me topping out walnut trees

sbunnell07

Ok you got it.....videos will be up as soon as I have the ability to do it from my p.c. And by the way, I am a pretty humble guy and pretty reserved when it comes to my climbing. I wouldn't have even started popping off if you people didn't start crawling up my ass about all of your precious rules and regulations. This is the midwest bitches. Hardcore country shit. This is how we do things. If you like to climb with saftey equip. then fine, If you don't, then well thats fine too. I used to work for an A-1 pruning company some years ago and it was a great experience for me, I learned alot....but I think it's pure shit when you get written up for not having your helmet on or not having the cones set up in the right spot around the truck. I truly didn't become a great climber until AFTER I left that company and started working on my own(got tired of making everyone else rich at the expense of risking my life everyday). And by the way, if you take a hard knock on the head EVERY day you climb, maybe you should consider a different job. This isn't just a job to me, it's my career, my lifes work and I embrace it to the fullest. I am confident. I am sharp and alert. I am strong. I am MORE than able. Yeah, I take a few good hard knocks now and then, but who doesn't. If I have managed to keep both of my eyes, my head in one piece and stay alive after doing things my way for 12 years day in and day out, then I guess I must be doing something right. Right? And one more thing....Indiana produces the highest volume of quality veneered black walnut. In this region a fully mature black walnut tree WILL grow that tall and then some, so do some research dude. As for all you other blokes out there, go find a koala bear and hump it......up in a tree. bye.

Therrin

I was gonna say something about one of the things you said, then I read the rest of it and decided it wasnt worth the effort. 12 years huh? been doin it since you were.. what, 12, 13?

You get written up for that stuff because those are things that AFFECT MORE PEOPLE THAN JUST YOU. You work for someone else and you turn into a vegetable for the rest of your life cuz you decided not to wear your helmet, that's on your boss's tab, his conscience, and the taxpayers. Cones not set right, an accident happens, that's on your boss; business could be sued.

But its pretty clear you cant see past the end of yer own nose. Too bad for the people you work with, you could just as easily contribute to getting one of them killed with that kind of attittude. Might wanna consider buying some insurance. (doh! my insurance required that I follow OSHA guidelines!)

Hope you live out the year! Tell your Dad and brother we said howdy!

Aww heck, might as well throw in some quote lines....

I think you meant "these are the midwest bitches".

As far as country shit, some of my easiest work was in the country. Try working around houses all day like some of these guys do.
Most "hardcore country shit" starts off with "hey ya'll watch this!" and ends in a backwoods newspaper obit.


Oh wait I get it, that was how you use nuance right? or maybe its sophistication, or intelligence.

sbunnell07

I have never once hurt anyone on a jobsite, so don't sit there and make it seem like I don't care about anyone's personal saftey, because I do. Screw you pal.

sbunnell07

you really are dumb. do you think there are no houses in the country? i work around structures all day long. high phase power lines, businesses, schools, churches, etc. heres a pic of a storm damaged burr oak hanging right out OVER the house wasnt the hardest removal, but wasn't at all easy either. everything went without a hitch. like i said way long ago, thats why my phone rings off the hook, because i do the do and i do it well.

Attached Thumbnails

 

Eric Frei

Yeah Therrin, ya PPE NAZI!

By the way, koalas are marsupials not bears.

That's a nasty tree mate, got a pic of where the trunk goes in the ground?

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sbunnell07

and yes i have been climbing since i was 13. started rock climbing then. started trees after high school, around the age of 20. i am 32 years old. so if i included my rock climbing experience it would be more, but i dont count that as time on the bark. do the math. theres nothing wrong with getting a start at a young age. one of my best friends started trimming when he was 6 years old. hes 29 now. how many climbers do you know that are 29 years old and can say they have 23 years of experience? not many. he currently works as a sub contract climber and can make from 500 to a thousand dollars a day. are you good enough to work a day or two out of the week and have plenty of money to take the rest of the week off and go fishing? i seriously doubt it.

Therrin

Hey look picture with a house, in the country! Yeah actually I grew up in a town of 500 and started my work there. I'm familiar with the country.

You're one of those guys who, when an accident happens, and someone gets seriously injured or killed, you turn around and act like you had no idea it could happen cuz you didnt think it through ahead of time.

You said earlier that "people die with and without helmets". Ya fail to realize that more people die without helmets that could have been avoided with one.


(lol @ Ekka, I had good training and I gotta say, at least NG is evolved past the point of hurling insults as a defensive measure. I'm starting to really miss that guy)

sbunnell07

I wouldnt know dickhead because I have never caused an accident. I have an impeccable record and I plan to keep it that way. You don't know me at all and you can't assume what I would or wouldn't do in a situation like that. I am not a coward and I would assume all responsibility IF I did. I pay for my mistakes and I do it gladly. But AGAIN, one more flippin time, I have NEVER made the mistake of hurting someone, and if I did I would take full responsibility. I don't know about you, but I am an expert. I don't make mistakes. They happen, but I don't create them. I was born to dismantle trees quickly and with precision and until I do actually hurt or kill someone or myself, I will continue to do so and get paid well to do it. How dare you judge me ASSHOLE

Therrin

Oh, btw, that's "dickhead ninja monkey, sir; to you.



