Spikeless DRT access, trunk walk etc. Featuring Brother Colin.

Ekka · 2nd August 2007, 07:34 PM

Thought I had this one here but I must have missed it.

I get a few inquiries on how you go about it, you know, the spikeless thing.

Anyway, here's a start, I'm sure there's other ways, hitches etc and feel free to put up your ideas, pics and video.

This video is MPG, so large file, and if you are downloading and it starts to hesitate or splutter, that's because it's playing faster than you are downloading ... solution is hit pause on the player and let it download the video.

Once watched, best to save it if you want to rather than go thru it all again.

103mb MPG 10.19mins

http://www.palmtreeservices.com.au/video/drtaccess.mpg

And WMV 52mb version

http://www.palmtreeservices.com.au/video/drtaccess.wmv

OsAGe85 · 3rd August 2007, 07:04 AM

Great video for us rookies!

JohN Dee · 6th August 2007, 03:27 AM

Indeed it is a great video, golden oldy'

.

It helped me a great deal when I was still on my steep learning curve (not so steep now :P).

newguy18 · 9th August 2007, 11:25 AM

Nice video Ekka a great source of learning for rookies and old guys wanting to learn a trick or two.

TreeDimensional · 17th March 2008, 06:31 PM

I just discovered this video, it is worth a watch for the members that are NEW to tree climbing.

playfordtree · 17th March 2008, 09:05 PM

Nice work as usual Ekka

I might have to practice that over this Easter weekend.
In the first bit where you trunk walked, is the length of the bridge critical, or do you just use a length that is comfrotable for you?

If i can master that, i might have to leave my ladders on the roofrack where they belong!

JohN Dee · 17th March 2008, 10:34 PM

Eek, ladder

. The bridge length is indeed what you are comfortable with.

How I measure (and was taught) the length of rope I need for my prussic(friction hitch) is; you grab the end of the rope and extend your arms as far as you can comfortably and cut it off to the length of what your arms can go. I guess for an open end hitch(blakes) you would extend them out as far as possible then take half of that(I used to guesstimate it when I used the blakes)?

playfordtree · 17th March 2008, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohN Dee

Eek, ladder

. The bridge length is indeed what you are comfortable with.

How I measure (and was taught) the length of rope I need for my prussic(friction hitch) is; you grab the end of the rope and extend your arms as far as you can comfortably and cut it off to the length of what your arms can go. I guess for an open end hitch(blakes) you would extend them out as far as possible then take half of that(I used to guesstimate it when I used the blakes)?

Cheers John.

Hey, whats wrong with ladders?

After you've climbed up 8 metres without being tied in, swinging around in the tree seems much less scarey.

JohN Dee · 18th March 2008, 05:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by playfordtree

Cheers John.

Hey, whats wrong with ladders?

After you've climbed up 8 metres without being tied in, swinging around in the tree seems much less scarey.

Ladders (ones that actually reach) are a pain in the ass to haul around... Plus there is always the risk of it toppeling over whilst going up...

Would much rather swing and launch off branch to branch or trunk to branch then climb up an unsecured ladder

. It may be a bad thing, but I don't get "scared" just from swinging around in the tree...

What's scary is going out too far on a limb(Going past the 45 degree angle from your t.i.p[The point where you foot hold starts bearing weight down onto the branch rather then being supported from above]) to the tip and it snapping beneath you, all while your screaming back in towards the trunk with the pretruding stub waving hello at you

newguy18 · 18th March 2008, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohN Dee

Ladders (ones that actually reach) are a pain in the ass to haul around... Plus there is always the risk of it toppeling over whilst going up...

Would much rather swing and launch off branch to branch or trunk to branch then climb up an unsecured ladder

. It may be a bad thing, but I don't get "scared" just from swinging around in the tree...

What's scary is going out too far on a limb(Going past the 45 degree angle from your t.i.p[The point where you foot hold starts bearing weight down onto the branch rather then being supported from above]) to the tip and it snapping beneath you, all while your screaming back in towards the trunk with the pretruding stub waving hello at you

I'm with yopu i hate ladders,i like swinging around up in trees as well the rope gives you a sense of security while at the same time remaining kind of free.

quercus · 18th March 2008, 09:56 AM

we don't have any ladders and I'm not planning on buying one either...
A ladder is too often used as a workspace and it is a dangerous tool to work on trees.A ladder is a means of access... and should be used only for that purpose. Ya'll couldn't imagine what insurance costs here to actually do work when standing on ladders.

The trunk walk tech is used almost daily in my team... I've got a groundie/climber who even calls it the aussie trunk walk.... He uses it when he's tired of body-thrusting wich is actually quite a lot.
I use it on demo's too... to show people that other ways exist to climb trees and that spiking is not always needed.

vl2007 · 18th March 2008, 10:55 AM

Ekka,
That's how I climbed three royal palms last week. Learned it from that video some time ago.

vl2007 · 18th March 2008, 10:59 AM

It's a money maker.

newguy18 · 18th March 2008, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vl2007

Ekka,
That's how I climbed three royal palms last week. Learned it from that video some time ago.

you rope climb palms?I spike them without exception.i'm not hanging my life on those fronds even with a false crotch setup.

vl2007 · 18th March 2008, 12:09 PM

I will still spike a palm if the client wishes that price. But the spar on a royal is different. Normally I let them self prune, but this one was over an entrance with hanging fronds and pods just ready to kill someone. No bucket access, and too high and dangerous for ladders. The adjustable false croch is a very safe method; mixed with the Ddrt and the trunk walk, no problems. The bull rope goes over more than one frond.

