I got a scare 2 weeks ago

DoG · 20th November 2007, 08:03 PM

I hope you don't mind me adding my two cents as a new climber. I've only been
climbing a year and a half, on and off. My thoughts everytime I tie into the tree
is everything I have learned from 4 web sites about tree work. I am not embarressed
to tie in more times than is considered safe. I'm not embarressed to take more time
to make sure I'M SAFE and going to get up the next morning. I know I have not
yet done the amount of tree work you awesome guys have done, but that is how I
am starting out and intend to keep it this way. Thanks for the post!

newguy18 · 20th November 2007, 08:06 PM

welcomt to treeworld doG.it sounds like you take that extra minute that some of us don't me included.2 tie ins after that accident and I'm good.

Therrin · 21st November 2007, 12:26 AM

Wow, I've gotta give you props for just learning from web sites. If I had done it that way I'd probably be scared stiff!
I'm not sure that it's a matter of embarrasment (at least not to me), if you're the one in the tree, then you do as you deem necessary for the time and place. People who look and see what you're doing, who don't climb, dont have a clue what's going on. All they think is "gee, that guy is nuts!!!" =)

wit · 21st November 2007, 09:52 AM

just remember one thing, safe climbing is to learn from a qualified trainer and do it a lot of time, two lines is a must if you want to stay alive, use your learning and think before
cutting, then remember to check your gear, !! allways !!.
safe climbing
Regards Wit

reachtreeservice · 7th December 2007, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ace Master

I have two motto that i go by, for trees and gear!

IN DOUBT CUT OUT (trees)
IN DOUBT THROW OUT (gear)

Forget about you should have done this ,done that ,it will be to late by then

.At the end of the day we all like to go home alive

You can learn by other peoples mistakes as well as your own

No need to say anymore..........the end.

Totally agree with Ace Master...In tree work , if you take any chances with your gear , Mr. Murphy may well come see you.

I have a 56 year old customer I work for every year, he's in a wheel chair from a tree work accident when he was 22.
Be smart, if you can't afford to replace your damaged gear, quit work till you can !

newguy18 · 7th December 2007, 10:46 AM

I understand what you mean but if you quit working how can you afford to buy new gear?

Therrin · 7th December 2007, 02:47 PM

Maybe he meant quit climbing, and stick to ground work

newguy18 · 7th December 2007, 02:59 PM

True you could do that.

Therrin · 7th December 2007, 03:08 PM

Not nearly as much fun. And if you're workin with a groundie then you gotta keep em in check. lol

I'm still usin that injured flipline, but I always back it up. Mostly haven't purchased a replacement yet cuz I don't want to buy an inferior line. Noticed that some of you prefer specific products for specific reasons and I'm trying to find a line that I like.

I'd go with Newguy's type of deal, with that trawler cable, but dont know where I'd find some!

newguy18 · 7th December 2007, 03:18 PM

Refresh my memory what idea and what do you mean by trawler cable?

reachtreeservice · 7th December 2007, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newguy18

I understand what you mean but if you quit working how can you afford to buy new gear?

If you are dead, how can you afford to buy new gear ?

reachtreeservice · 7th December 2007, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Therrin

Not nearly as much fun. And if you're workin with a groundie then you gotta keep em in check. lol

I'm still usin that injured flipline, but I always back it up. Mostly haven't purchased a replacement yet cuz I don't want to buy an inferior line. Noticed that some of you prefer specific products for specific reasons and I'm trying to find a line that I like.

I'd go with Newguy's type of deal, with that trawler cable, but dont know where I'd find some!

You are using a damaged flip line and haven't replaced it yet because you don't want to buy an inferior line ? Would you call a damaged line superior ?
If you are using one damaged line and one good one, there is no back up !
Flip lines are pretty cheap when you consider the cost of being in a wheel chair for the rest of your life or dead.

If I didn't have the cash to replace any of my safety or climbing gear, I'd work day labor until I could buy the gear.

Even with all the proper gear in the world, tree work is still a very dangerous trade. Everyone who ever got hurt didn't make just one mistake, but the last mistake in a chain of mistakes. Working with damaged gear is always one link in the chain of mistakes.

D Mc · 7th December 2007, 07:55 PM

Therrin, you should be getting a general feeling now of what most of us think about climbing with compromised gear.

