Tree climbing on spikes

[AlanB]

As a retired arborist I don't like spikes. I was in the business of saving trees and I didn't take them down. If the object is to save a tree, spikes just leave a path for disease to enter.

How did you climb them? Did you do that Single Rope technique?

 

[ToadHill]

Alan, If I had to go up, I used a bucket. If I couldn't get a bucket in, ropes, and saddles. With a tow behind bucket you only rarely had to clime.

 

[AlanB]

Alan, If I had to go up, I used a bucket. If I couldn't get a bucket in, ropes, and saddles. With a tow behind bucket you only rarely had to clime.

What are ropes and saddles? I actually have easy access to a bucket truck, but you cannot put a bucket truck into my woods, unless you have a REALLY big dozer to bring it out with.

I just saw where you said tow behind bucket, I guess I am not familiar with that either, is that like a manlift?

 

[ToadHill]

Tow behind is like a bucket truck lift but it's on a trailer with out riggers to stabilize it. It has its own engine to run the Hyd system for the lift & the outriggers. It won't go as high as a bucket truck, but if the job required something that big, I farmed it out.

 

[Tdog]

Alan - - I'll just tip my hat to you. I hired a crew to top & take down some trees right next to my house a few weeks ago. I took lots of pictures & paid lots of $$. Those guys were fun to watch - - they were in great physical shape & put on an aerial show the way they worked together. It was clear they trusted one another. Here are a couple of shots.

Jack

 

[AlanB]

T-dog, don't get me wrong, I have no delusions of granduer and doing big tree work. There are just several tasks around my place that I want to be able to get up in a tree and do a little of this and that (small branches etc)

I have a great relationship with an Arborist, (Joey) and when the going get's tough,, I back off and call him , But, that said every big wind there are branches and odds and ends that should be done, that I do not want to call in a marker on.

Kids want a Zip line, son wants a higher tree stand, or big fort, I want a couple of limbs off this tree or that one, and besides that, kinda of like playing a guitar, or speaking a foriegn language, it is just one of those things I want to be able to do.

There are pictures of Joey taking down a big tree over my house on the AlB's house rework thread in the project forum. Then there are more of where I had him back out to drop another tree that dropped some limbs across vehicles in the yard.

I consider myself an above average DIY kind of guy, but there is always a time, like those trees in your pictures, that it is just best left to a professional.

 

[shaley]

Alan, How about a split tail technique. With a cambium saver and a split tail and blakes hitch you can free climb. It's one rope but goes through the rings of the saver so you are only lifting half of your weight. I think most of the procedure in the "Tree Climber's Companion". W.T. Sherrill has a lot of tips in their printed catalog or use to. They have a website now with some info.
Sherrill Tree Climbing Supply: Professional Tree Care

 

[teg]

We had Swedish Ladders that we could used (doesn't dig into the trees too much). They were more of a pain and only used by people that were not comfortable with spikes. Never knew they cost THAT much!!
Aluminum Sectional Ladders
I gave up climbing... saying 'there has got to be an easier way to make a living'. As for what people charge to climb trees... once you do it, you'll understand why they charge so much.

 

[AlanB]

Alan, How about a split tail technique. With a cambium saver and a split tail and blakes hitch you can free climb. It's one rope but goes through the rings of the saver so you are only lifting half of your weight. I think most of the procedure in the "Tree Climber's Companion". W.T. Sherrill has a lot of tips in their printed catalog or use to. They have a website now with some info.
Sherrill Tree Climbing Supply: Professional Tree Care

I was reading about that last night. Just not something I have been exposed too, but I think we have (or can cheaply get) everything it would take to do it. Will probably try several of those techniques in the tree climbers companion.

I think for what limited use I need to do though, I can spike up and be done fairly straight forward. While I see the point on the spikes and disease, just seems like I see a lot of other problems a lot worse to worry about on my trees.

 

[teg]

Just remembered, my friend does he's tree work with his hunting stand! The two piece kind, bottom section straps to your feet and the top section you move with your hands. You move like an inchworm. Very stable, nice platform to work from. As you move up, you cut the branches out of your way.