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Originally Posted by Aerial  Nothing wrong with doing it by the book, it's just that the book came a day too late for my first tree. Fortunately the retracting lifeline came in time for my first climb and first takedown.
I have not heard much comment on that item, and browsing through the threads does not indicate that this type of device is used much in tree climbing. It is not as radical as using the Ice Axes to be sure, but it seems to me that it enhances the whole process, while adding additional safety.
You mentioned limb walking, the retractable cable plays out, and then reels in without any tending during a limb walk. It allowed me to focus on keeping my balance while doing it.
Here is a photo of my first tree and it's obvious what limb I had to go out on: 
My biggest hassle throughout the process was clipping and unclipping the climbing lanyard around limbs and forks, using the axes may make that easier and faster, and it may not. A lot of testing needs to be done.
We are both newbees here, but you are an old pro compared to me, taking the by the book approach and three years of ground work is the method that suited you and I can't find fault in that.
My method was that there was a job to be done, and I did it the best way I could figure out on short notice, with the equipment and limited skills I had.
Another thing, you just turned 21, I'm going to be 61 in June, so this is a bit tiring for an old man like me, I need all the mechanical advantage I can get.
Aerial |
Mate, seriously... If you wanna do this, the thing with the axes that is... then that's fine by me...but do it on a glacier...
And if you wanna do it safe... hire an aerial platform... forget that ice-axe thing your into at the moment. Do some recreational climbing to get to know the hang of it, but forget those axes and sell em on the same site where they come from.
Personally I've never ever seen some-one who started off the wrong foot as bad as you did... I've seen lots of things so far, hell I've even seen a guy who tried the ice-axe thing on a dead tree too... but that was an experiment.
Tree work is not one of those things you go do for a hour or two with some gear you buy on ebay. That approach will get you killed. There are only a few jobs on the planet whom are more dangerous then tree-work... The way I see it there are a few options for you...
-get some serious training
-get some serious gear
-learn the "treeclimber's companion" by heart and try everything what's in there untill you find "your" knot and "your" gear, and above all... "your technique"
-hire an aerial platform (the biggest mechanical advantage that you can have, although even I am faster then guys with platforms...)
-let a certified arborist do it
And eh....About that retracting fall arrestor... You won't find it anywhere in threads because you are probably the only one using it. It is the knowledge and previous assessment of the trees, the dynamics of the trees and treeclimbing and the love for the trees that keep arborists alive... not some fall arrestor or something like it. We depend on skills that take years to hone and to learn. Don't think all safety comes with a pricetag though... because you can buy gear for 100.000.000 dollars if you want, but if you attach it to the wrong branch in the wrong tree, your as dead as a doorknob...
think about that... especially if there are other people, like your wife and kids maybe, who are depending on you to come home every night...