I got spooked today

[Frans]

Monday's job was to remove a CA. bay Laurel tree. This tree was split down the middle, so my job was to remove the entire tree.


for some reason I got spooked while dropping the double leaders.

I think what got me was in a normal tree, you feel it moving in the wind and reacting to your weight. This tree was like a rubber band stretched to it's limit; no flex at all.

I got the leaders down just fine, but for the first time in many years I was shook up. The back side was totally rotten on the main stem. My spurs just sank in and plowed through the duff...

I checked it out before I climbed it and thought I would tie into a nearby Redwood tree, but when it came to actually doing the job, I thought "lets just get it done and stop worrying about it".

Just thought I would share this experience...

[Paul B]

freaky, you arent one of the guys I would picture to get sketched out in a tree. Good to hear you came away clear.
:)

[pete mctree]

Getting spooked is always a strange affair. I never give myself a hard time when my spider sense kicks in, it means i'm still paying attention

[hornett22]

the day i don't get nervous is the day i stop climbing.

[gf beranek]

My spookiest experiences amount mostly to inexperienced groundmen holding onto a line that I want to run. Usually a top being caught in a block. Slender, flexible stem..... that will woop the crap out of me if they don't let it run.

Now rotten trees is another. Good to see ya made it, Frans.

[sawinredneck]

the day i don't get nervous is the day i stop climbing.

I'll give you that to a point, the adreneline rush is always cool, but when it doesn't feel right, it doesn't feel right and I walk away and re-think it!!

Gut feeling takes over everything else!!!

Glad it went well Frans, and I am also suprised to hear this from you, but it proves you are human:lol:

[No_Bivy]

the little voice......I know when I start talking to myself..Im skeered. Nice work Frans...and you get to live, got any pics?

[TC3]

My spookiest experiences amount mostly to inexperienced groundmen holding onto a line that I want to run. Usually a top being caught in a block. Slender, flexible stem..... that will woop the crap out of me if they don't.

That is so right on. There is no replacement for experience... & no experience like living your mistakes.
I have lived through tossing my climber because I tended the ropes / porty too tight. Hugging & apologising will never cover it >>> A groundy's got to guarangoddamntee it will never happen again. That only comes from experience.

[Blinky]

I'm glad that played out OK... It's one thing to be alert and on edge... it's entirely another to get spooked. My feeling is, if you're spooked, you need to do something different because your mind is telling you something is wrong. With the kind of experience you have under your belt, I have to believe there was damn good reason to be spooked.

[TC3]

I'm glad that played out OK... It's one thing to be alert and on edge... it's entirely another to get spooked. My feeling is, if you're spooked, you need to do something different because your mind is telling you something is wrong. With the kind of experience you have under your belt, I have to believe there was damn good reason to be spooked.
I completely agree.
But there are also times when your gut says, "OMG, NO!", that you might need to re-assess & rethink.
I guess it's 'cause I just can't stand walking away from a job.
Stepping back = yes.
Walking away= very rare.

[treelooker]

Lucky you; ignored your sense to tie in elsewhere--or maybe lashed the stems together?--or maybe lashed the rotten stem to an adjacent tree?--and still came out okay.

Lucky you--next time I hope you take your time, or it may be the last time.

Glad you're okay, and that you shared.

[squisher]

Glad it went well for you Frans.

[Blinky]

I completely agree.
But there are also times when your gut says, "OMG, NO!", that you might need to re-assess & rethink.
I guess it's 'cause I just can't stand walking away from a job.
Stepping back = yes.
Walking away= very rare.

Same here... at this point, I don't think I've ever walked away from one. I just try to engineer my way through it. I love those kind of challenges.

But now, more than ever, if a tree spooks me, I ain't climbing it without some kind of protection. No amount of time pressure will change that. Riding one tree down and surviving is great luck, going down with a second one and living is statistically improbable. Plus, I had to buy all new sheets and towels to get rid of the blood stains... I can't afford to do that again.

[MasterBlaster]

In my old age I take very few chances.

[stehansen]

Glad it worked out Frans. I've done a couple of leaners lately and was pretty sensitive to any movement in the tree.

[JIML]

My spookiest experiences amount mostly to inexperienced groundmen holding onto a line that I want to run. Usually a top being caught in a block. Slender, flexible stem..... that will woop the crap out of me if they don't let it run.

Now rotten trees is another. Good to see ya made it, Frans.



I think thats what frustrates me more than anything... Having an idiot on the ground doing something stupid.

[TheTreeSpyder]

Now that we exorcised our sphincter and kept it in good health, let's please be care-full out thar! Listen to the wind and yourself!

[vharrison]

Frans, glad all went well in the end. Thanks for sharing and be safe my friend.

[Stumper]

Been there, done that, got the T-shirt-used it to wipe up the blood.

Glad it turned out okay Frans but don't hurry, it seldom pays well.

[The Branch Doctor]

I'm glad it turned out ok Frans. I walked away from a removal last week cause I got a bad feeling about it. Always better to be safe than sorry.

[Hollywood]

I love walking away from jobs! Wish I had the opportunity to do it more often. I've never regretted a job I didn't do. Good for the other guy if he was an idiot and took a chance on it, hope his luck lasts. I most certainly do not like adrenaline. I like fun and excitement. Adrenaline indicates danger or something left to chance.

