Does cold weather affect branch stength?

[Tall Tree]

While Climbing a Big Leaf Maple today I was tied in close to the upper most tips wondering if the stability of the branches might suffer from the cold; it was in the mid 20's. Does anybody have an experience of a branch that they were tied into breaking in the cold? It just seems in warmer weather that wood is more pliable compared to wood in cold weather that is in the freezing range. Shoud this be of any concern while climbing?

[Graham]

Never had experience of an anchor breaking due to the cold but it must effect a branchs' strength. When hedgelaying the temp certainly effects the pliability of a stem when it's laid becoming more brittle as the temp drops below freezing.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Wood is (fortunatley) carrying les water/sap in the dormant season, but obviously when tempretures fall below certain levels say minus 10 or more then freezing and brittleness may be a slight concern. Not a massive issue here, but i believe it does happen a fair bit in the states where they suffer ice storms. i dont think it gets cold enough at least in the mid to south of england to be too much of an issue.

 

IMO

[Paul Jenks]

I know my fingers feel more brittle in the cold. Especially when I clatter them with the end of my steel strop.

I find maples pretty brittle anyway.

[mistahbenn]

I was climbing and dismantling ash trees in -20c two weeks ago, and yes the wood definitely acts differently. Much harder, and more brittle, still hinges ok though. But I would still trust the anchor point I chose in either cold or warm temps.

[tommer9]

While Climbing a Big Leaf Maple today I was tied in close to the upper most tips wondering if the stability of the branches might suffer from the cold; it was in the mid 20's. Does anybody have an experience of a branch that they were tied into breaking in the cold? It just seems in warmer weather that wood is more pliable compared to wood in cold weather that is in the freezing range. Shoud this be of any concern while climbing?

 

Do you mean -20 centigrade??

+20 centigrade is not cold, and 20 farenhiet is about -7:001_smile:

[josharb87]

Although i've only done one season here down to a known minus 28, id say no. Although like Benn says, woods much much harder, even pop cuts like dead elm!

[TRADITIONAL LOGGERS]

When felling Spruce in cold weather (-20C/-30C) the smaller branches will shatter on landing as does the main stem sometimes. Birch seems less of a problem. Scotland was cold this season.

[Tom D]

Its worth noting that the moisture content of the timber varies as the seasons change, I would suggest that this would have a bigger effect on the pliability of a limb than temperature alone.

[Tall Tree]

Do you mean -20 centigrade??

+20 centigrade is not cold, and 20 farenhiet is about -7:001_smile:

 

I meant 20 farenheit.