I love cable-core flip lines, not for their additional safety but for the way they flip. They give you a false sense of security because people do exactly what you are doing. "But it cost so much, I CAN'T retire it!"

Retire it. Now.

I have personally come out of a tree by doing exactly the same thing. Thinking the exact same way that you are right now. "Well, shoot the cable's in there, it must be fine!" It wasn't. Twenty-five feet, flat on my back, just lucky it was a soft landing.

It responded just as Ekka stated. Once the rope broke, it slid right off the cable core and that was that. When you are repositioning your tie in points, there is that moment where you are relying on that one damaged flip line.

D Mc

Therrin · 8th December 2007, 12:40 AM

Wow, look at all the pros comin outta the woodwork!

Actually, just before I jumped back on here tonight I sat down in the living room (tiled floor) and started layin out all my gear. Cutting up bad gear and washing stuff. Retaping some of my biners with their proper color codes, and doing general maint.

I've actually realized that I could cut out the damaged part of that flipline, make an end stopper, and retain the use of at least 7 feet of it.

Also just made several more lanyards, and started washing some ropes.

Going to do 10 TD's tomorow, wanted to make sure everything was in good shape.

D Mc · 8th December 2007, 08:20 AM

Therrin, going over your gear in a careful, organized manner like that is a good habit.

But, really, color coding your carabiners???

Seriously, does anybody else do that?

No really, good job.

D Mc

JayD · 8th December 2007, 01:38 PM

Hi,
I think the trawler cable idea comes from a post, Streyken posted?...Ekka should be able to comfirm this or point us in the right direction, One method you could use if a piece of equipment is sus,Back it up..one method of prolonging use if you are cash strapped , folks....a simple piece of climbing line will do it...Think thru what you are doing...be carefull. Live to be a burden on your kids...paybacks are a pleasure

20th November 2007, 08:03 PM	#26 (permalink)
DoG Sappling Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: SE, USA Posts: 15	Re: I got a scare 2 weeks ago I hope you don't mind me adding my two cents as a new climber. I've only been climbing a year and a half, on and off. My thoughts everytime I tie into the tree is everything I have learned from 4 web sites about tree work. I am not embarressed to tie in more times than is considered safe. I'm not embarressed to take more time to make sure I'M SAFE and going to get up the next morning. I know I have not yet done the amount of tree work you awesome guys have done, but that is how I am starting out and intend to keep it this way. Thanks for the post!

20th November 2007, 08:06 PM	#27 (permalink)
newguy18 Part of the Furniture Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Live Oak Florida home of the crapiest trees you will ever see. Posts: 2,679	Re: I got a scare 2 weeks ago welcomt to treeworld doG.it sounds like you take that extra minute that some of us don't me included.2 tie ins after that accident and I'm good. __________________ Have your say join us today. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzkd_m4ivmc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzfzb...eature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-OqK...eature=related

21st November 2007, 12:26 AM	#28 (permalink)
Therrin The Tree World Bandit Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lancaster, Ca Posts: 1,273	Re: I got a scare 2 weeks ago Wow, I've gotta give you props for just learning from web sites. If I had done it that way I'd probably be scared stiff! I'm not sure that it's a matter of embarrasment (at least not to me), if you're the one in the tree, then you do as you deem necessary for the time and place. People who look and see what you're doing, who don't climb, dont have a clue what's going on. All they think is "gee, that guy is nuts!!!" =) __________________ Ken Fessia I.T.S.A. Tree Service (661) 916-4703

21st November 2007, 09:52 AM	#29 (permalink)
wit Sappling Join Date: May 2007 Location: Denmark Posts: 12	Re: I got a scare 2 weeks ago just remember one thing, safe climbing is to learn from a qualified trainer and do it a lot of time, two lines is a must if you want to stay alive, use your learning and think before cutting, then remember to check your gear, !! allways !!. safe climbing Regards Wit __________________ Trees are like my boys, i love them.

