starting to think that this is int for me, I'm wikid bummed to because trees fascinate me. Now if I still get my Arborist certification I can do other stuff besides climb with it right? Tree inspections and root care? Maybe manage a company someday rather than climb. Do the initial inspection and ground work and have my crew climb?

ummm. no. or at least i hope that is not how it works.

 

[Mass tree guy]

Liquid services has a great return

 

[PinkFloydEffect]

ummm. no. or at least i hope that is not how it works.

Dammit

 

[outofmytree]

Yeah I'm really starting to think that this is int for me, I'm wikid bummed to because trees fascinate me. Now if I still get my Arborist certification I can do other stuff besides climb with it right? Tree inspections and root care? Maybe manage a company someday rather than climb. Do the initial inspection and ground work and have my crew climb?

Im with OD on this one.

If you want to be a "real" arborist PFE then you need to climb. How can you help a tree when you can only see the small fraction visible from the ground?

I prefer to lead from the front. So how could I send a climber up where I could not go? How can I make sure he will be safe on the job if I do not understand the difference between good and reckless climbing? Perhaps this industry is not for you, but you will never know unless you try. And free climbing a shrub on the verge doesnt count mate.

 

[Mass tree guy]

lol @ tree climbing a shrub.

 

[PinkFloydEffect]

Im with OD on this one.

If you want to be a "real" arborist PFE then you need to climb. How can you help a tree when you can only see the small fraction visible from the ground?

I prefer to lead from the front. So how could I send a climber up where I could not go? How can I make sure he will be safe on the job if I do not understand the difference between good and reckless climbing? Perhaps this industry is not for you, but you will never know unless you try. And free climbing a shrub on the verge doesnt count mate.

Ya ya haha. Actually that was great made me wake everyone in my house up laughing at 4am thanks. Seriously though I need to get over this height thing because I just have way too much fascination in trees no matter what I'm doing I'm looking at trees and telling people things about them to the point they tell me to shut-up, trees are me. There is-int any business that just does root crown corrections or air spading? I think I have a natural fear of death a really bad one so I think I need to start there then work on my heights.

 

[Mass tree guy]

Liquid services has a great return

lolzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

[Bermie]

You really should get hold of Moss on the recreational forum...he has ALL kinds of gear, has a great selection of trees to climb and is a calm, cool instructor. He loves to climb and really enjoys showing newbies the ropes. He lives in Jamaica Plains...don't know if that is near to you?

I really rate him if you want to try getting some climb time under your belt without imposing on a tree care guy who can't afford the time to show you climbing stuff slowly and in detail because of work pressure.

 

[ClimbinArbor]

Hi I am very interested in getting into the trees and would love to get some hands on before I make it into StockBridge School of Arborculture. What should I buy to start off with and practice climbing, I know there are many techniques and many forms of gear but I am terrified of heights and allergic to bees I do not want to panic while I am in a tree. I must also stress I DO NOT want to harm a tree in any way so where do I start?

My friend welcome to the thrilling yet expensive world of tree climbing!

You really should get hold of Moss on the recreational forum...he has ALL kinds of gear, has a great selection of trees to climb and is a calm, cool instructor. He loves to climb and really enjoys showing newbies the ropes. He lives in Jamaica Plains...don't know if that is near to you?

I really rate him if you want to try getting some climb time under your belt without imposing on a tree care guy who can't afford the time to show you climbing stuff slowly and in detail because of work pressure.

I second that.

 

[PinkFloydEffect]

I live in Massachusetts USA. haha pretty far away I think right?

 

[ClimbinArbor]

no i think Moss is from Mass too.
go look in the Recreational Climbing forum and you cant miss him...

 

[Bermie]

I live in Massachusetts USA. haha pretty far away I think right?

Moss lives in Jamaica Plains, Boston Massachusetts!!!
I have climbed with him twice now.

 

[Mass tree guy]

Bermie- you ever climb with a guy named Rich Herferth from Bartlett?
he is on the ISA/MA arborist board.

 

[tree md]

LOL, A Pink Floyd guy don't know where Jamaica Plains is??? That used to be the place to get weed when I was a kid... :monkey:

X3 on Moss.

 

[oldirty]

if you brought that camera out with you i would've gotten you some saddle time.


that said, i have climbed with moss a few times as well and he has come far in that short amount of time from his climbing beginnings to now. you'd be psyched if he gave you some time.

 

[PinkFloydEffect]

LOL, A Pink Floyd guy don't know where Jamaica Plains is??? That used to be the place to get weed when I was a kid... :monkey:

X3 on Moss.

I asked him to chime in on this thread hopefully he will. Good stuff comes from Canada now man or California, ...or your back yard.

if you brought that camera out with you i would've gotten you some saddle time.


that said, i have climbed with moss a few times as well and he has come far in that short amount of time from his climbing beginnings to now. you'd be psyched if he gave you some time.

If he gave me time I would bring my cameras for sure. I do a lot of filming and I plan on making many many tree videos Anyone need a local youtube commercial in HD? I shoot and edit myself

 

[tree md]

I asked him to chime in on this thread hopefully he will. Good stuff comes from Canada now man or California, ...or your back yard.



If he gave me time I would bring my cameras for sure. I do a lot of filming and I plan on making many many tree videos Anyone need a local youtube commercial in HD? I shoot and edit myself

I wouldn't scream the backyard deal too hard.

Moss is an excellent tactician. If I were you I would contact him directly though PM or whatever and beg on hands and knees for him to give you some tree time...