How Do You Brace Yourself When Takin A Wild Ride?

[Jomo]

You're a true tree man Butch!

No doubtaboutit mate!

Jomo

 

[MasterBlaster]

I'd rather been a microbiologist!

 

[Jomo]

You been readin my locked threads at TB or somethin?

Yes, microbiology is fascinating in many ways!

Jomo

 

[MasterBlaster]

I don't frequent TB.

 

[Jomo]

Good!

I'm safe from the burly guys with straight jackets tryin to lock me up!

Jomo

 

[rumination]

Ugh!

Just had this happen where I was knocking out a 15' top of a Norfolk Pine. My employer has no prior knowledge of running ropes, so I knew I was in for a rough ride. As the top comes back into the trunk, I was never thrown in my entire career as I was that day. Next day there were bruises on my knees, forearms, shoulders, inner thighs and chest. I sent him the photos to show how important it is to start paying attention more.

Of course I wanted to kill him, but as I said, he knows not what he's doing.

Norfolk and Cook Pines are some of the nastiest rides out there, that I know of. They have this unreal ability to slingshot the climber into a full on ragdoll thrashing, if not dealt with correctly.


As to the original question, I'm a user of the braced arm technique in most circumstances.

 

[Szajer]

My employer had a climber before me, who refused to do them.

His excuse was that he wasn't comfortable standing on a 6" spar 50' high. I'll definitely be better prepared next time— if that's even possible.

 

[MasterBlaster]

I've never taken a ride tossing a 6" spar.

 

[Jomo]

Big difference tween tossin n catchin mate!

Jomo

 

[Szajer]

Would've loved to of had that luxury.

The tree sat in between two driveways with both homes just feet from it.

 

[MasterBlaster]

I've never taken a ride rigging a 6" spar.

ftfy

 

[Jomo]

The thing that freaks out a lot of outta state climbers who come to work in CA are the eucs, up to two hundred feet tall in the Bay Area of SF.

Some of the most challenging eucs outside of oz to be found!

But it's actually the millions of dinkster eucs in condo, apts and HOA's, little 75-80 footers, skinny little trashy iron barks and weak silver dollars, that require true ongoing day to day finesse in rigging, or not over rigging, for a true removal expert to shine. Stuff un reachable by cranes.

Cranes?

Cranes!

We don't need no stinkin cranes!

After a few decades it's somewhat boring, but it's good exercise that keeps me alive.

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Jomo

 

[Jack]

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[MasterBlaster]

I can't imagine using a handsaw to cut a limb that big.

 

[Szajer]

Tell me about it...

For the first couple minutes, I was sure those guys were a "green," tree company.

 

[Limbrat]

Now THAT had to be a pucker moment!

 

[Jack]

 

[Szajer]

=D>=D>

 

[Jomo]

That's not quite the pushin to triangulate and stabilize I was talkin bout there Jack buddy!

Jomo

 

[Jack]

Just havin' some fun with a serious topic, Jomo

It's PPE on a different level ...

 

[Jomo]

It's all good mate!

Jomo

 

[gf beranek]

Taking the ride in the top is one thing. Now getting out on a limb to release a big load of terminal weight is another altogether. Flip you upside down!

 

[MasterBlaster]

I always feel like the Silver Surfer doing that! Better have a fast cutting saw!!!

 

[Jomo]

It's so dang un dignified out there on a big lateral, hanging from the bottom of that lateral by your lanyard twisting in the wind!

Learning how to prevent that from happening has more to do with bull riding than you may think!

It's that hand on your stable upper TIP lifeline compensating during the ride that keeps you on top of things.

Jomo

 

[Szajer]

It's that hand on your stable upper TIP lifeline compensating during the ride that keeps you on top of things.

Jomo

Exactly.

I have a story to share about this very thing. But it also has to do with two separate disasters as the resulting action. ie: "possible product/gear failure and accident resulting with injury."

I'm currently looking for an appropriate thread to tell it in.