7th December 2007, 10:46 AM	#31 (permalink)
newguy18 Part of the Furniture Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Live Oak Florida home of the crapiest trees you will ever see. Posts: 2,679	Re: I got a scare 2 weeks ago I understand what you mean but if you quit working how can you afford to buy new gear? __________________ Have your say join us today. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzkd_m4ivmc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzfzb...eature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-OqK...eature=related

7th December 2007, 02:47 PM	#32 (permalink)
Therrin The Tree World Bandit Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lancaster, Ca Posts: 1,273	Re: I got a scare 2 weeks ago Maybe he meant quit climbing, and stick to ground work __________________ Ken Fessia I.T.S.A. Tree Service (661) 916-4703

7th December 2007, 02:59 PM	#33 (permalink)
newguy18 Part of the Furniture Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Live Oak Florida home of the crapiest trees you will ever see. Posts: 2,679	Re: I got a scare 2 weeks ago True you could do that. __________________ Have your say join us today. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzkd_m4ivmc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzfzb...eature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-OqK...eature=related

7th December 2007, 03:08 PM	#34 (permalink)
Therrin The Tree World Bandit Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lancaster, Ca Posts: 1,273	Re: I got a scare 2 weeks ago Not nearly as much fun. And if you're workin with a groundie then you gotta keep em in check. lol I'm still usin that injured flipline, but I always back it up. Mostly haven't purchased a replacement yet cuz I don't want to buy an inferior line. Noticed that some of you prefer specific products for specific reasons and I'm trying to find a line that I like. I'd go with Newguy's type of deal, with that trawler cable, but dont know where I'd find some! __________________ Ken Fessia I.T.S.A. Tree Service (661) 916-4703

7th December 2007, 03:18 PM	#35 (permalink)
newguy18 Part of the Furniture Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Live Oak Florida home of the crapiest trees you will ever see. Posts: 2,679	Re: I got a scare 2 weeks ago Refresh my memory what idea and what do you mean by trawler cable? __________________ Have your say join us today. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzkd_m4ivmc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzfzb...eature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-OqK...eature=related

7th December 2007, 07:55 PM	#38 (permalink)
D Mc Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Montana Posts: 72	Re: I got a scare 2 weeks ago Therrin, you should be getting a general feeling now of what most of us think about climbing with compromised gear. I love cable-core flip lines, not for their additional safety but for the way they flip. They give you a false sense of security because people do exactly what you are doing. "But it cost so much, I CAN'T retire it!" Retire it. Now. I have personally come out of a tree by doing exactly the same thing. Thinking the exact same way that you are right now. "Well, shoot the cable's in there, it must be fine!" It wasn't. Twenty-five feet, flat on my back, just lucky it was a soft landing. It responded just as Ekka stated. Once the rope broke, it slid right off the cable core and that was that. When you are repositioning your tie in points, there is that moment where you are relying on that one damaged flip line. D Mc

8th December 2007, 12:40 AM	#39 (permalink)
Therrin The Tree World Bandit Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lancaster, Ca Posts: 1,273	Re: I got a scare 2 weeks ago Wow, look at all the pros comin outta the woodwork! Actually, just before I jumped back on here tonight I sat down in the living room (tiled floor) and started layin out all my gear. Cutting up bad gear and washing stuff. Retaping some of my biners with their proper color codes, and doing general maint. I've actually realized that I could cut out the damaged part of that flipline, make an end stopper, and retain the use of at least 7 feet of it. Also just made several more lanyards, and started washing some ropes. Going to do 10 TD's tomorow, wanted to make sure everything was in good shape. __________________ Ken Fessia I.T.S.A. Tree Service (661) 916-4703

8th December 2007, 08:20 AM	#40 (permalink)
D Mc Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Montana Posts: 72	Re: I got a scare 2 weeks ago Therrin, going over your gear in a careful, organized manner like that is a good habit. But, really, color coding your carabiners??? Seriously, does anybody else do that? No really, good job. D Mc

8th December 2007, 01:38 PM	#41 (permalink)
JayD Over mature heritage tree Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sydney Posts: 941	Re: I got a scare 2 weeks ago Hi, I think the trawler cable idea comes from a post, Streyken posted?...Ekka should be able to comfirm this or point us in the right direction, One method you could use if a piece of equipment is sus,Back it up..one method of prolonging use if you are cash strapped , folks....a simple piece of climbing line will do it...Think thru what you are doing...be carefull. Live to be a burden on your kids...paybacks are a pleasure __________________ Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory

8th December 2007, 03:38 PM	#42 (permalink)
shaggs Mature tree Join Date: May 2007 Location: sydney Posts: 462