Wait wait, I thought you're an expert who doesnt make mistakes?

No doubt!!! Hope it isnt your little brother or 'pop that you hurt or kill!

Eric Frei

Now now guys.

Be nice.

Hey, must be a central American thing.

Now that's HARD CORE!

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Jeff Darby

HARDCORE...HARDCORE WHAT YOU GUNNA DO WHEN THE ACCIDENT COMES FOR YOU Now lets all sing along and praise this hero..lol

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Member: Australian Tree Association

Join the Australian Tree Association...Have your voice heard !

Arboriculture, A life long study for some, a passing phase for others

© Jeffrey J Darby 2011

yooper

Hell and I thought we where stupid up north This dude is a class act

Sunraysia Tree Solutions

Good on you for making the effort with the stihl timbersports, its a great outcome. I am ashamed to admit 10 years ago I came to work hungover, on drugs and the quickest way was the only way. Thankfully I had a bag full of luck. I know better now but it was a series of baby steps everyone.

Eric Frei

I'm thinking about moving to Mildura

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Therrin

Gonna go hang out with the rednecks huh? That's some hardcore country shit Ekka!

Apocalypsse

Champ, you aint no expert, you are just extremely lucky. Ive seen expert climbers that do the job with perfection while carrying more than enough PPE on them + gear to access multiple trees.

Garry Brockley

Ive sat back and read your posts with interest, you have to realise that most of the people that are on here are dealing with oh&s problems everyday, they are partly responsible for dragging this industry kicking and screaming into the 21st century, they work hard to reduce accidents within the workplace to zero, most of these people have been in the industry for more years than you have been alive, they have seen things go from how you are working now, to an industry that has grown up to be a respected trade.
Now all the hot air that you have been spouting and the way you are working does nothing for the way the public views our industry, if you think small town then thats as far as you will go, some of us have climbed on several continents for hundreds of companies not just a few companies in a small piece of the USA.
This job requires us to communicate with each other, being humble is part of that learning process, we all make mistakes and on here we share those mistakes so that other people can learn from those mistakes and be safe doing the job we love.
so stop insulting peoples intelligence it makes you come accross as an arrogant SOB, just by listening to other people and thier experience you could go from what you believe to be an expert climber to an amazing expert climber that people will line up to learn from.
Its your choice battle against the natural evolving industry and never do anything with yourself or go with it and be part of the evolvement of this great industry.

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Gunslinger

The problem with the cavalier attitude expressed by this guy is that he makes the playing field uneven. Sure his phone is ringing off the hook because he can perform the job faster than the next guy who is taking the time to follow the rules. Here's company A who follows all of the rules bidding against company B who hires this gunslinger and therefore can do the job for less. If companies keep employing guys who work like this it makes the entire industry less safe because before you know it everyone is cutting corners just to compete. Sounds like an industry going in reverse instead of moving forward.

Victor Lindsay

They may be hiring him because of the liabilities. The subcontractor must cover any insurance needed. If the sub make a mistake, its the subs dollar.

sbunnell07

OK OK OK for ????s sake!!! I would'nt be so arrogant if I wasn't attacked from the get go. I do things my way, you do things your way. If I suffer for my disregard, then that's my problem, not yours. I'm not trying to say that I'm the best climber around....I know I'm FAR from it. But I will say that I climb and cut the way I do, because it feels right. I feel like this is what I was born to do. I feel like I am a natural. I feel like this is a gift. Have you ever free climbed to the top of a tree on your spurs without setting a line or being bucked in all the way up? (on a removal of course) It's one of the greatest feelings I have ever felt in my life. This is how I do it and I love it.

There's this European rock climber, his name I am not sure of, but he climbs without any ropes or saftey gear, just his climbing shoes and a chalk bag. He is regarded as a highly skilled professional....one of the best, if not THE best in rock climbing and NOT CRITICIZED for his methods because it's easy to see that he is IN TUNE with what he is doing. Forgive my egotistic remarks and insults to you and the industry. We are all in this together and should look out for one another. I hate the fact that we are out here (well more in the states anyway) cutting each others throats for work in this declining economy. I remember what it was like when you would see a fellow tree service nearby and you could stop and have a friendly talk with them. Nowadays everybody out here could care less whats going on with each other....it's feast or famine.....sad really. I have the upmost respect for my seniors in this business, their experience is invaluable to me and I feel like you guys are survivors. There isn't a tree out there that any real old pro can't take down. A lot of the old pros out here took a liking to me fast because I was young, fast, and had what they called "the touch". A "natural". A "master of your craft" The next "top dog"....these are some the kind things that my senior climbers have said to me...guys with 20 or 30 plus years of experience on top of mine. Look I don't want to make any enemies here and I apologize for all of my badmouthing. I don't expect anybody to accept or like how I do things, but I don't need anybody telling me it is wrong either. It goes against rules and standards and saftey regualtions, but it doesn't feel wrong. I am safe and I DO WATCH OUT FOR OTHERS. I DO CARE. Somebody tried to sit here and say that I don't care for others saftey...you know what pal?.....???? you!!!....you don't know me.....how dare you judge me. Maybe you're just jealous because you have to waste half of your day setting a throwline to get your job done....who knows. What does it matter when you get paid by the hour anyway, right? Ok so....aside from that guy who judged me I regret everything I have said. Just please....leave me be and leave me to my ways.

