Aerial

I was hoping for a kinder, gentler God, but as you say, this is his house and he can run it as he sees fit.

Actually, I have found this to be an excellent site technically (great forum software), and it has some great videos with much expertise being demonstrated.

Until my unfortunate blunders with humor and hyperbole led to this somewhat over the top confrontation between myself and Ekka, things seemed to be doing well, I was learning a lot of valuable information

I am under no delusions that I was a "hero" that day, Jackass would be closer. I attempted a difficult take down on a dangerous tree without the proper gear or training. To even post that experience before a jury of Arborists was asking for a whipping, and I got one.

I'm well aware of just how LUCKY I was not to have killed someone and that sobering reality is what led me here. Not to seek attention with outrageous brags of being a "Hero". I was a heartbeat away from taking a life through not doing my due diligence about what I was up to. I can honestly say that I would have rather fallen from the tree than to have that happen.

If I had it to do over (do we get those in this, or any profession?) I would have brought in a bucket truck with a qualified tree man in it. But ONLY if we had somehow discovered the equally dangerous utility pole down the street from where we were working.

As it was though, I wouldn't change a thing. God works in mysterious ways and me giving up my pride and sharing this experience here is small price to pay for the fact that a very dangerous situation was uncovered and rectified by my actions, however ill advised they obviously were.

A perfect drop of that tree, done by the best of your profession, would not have uncovered the real danger lurking at the base of that pole. It was all for the best as it turned out.

I was sent a clear and strong signal about just how reckless and ignorant I was. As I looked down at that smoking and sparking pole from my vantage point, way closer to Heaven than I had any right to be. It didn't take long to "get it" I could have been looking at a child laying under it. I probably would have uncliped and jumped.

I didn't feel very heroic at that moment, nor do I now. I'm not going to get all wigged out here about God and my belief, or not, of any such entity. But I have to say, if there is a guiding hand that has influence in our lives he/she or it used me as a blunt force implement, a tool no more aware than a wedge or the hammer that drives it, to rain destruction down on a quiet little neighborhood in Pittsburgh. And then gave me a good bitch slapping in that instant, as I understood completely just how foolish I had been.

My happiness had nothing to do with getting paid on the spot, and offers for new work in the neighborhood. I was, and still am to a degree, giddy at just how LUCKY I was not to have to bare the weight of a wrongful death.

The lady wants us to come back and take down the third tree, I think I'll take that job to someone qualified and experienced, and try to barter that for some hands on learning. Running brush to the truck for a while would seem like a great way to make a fresh start.

I learned that approach from Sawsong, thank you Sir for that good example. And my apologies for that outback critter that shall not be named comment I directed at you.. They can climb trees if I understand Aussie fauna correctly. I don't believe Dingos do, young or old.

And Ekka, thank you for granting me this opportunity to post the above as an apology especially to Sawsong, and lame explanation of the means justifying the ends.

I'll just passively hang out here and only post if I have a specific question about proper gear and techniques. I won't mention my findings about the ice axe things, that appears to be a bit too controversial a technique.

The DB/SALA retracting cable is something that I believe could be really useful in treework, but then again what do I know? At $1380 it's probably a bit pricy for most, and the tried and true rope methods have obviously proven themselves over time saving many lives along the way.

I'm not saying you are idiots if you don't use one, although my unfortunate jest about "coming out of the woods" is what started this whole furor and I truly apologize for that.

Without discovery there is no advancement. I wonder what the guys who developed the techniques you all use with ropes would have thought about a chainsaw if they had seen one? (a bit of a trip to the future, as those knots and techniques were in use before the turn of the century, and I mean 1900, if not 1800),

You are doing good work here Ekka, and I hope that someday I can contribute something of value to this site and it's members.

Aerial