2nd August 2007, 07:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 5,669	Spikeless DRT access, trunk walk etc. Featuring Brother Colin. Thought I had this one here but I must have missed it. I get a few inquiries on how you go about it, you know, the spikeless thing. Anyway, here's a start, I'm sure there's other ways, hitches etc and feel free to put up your ideas, pics and video. This video is MPG, so large file, and if you are downloading and it starts to hesitate or splutter, that's because it's playing faster than you are downloading ... solution is hit pause on the player and let it download the video. Once watched, best to save it if you want to rather than go thru it all again. 103mb MPG 10.19mins http://www.palmtreeservices.com.au/video/drtaccess.mpg And WMV 52mb version http://www.palmtreeservices.com.au/video/drtaccess.wmv __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

3rd August 2007, 07:04 AM	#2 (permalink)
OsAGe85 Cruisin' Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Littlerock Arkansas US Posts: 66	Great video for us rookies! __________________ Gotta love the smell 2 stroke and wood chips. Be smart, be safe.

6th August 2007, 03:27 AM	#3 (permalink)
JohN Dee Astronaut Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 679	Indeed it is a great video, golden oldy' . It helped me a great deal when I was still on my steep learning curve (not so steep now :P). __________________ Climber with slow climbing speed, must make up with mighty chainsaw roar. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Red : Green : Blue

9th August 2007, 11:25 AM	#4 (permalink)
newguy18 Tree World Icon Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Live Oak Florida home of the crapiest trees you will ever see. Posts: 2,192	Nice video Ekka a great source of learning for rookies and old guys wanting to learn a trick or two. __________________ 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

17th March 2008, 06:31 PM	#5 (permalink)
TreeDimensional Afterburner is shakin' Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 381	Re: Spikeless DRT access, trunk walk etc. Featuring Brother Colin. I just discovered this video, it is worth a watch for the members that are NEW to tree climbing. __________________ West Central Saskatchewan ISA Certified Arborist

17th March 2008, 09:05 PM	#6 (permalink)
playfordtree Afterburner is shakin' Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Adelaide Australia Posts: 340	Re: Spikeless DRT access, trunk walk etc. Featuring Brother Colin. Nice work as usual Ekka I might have to practice that over this Easter weekend. In the first bit where you trunk walked, is the length of the bridge critical, or do you just use a length that is comfrotable for you? If i can master that, i might have to leave my ladders on the roofrack where they belong! __________________ I Drink Therefore I am.

17th March 2008, 10:34 PM	#7 (permalink)
JohN Dee Astronaut Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 679	Re: Spikeless DRT access, trunk walk etc. Featuring Brother Colin. Eek, ladder. The bridge length is indeed what you are comfortable with. How I measure (and was taught) the length of rope I need for my prussic(friction hitch) is; you grab the end of the rope and extend your arms as far as you can comfortably and cut it off to the length of what your arms can go. I guess for an open end hitch(blakes) you would extend them out as far as possible then take half of that(I used to guesstimate it when I used the blakes)? __________________ Climber with slow climbing speed, must make up with mighty chainsaw roar. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Red : Green : Blue

18th March 2008, 09:56 AM	#11 (permalink)
quercus Afterburner is shakin' Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: belgium Posts: 414	Re: Spikeless DRT access, trunk walk etc. Featuring Brother Colin. we don't have any ladders and I'm not planning on buying one either... A ladder is too often used as a workspace and it is a dangerous tool to work on trees.A ladder is a means of access... and should be used only for that purpose. Ya'll couldn't imagine what insurance costs here to actually do work when standing on ladders. The trunk walk tech is used almost daily in my team... I've got a groundie/climber who even calls it the aussie trunk walk.... He uses it when he's tired of body-thrusting wich is actually quite a lot. I use it on demo's too... to show people that other ways exist to climb trees and that spiking is not always needed.

18th March 2008, 10:55 AM	#12 (permalink)
vl2007 Cruisin' Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Florida Keys Posts: 84	Re: Spikeless DRT access, trunk walk etc. Featuring Brother Colin. Ekka, That's how I climbed three royal palms last week. Learned it from that video some time ago.

18th March 2008, 10:59 AM	#13 (permalink)
vl2007 Cruisin' Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Florida Keys Posts: 84	Re: Spikeless DRT access, trunk walk etc. Featuring Brother Colin. It's a money maker.

18th March 2008, 12:09 PM	#15 (permalink)
vl2007 Cruisin' Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Florida Keys Posts: 84	Re: Spikeless DRT access, trunk walk etc. Featuring Brother Colin. I will still spike a palm if the client wishes that price. But the spar on a royal is different. Normally I let them self prune, but this one was over an entrance with hanging fronds and pods just ready to kill someone. No bucket access, and too high and dangerous for ladders. The adjustable false croch is a very safe method; mixed with the Ddrt and the trunk walk, no problems. The bull rope goes over more than one frond.