sbunnell07

I've done alot of cutting up in Michigan........big timber, love it.... I must be a class act I guess. Maybe that's why they sub out guys from Indiana to come do your work.

sbunnell07

Point being: I've been doing it the same way for 12 years, so I guess I must be doing something right. If you really believe that I've been just that lucky for this long than think again. I'm quite good at what I do.

sbunnell07

Well I don't come to work hungover, drunk or high on drugs. I get plenty of rest, maintain a high energy diet and take a strict regiment of vitamins and supplements. Maybe you were lucky, but I don't go by luck. I go by honed skill.

sbunnell07

Again with the luck thing....Ok didn't you read before? I've been doing things this way day in and day out for over 12 years now. Luck has very little if nothing at all to do with it. I guess I must be an ok tree climber huh? Let me ask you something.....Do you know what it's like to speedline a chunk of cottonwood weighing I'd say 4500 pounds over a three phase and an apartment building? You think guys with luck do shit like that? NO. It takes raw skill for shit like that.

sbunnell07

oh yeah? access multiple trees? wow!!!..........isn't that one of the first things I learned? oh yeah.....redirecting my rope.....hmmm....going from tree to tree is nothing spectacular dude. it's one of the first things i learned. redirecting and "tail-ending" or "m" climbing.

stirmantrees

good on you for wearing safety glasses and considering a hardhat.





this may be along thread

Garry Brockley

What we as a group are doing here is encouraging people to be the best that they can and encourage others around them to do the same.
Now the reason people jumped on you from the start was you came accross whether intentional or not as the big i am, this got people wound up from the start but you have shown humility and i respect that. if you can lose the comments like "you do it your way and i do it mine" people will start to listen to you,
there is a section on here that covers incidents and fatalities and no one on here wants to hear that anyone else from the forum ended up in that section.
so we bring tips, things that work for us, things that make the job easier and quicker, latest OH&S regs, local laws and regs, these things all go to making the next guy better, so work with us and you never know you may get quicker and safer, you never know until you try.

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TrevMcRev

Check this clip out:
Dan osmond was an amazingly talented climber who sure had a gift too.
Not many people can climb like this.

He's dead now.

Sure, he blew peoples minds with his ability & courage, he also left behind a daughter without a father.

Do you really think odds work they way you believe?

That if something hasn't gone wrong yet, it is less likely to ever happen.

If you've been driving for 20 years & haven't been in a crash you are never going to...
If you are 85 years old & haven't died yet you are never going to...
If that decayed, defective old tree has already been like that for 10 years & hasn't failed yet it's never going to...

I think the longer period of time that you expose yourself to risky actions the more probable it is that you are just getting closer & closer to that incident finally biting you.

I'm sure most of us did some less than safe things that over time we have introduced techniques or equipment that make the task safer.

1 for the sake of being a "professional" and 2 for the fact we want to come home to our family at the end of the day.

Take heart that complete strangers on the other side of the world have concerns that "your way" might get the better of you some day. Getting personal & telling them to F Off doesn't show a whole lot of respect.

If your driving force is to "provide for you your family & kids" think beyond today & tomorrow about how well you'll be able to serve them if you end up dead, crippled or a vegetable form an accident. Or even how a couple of weeks or a month off getting over a more minor injury.

Maybe you ought to look at income protection insurance, and find a policy that will still pay up if you break all safe working practice rules, or pehaps adapt to some safer ways...

You can be fast & safe.

You would be a greater asset to the companies you climb for if you were both. And if in your neck of the woods it's the norm to not wear PPE, if you did, and presented yourself as a professional you would be in even more demand. You would reduce the risk of liability on those companys and be worth more to them.


Anyway, thats my $2AUD worth on this

Welcome to the forum, why dont you post up some pics & stuff in some other thread & contribute. Sharing experience is sharing knowledge. Who knows... some of the crowd here may even learn something from you.

Just not likely about safety

Therrin

Ok see this is "vl2007" from here on the forum.

Notice how little the helmet he's wearing would restrict his vision? Also, see how snag-free it is, as well as all the vents it has for staying nice and cool?

He also doesnt look like a bum while he's up there, looks like he's in-control, and professional.

What I said about you not caring for the health and saftey of your "crew" holds true as long as you let them work beneath you and dont insist that (even if you're not going to) they should wear helmets for their own saftey. But if you were to slap one on, they would likely follow your lead and feel better about it too!

yooper

When you come to the Upper Peninsula to do your so call work you say you do here, PM me here, I would love to come watch you work, you must be good to have to travel 13+ hrs away to do work....I think you may mean the Lower Peninsula. you can have there work.