Good to know you're OK, frans.

[No_Bivy]

I love walking away from jobs! Wish I had the opportunity to do it more often. I've never regretted a job I didn't do. Good for the other guy if he was an idiot and took a chance on it, hope his luck lasts. I most certainly do not like adrenaline. I like fun and excitement. Adrenaline indicates danger or something left to chance.

Good to know you're OK, frans.

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[MasterBlaster]

Hahahahahahahahaaa.

[No_Bivy]

I love adrenaline...but I aint no dumbass:D

[Stumper]

I love adrenaline...but I aint no dumbass:D

Would you care to open this topic up for discussion and public comment?;)

[Blinky]

I'm pretty big on adrenaline myself... it's when the adrenaline won't flow and leaves you cold and clammy that I get worried.

[No_Bivy]

Would you care to open this topic up for discussion and public comment?;)

be my guest.....

[xtremetrees]

Thats quiet the sick feeling there blinky, I wonder is that what Frans recently went thru.
Fo sho fear keeps us smart. Adriline burns me out after all day of it so I try and cool it off. The way I try and cool it off is by slowing down my body, I make a mental effort to act like "The karate kid" whereas I wax on and wax off. If I am still on the ground before a big climb I make no wasted movement. Inside I may feel like jumping 5 feet high and acting like a gurl but I dont. The reason why is as I train my muscles to act this way on the ground this equals slow is fast in the tree. It takes alot of disciple I mean alot of it, but its worth it the pay off is you have less of the adrilin dump at the end. Im guessing thou this isnt what frans was talking about.
The last tree that spooked me bad was a lightening struck tree. It had a splintering radial crack from 11 to 5 oclock. I cut and felled the limbs off and with each limb I cut the crack opened by at least 1/4 inch. THe last lead was the hardest to cut and I stood there 5 minutes summoning the courage.

[No_Bivy]

did you use cam straps?

[xtremetrees]

did you use cam straps?

who me? No, but thanks to the TH I will employ them from now on. You got a pick of cam straps john? I guess there rarely used but can sure ease the mind.

[Hollywood]

Ha! Good one, No Bivy. Careful, or I'll have to get my hammer out and smack some of your aluminum rings!

[Frans]

I guess what you guys are saying is that I am either a dummass or an adrenaline junky who has no care about getting hurt so I do stupid things?
hollywood? nobivy?

[GASoline71]

I don't think that is what they are sayin' frans.

I think they are referring to themselves in this instance.

When I got the crap scared out of me a year ago @ 40 feet up... it made me take a look at my life. When I got that, "What the hell am I doin' up here?" feeling... I chose to plant my feet back on the ground.

Not to sound all hokey pokey and stuff... but that experience taught me to appreciate my life and my kids lives a lot more.

Gary

[Frans]

I'm not sure I agree, Gas.

I read the words, 'dumass', 'stupid', and watched a video of a chicken clucking.


This all really really stinks.

Reminds me of Arborist Site.

Forget you guys and the boat you came in on. See ya.

[OTGBOSTON]

I didn't read into it like that at all Frans.

[No_Bivy]

bah f'in Humbug........lighten up. What I was saying is this: I don't think one is crossing the line when adrenaline kicks in or your fear awareness is hightened. I get scared a lot... doesn't mean I don't say no to certain jobs.. But Also I KNOW tree work is exciting, therefore fear and adrenaline will come with the terreitory. Hollywoods comments seemed a bit over simplified.....I'll shuT the FOck up now.

[Blinky]

How did this turn funky?

Hollywood is the only one mentioning a negative association with adrenaline... that's what brought the chicken humor on... I thought it was pretty funny.

Anybody who hasn't been spooked before, speak up. I have....and I ain't no chicken, I'll bet John has, he ain't no chicken either. Frans says he got spooked and he sure ain't no chicken... I think the original point was, ANYBODY can get spooked no matter how much experience they have.

Frans, if you yank the words dumbass and stupid and the chicken video out of context they might be insulting but not in the way they were actually used... not to mention, nobody has any reason to want to insult you.

[Skwerl]

Frans, unbunch your panties bud. :P Nobody here will ever beat you up as much as you beat up yourself. ;)

[MasterBlaster]

Frans is just yanking our chain. He ain't mad.

[Blinky]

Frans is just yanking our chain. He ain't mad.


Alright. Well then... that pisses ME off. Fack the lot o ya!

[Hollywood]

Much respect to frans and bivy. I certainly was not calling either of you idiots! We all get that creepy feeling now and again. Sometimes it's just plain pucker factor (tall tree, limb walk in outer space, you know) , other times it's a genuine bad feeling (adrenaline), decay, splits, storm damage, root problems, I'm-not-quite-sure-if-the-crane-can-take-this-piece, etc.

My original post was supposed to mean this... A tree is so freakin' dead I walk away without a second thought. Sometimes you get that tree that is on the edge... can I do it, should I do it? Those are the trees I dread.

Peace everyone!

Taylor

[Frans]

Peace, love, granola, and herpes to the lot of ya! 8)

[Skwerl]

:lol:

[MasterBlaster]

I'm losing hair, but I don't need no hairpiece!