Advice needed please

[Carl6114]

23 minutes ago, Tree monkey 1682 said:

Talk to  lee at lbs training Wellington, he will give you an un biased answer as to if your past it ,  he is also ex sas too -you might consider forestry instead . 

Depends how much your body's fked 

Some people change career at 40 and dunno if that's not ideal.

Many thanks for the advice 

[Tree monkey 1682]

1 hour ago, Carl6114 said:

Many thanks for the advice 

No problem, he had alot of ex forces people on the course last time ,some went into estate works etc 

But he's worth the call

[pie eater pete]

I wouldn't bother. Far easier and less expensive industries to get into than this. Far too much market saturation forcing wages/ profit down.

[Dan Maynard]

23 hours ago, Carl6114 said:

Thanks Con, yes been looking at starting off as a groundie to see how I get on, also looking at doing volunteer stuff to gain some experience. Not really looking to set myself up on my own 

You've got to try it to know. There are definitely easier ways to earn money, but also much more boring ones.

 

On the plus side, compared to even 10 years ago there's a lot more mechanisation in the industry , and climbing techniques are kinder on the body.

 

Maybe it varies where you are in the country, but always seems to be demand for reliable people round here.

[Carl6114]

2 hours ago, Dan Maynard said:

You've got to try it to know. There are definitely easier ways to earn money, but also much more boring ones.

 

On the plus side, compared to even 10 years ago there's a lot more mechanisation in the industry , and climbing techniques are kinder on the body.

 

Maybe it varies where you are in the country, but always seems to be demand for reliable people round here.

Thanks Dan much appreciated 

[green heart]

 

Carl, it sounds to me like you're bright and above average fitness for your age. That's worth a lot.

I think, given what you've said, you'd make a good groundy trial/impression, for any local Arb business, and pick up work, easily enough. 

 

I also suspect you'd do equally well starting tree climbing too, if already climbing on rock.. IF you are lucky enough, to find someone willing to pay/subsidise your climbing training costs? 

 

As has been said:

Joiners, tilers, brickies etc all make good/better regular outdoor earnings, with less or similar outlay -and much less risk of injury, though...

 

I'm still loving climbing a couple of days a week, at 60 myself 

-but, honestly and hypocritically- I'd be unsure, as the boss, about training up someone only a few years younger than me, to do this work full-time ?

Unless you showed great aptitude.. 

 

[Steven P]

Your age and climbing experience might actually make you a better tree climber... go the easy safe way rather than all out and taking the odd dodgy move. 

 

Age isn't as limiting as you might be led to believe. Constant knocks from tree climbing does take its toll though (you don't have that though 'experience').

 

 

What I was going to comment, and I am not sure if they will, but there are a few members here who have been in the military, now doing arb work, who might be able to give unique insights of any issues you might encounter with this career shift.