To climb or not to climb the dead trees

[xtremetrees]

Dead trees. Ive gotten to where I just dont like um. The worse of them all to me is the weaker trees like of course pines.
I have seen a colum of pine bark standing with no tree inside.
I have climbed some until the cambium started ripping out in my hands @ 90ft. and figured that far enuuf, caught it on a rope(adjacent tree) and it blew up into rakings on the ground.
What are the signs to you:
1. Hole in a branch you have to climb out on?
2 how to judge how dead a pine actually is.
3 Rotten at the base.

1.After close visual inspection I decide if its doable, but first i climb and look.
2 Some pines drop needles then cones then bark. Some just opposite.
3. Inspect for colum of holding wood. A colum of wood is as strong as the tree itself some say. Nick it with saw help best.

Lastly throw ball it. Ive threw balled um and pulled um rite down with my spikes just put on.

Lastly what is it actually that is in pine that makes them heavy and then as soon as 3 months later they are dry and light as a feather. Where does this weight/strength go. Does it evaporate?

Hope this helps. Any suggestions on judging dead trees.

 

[Reed]

Just be mindful when dealing with pines. Had bids accepted for removal on dying pines (beetle) and return to do the work in as little as two weeks and find trees not stout enough to spike and climb.

Oak is another story, depending on the disease that kills them - secondary invasive rotting fungi tend to attract towards vascular inhibiting diseases, sometimes a few short weeks 'till it's spooky. Look at the branch characteristics, drooping means internal rotting. Sponge wood (spikes will tell) is another no-no. Even if solid penetration a few feet above, forget the climb.

The focus of the tie-ins and hold, along with someone on the ground yelling makes for problematic climbs when rotten limbs are prevelant. Be aware always. This morning was a butt-pucker on a golf course, expect to see a few grey hairs by Friday. Not a rotting limb but a rotten snag no larger than a pencil that gave way at the tie-in overhead and above the crotch that made my friction saver slip and thumped my tension an inch or so at the most inopportune time. Good thing I took a dump with the morning paper before hauling off to work - could've been messy!!

Aware and cognizant always. Physics.

Weight gone? Transpiration, gravity, and parasitism. I call it rigor mortus. Wish oaks would dissipate that weight as quick - nothing weighs more than the North American version of the live oak, and disease or not the logs take years - if ever - to be light enough for this aging arbo dude.

 

[ROLLACOSTA]

a large dead oak nearly killed me and a groundsman top pulled out wilst i was just about to start cutting groundie just pulled the bowline tight 2 ton came down crashing inches from me and feet from him ..dead trees usualy kiss my butt