Climbing the tree vs climbing a rope in the tree

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levi r

Treehouser
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What's your dominant mode in the day to day climbing work?

Where I live, rock climbing is popular. Most tree climbers are at least a little bit into rock climbing. They tend to climb the tree more than the rope, some even look down on throwline lol.

What's your style?

I am 99% of the time setting a base tie with throwball to access and work the tree, even in relatively small trees. Even for removals, though I undo the base tie fairly quick most of the time. The only time I really climb from the ground up is a spruce removal or tiny trees I scramble into sometimes, with no rope or saddle.
 
The bucket truck got 75% of our significant trees. Climbing for pruning was either use a ladder or throw to a low limb and alternate lanyard up the tree, or shoot a high line into big trees and Wraptor up. For removals it was usually spur from the ground unless the tree was huge in which case probably use the wraptor
 
I do what needs to be done. Pruning I use a throw line and SRT with base anchor.

Dismantles, I spike but sometimes if I need to set rigging I will access with SRT as it is quicker and then at the top can set an anchor, rigging points and then decent to start the works.

If I can just spike up and cut bits off as I go then I will do that. I guess it depends on tree type, task to complete and the surroundings and drop zone.
 
I climb both.

An inability to set a throw line and rope- climb is a major liability IMO.

Lots of people spur trees. I can spot the wounds years later. Some trees don't care much. Others do.


Wraptoring for 15+ years and ropewalking for similar amounts.
 
I haven't practically climbed for production in years, but I much prefer a high tie in. Based on that, I'd usually climb to the top, set my false crotch, then come down and go to work. The Wraptor made that much easier.

These days if we can't get it with the telehandler, we have a 92' lift, or a contract climber.
 
I always climb on the rope and the tree is more or less "beside" me. Very rarely I free climb a tree, only about max 10' high.
The spurs are just a stabilizing aid for me, not a climbing tool. That comes from my beginnings with an awful pair of spurs, painful and absolutely untrustworthy. The fear to use this junk as faded a lot after owning a proper gear, but my body still refuse to use that for climbing with a lanyard.
I mostly gave up on the throw line since my throwing hand doesn't function properly anymore. I still use the big shot time to time but it's very far in between. We don't have the giants of the West Coast or Australia, usually my trees are bellow 90'. Most of the time I advance in the tree (traverse too) by setting the climbing lines step by step with my 16.6' telescopic pole.
 
Some Colorado climbers, as mentioned in the first post.




Throw lines save climbing, too be remotely-set/ retrieved rigging points.
 
Il looked down on a throw line just last week. It was hopelessly wrapped/stuck in a very dead pine stub. I want up just past it, tied in, freed it and dropped it out, then made my notch, nipped the back, and hastened down so we could snatch the top out with the truck.
 
I had a contract climber who was "just going to climb up there and set a high TIP, then come back down and start at the bottom".

I suggested I throw in a line, which took one try for a solid, high TIP. Base-tie. 5 minutes to things going through the chipper.

Setting a high rigging point or speedline redirect from the ground saves a lot of faffing stound.
 
True.


I was running the speedline to the spot directly behind the chipper, turning the butts onto the tray and pushing through. Dragging, especially uphill, sucks, especially when technique easily does the job.




So many of our trees are either in a forest or in a heavily landscaped area. Sometimes, bombs away, other times managing the piece being cut in some way.
 
I only stand around in spurs when I don't have an overhead TIP. If I'm going from the ground up a tree, I throw my steel termination biner 5-10 feet up the tree, choke, sit, use spurs for positioning, sometimes stand up to cut, such as pushing a limb, then sit back down.
 
Different strokes and all that.

Don’t get me wrong, in many/most circumstances, getting a high tying in point quickly with a throw line is undoubtedly a more effective way of getting up there.
In the great scheme of things though, on a one or two tree day, with one or two groundworkers, the time saved is negligible.
 
i love throwlining but i also like taking a break from it sometimes. therefore i will spike up most removals and usually generate enough work for groundies.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #20
Mick! said:
I always climb the tree, in fairness I don’t really know any other method.
Click to expand...
I am surprised to hear that, Mick. You do not ever access the tree with ascenders climbing the rope?
SeanKroll said:
Are the people who look down on throw lines really solid in their throw lining skills or climbing big trees?
Click to expand...
I'm sure that has a lot to do with it!

Personally, throw line is one of my favorite parts of tree work so I use it often as possible. Nothing more satisfying than having a piece tied off and ready to be rigged out before you get in the tree. I also use throw line to pull hangers and break out dead branches often.

To the climbing specifically though, one reason I asked about it is because I've noticed that for me it's two different mindsets. Climbing the rope is easy for me and more relaxed. Climbing the tree is tougher, more of a struggle and less graceful for me. But I've seen others climb the tree and make it look nice.

Flipping up a straight-ish pole with spikes is a unique thing which I enjoy sometimes, rope in a backpack just cruising up. But starting from the ground with spikes on a big multistem tree is way too tough for me. I typically cruise around without spikes for most of the branches and even some wood sometimes for trees like that.
 
levi r said:
I am surprised to hear that, Mick. You do not ever access the tree with ascenders climbing the rope?

I'm sure that has a lot to do with it!

Personally, throw line is one of my favorite parts of tree work so I use it often as possible. Nothing more satisfying than having a piece tied off and ready to be rigged out before you get in the tree. I also use throw line to pull hangers and break out dead branches often.

To the climbing specifically though, one reason I asked about it is because I've noticed that for me it's two different mindsets. Climbing the rope is easy for me and more relaxed. Climbing the tree is tougher, more of a struggle and less graceful for me. But I've seen others climb the tree and make it look nice.

Flipping up a straight-ish pole with spikes is a unique thing which I enjoy sometimes, rope in a backpack just cruising up. But starting from the ground with spikes on a big multistem tree is way too tough for me. I typically cruise around without spikes for most of the branches and even some wood sometimes for trees like that.
Click to expand...


Never used them, never owned any, I always wear spikes though.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #24
You're not concerned about damaging the tree if you're pruning?
 
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