Branch walking advice

[alex_m]

when i get to that point, i get as horizontal as possible and pull myself along in a kind of crawl, like a lizard, as such.

[mistahbenn]

Anchor point is key to limb walking. I will look at the tree and make a plan, tie in above said limbs, do the work, then maybe have a different anchor forth other side of the tree. Always make sure your rope is online with the limb and anchor, lean back in your harness and you can limb run instead of walk!

[Tom D]

Like Mike says get a high anchor and try and have a streight line down to the branch, then pick a spot out on the end of the limb where you want to go focus on it and go for it quickly, hanging about and trying to do it slowly will more likely make you loose your balance (or bottle).

[scotspine1]

Hi

 

Ive been practicing for a couple of months now since my course and have been doing quite well but the one thing that is slowing me up is branch walking.

 

I find i can get a high anchor point and get out around 3 metres ok but then have trouble getting a second anchor piont in and reaching out to hook up to it.

 

Any advice would be great

 

Thanks

 

keep practicing, take it slow, there is no point in moving out onto a branch fast especially in wet weather, or the branch is broken or has dying bark.

 

The other reason why you should branch walk slowly is because you may dislodge a hanger or a dead branch which could fall onto a street or targets below.

 

There will be times when the best option is to use a polesaw

 

Sometimes you may be able to swing out to a branch but thats for another time. If you want to get really good at branch walking you'll have to practice outwith work.

 

Just a few pics from work -

Edited January 22, 2011 by scotspine1

[mistahbenn]

That second pic - looks like that limb is split?????

[atree]

Just wondered if anyone has struggled with a branch walk on a big gnarly smooth barked Gum. I don't mind admitting that I hate the things due to the lack of branches and the fact that there's not even any decent rough bark to grab a hold of. I generally avoid em like the plague. Any of you fellas tackled any biggies?

 

Yes i hate the things to....thats when you put your spikes on..

[Taupotreeman]

Haha, not even going to make a comment on putting my spikes on to do gums. I remember the last thread on using spikes on trees that weren't coming down. Just had to look at some huge ones in Taupo that needed dead wooding and, of course, the dead wood is right out on the end of the limbs. I think I just said I wasn't interested. Chickened out basically.

[atree]

Haha best not detrail.

 

Lol,cant you sub it out or get a contract climber,Then all you have to do is stay on the ground?

[Taupotreeman]

Thought about it but because of there not being many contract climbers down this way and seeing as some of the outfits down here are busy cutting each others throats price wise I thought I'd just leave it for someone with bigger gonads to do. I'm past all that ugly stuff. Spent a year climbing monster gums next to the 500KV in Oz but that's a different thread. And I'm not sure these things would be classed as branch walking anyway.

[CraigD]

Thought about it but because of there not being many contract climbers down this way and seeing as some of the outfits down here are busy cutting each others throats price wise I thought I'd just leave it for someone with bigger gonads to do. I'm past all that ugly stuff. Spent a year climbing monster gums next to the 500KV in Oz but that's a different thread. And I'm not sure these things would be classed as branch walking anyway.

 

I would've come up from Welly if you needed a contract climber.... cash on the weekends