Tips for a newish climber?

[SecondGenMonkey]

Hey, I've been "homeschooled" by my father and started climbing about three to four years ago (seven years in the industry) and I know that I am missing out on the full knowledge of having a team of arborists helping train me.

So, here's the basics...

Singe line climber (double on rare cases when I get spooked).

I do not spike anything I'm not taking down, if a Palm is too tall I'll slingshot a line and pull myself up when I get to the top of the ladder.

Mainly use clove hitches and bowlines of different sorts. I know others but those are the ones I'm most comfortable and familiar with.

Mostly use snap cuts and hinged cuts but have learned the dog tooth hinge for special applications.

Familiar with proper pruning and specialize in young trees and tight space drops.

What I'm looking for are rigging tips and an alternative hitch to help me move up my line faster. Using a micro pulley and prusik hitch right now. Generally use false crotches and a friction device I forget the name of, shaped roughly like an anchor for dropping.
I have my own methods I've developed for working without a ground crew that are complicated to explain. In general, I create enough friction on my rope to safely lower pieces and an augmented bowline I've never seen before that I release with a tug of a line from an old throw bag.

Any little tips you have would be greatly appreciated.

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[CanopyGorilla]

Try a VT hitch with the micro pully. It will advance and decend much smoother than a prussik hitch. Play with number of wraps close to the ground.

 

[sgreanbeans]

Buy sticky gloves by the dozen

 

[NYTREECLIMBER]

. Sounds like from your description your using the old style porty (red one) the silver one replaced that one its much safer to use with no chance of the rope running off of the device


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[SecondGenMonkey]

That's it exactly. I got too much info crammed in my head to remember names, lol.

I'm not fond of gloves, generally only use them for ficus or gumbo limbo because of the sap. I get hell for it weekly but often find myself very uncomfortable in them.
Trying out different types every week until I find one I like.

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[joezilla11]

Try the nitrile coated ones. They are thinner and u don't lose as much dexterity. I hate gloves too but I'll wear these

 

[KenJax Tree]

Atlas makes nitrile gloves. I use the blue latex dipped ones they're the best ones i've found.


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[SecondGenMonkey]

Thanks, I'll look into it.

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[Pelorus]

. Sounds like from your description your using the old style porty (red one) the silver one replaced that one its much safer to use with no chance of the rope running off of the device

Newer porty variation has a more rope friendly bend radius as well. Larger dia.
I used the boat anchor for a long time and finally upgraded this year.

 

[Stayalert]

paint stores (ben moore for example) sell a thin nitrile dipped glove that is worth trying....So is throw line on the loop of a runing bowline???

 

[SecondGenMonkey]

I don't know if I can explain it in words. I'll tie one in an old rope to show you later.

Essentially, you just run the tail back out and skip the half hitch.
Its not good for heavy stuff but great if you just need to control the fall of light branches.
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[SecondGenMonkey]

Oh, a dynamic load tends to lock it up and defeat the purpose. Its good for when you're over a barrel tile roof and cutting 2-3inch thick branches.

Another neat trick I've discovered is sliding branches down on a drop line. Just throw it through a crotch and tie the end onto a branch over the spot you want you piece to go. Tie the other end off temporarily with an easy to undo knot. Make your cut and untie the long end. Lower your branch, untie the first end and pull the rope back to you.

Again, good for getting branches away from fragile objects and no need for a groundie.

Most of the work I do is over houses or gardens, having a nice clear drop zone is a rarity.

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[EcoTreeCo]

Your groundman and you are a team. The more he knows, the easier your job is. Too many climbers are all ego and not very patient. When your groundie and you work together long enough, it becomes fluid. Remember no client wants to hear the tree crew fighting with each other. It's unprofessional.

 

[SecondGenMonkey]

I'm pretty cool with all of my crew. I taught my groundies all I know about being earthside. They started as lawn guys and now they are a crew I'm proud to work with, though a bit foul mouthed.

Its weird being the youngest guy on site sometimes, but it never comes into play while on the clock.

I know what you mean about egotisitic prima donnas. I've had to tell my father to fire them so they don't get knocked out by the guys, lol. And I'm not one of those climbers who is above doing groundwork. If I come down and they got a bit behind I'll grab the biggest thing I can and get it moved until it's time to blow'n'go.

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