Spiking on a lean

[ben-jammin]

Downhill side theres a risk if you spike out that you'd slip all the way down the pole...

 

If I'm spiking up then like skyhuck said, try and stand up and maybe further out than normal and maybe too far away from the work so when I want to make a cut I dig my right spike in crouch into the stem and lift my left leg higher bracing myslef on the pole with my left leg/shin/knee so im slightly sideways to the stem. i also find that taking a wrap with my strop onto the side D's helps balance this position. ie. pulling with your hips into the choked 'non-slip' strop and pushing away with my left leg and holding a balance.

 

did that make any sense to anyone else?

[skyhuck]

You can clip both ends of the flip onto the ventral rather than D's in this configuration as well, avoids the 'circle of death'

 

Not really an issue on skinny stuff.

[skyhuck]

I tried that but the stem was so thin it was difficult to get away from the stem, it was pulling that hip into the stem and letting the lower hip swing out....

 

Sounds like your flip line is to tight.

[WorcsWuss]

Are we talking about a stem leaning away from us or across us?

 

That might explain difference of technique...?

If the stem's leaning away from me then I just pay out some more line as others do, no biggie.... but if it's leaning across me then I'm like a kitten on ice....

[western]

i find just crossing your flipline over its self helps with stability on leaners or skinney stuff:001_smile:

[skyhuck]

Are we talking about a stem leaning away from us or across us?

 

That might explain difference of technique...?

If the stem's leaning away from me then I just pay out some more line as others do, no biggie.... but if it's leaning across me then I'm like a kitten on ice....

 

:confused1:But its your chosen route that dictates if its away or across, just move

[[email protected]]

as ben jammin suggests using knee/shin as a brace against the pole,tighten lanyard up sufficently to apply force through your knee/shin to the pole stops the sway motion,also crossing your lanyard over itself adds stability.

[WorcsWuss]

:confused1:But its your chosen route that dictates if its away or across, just move

 

Of course, but sometimes you need to be where you need to be, that's when I have a problem, when I'm working across a lean and have no choice but to be in that position.

One of the ash I took down had 3 limbs off the top of the stem, each one came down in one piece dropped with a portawrap, but to get at the one facing the road, which was the one which needed to come down first, I was forced to work from the side with the lean across me...

[skyhuck]

Of course, but sometimes you need to be where you need to be, that's when I have a problem, when I'm working across a lean and have no choice but to be in that position.

One of the ash I took down had 3 limbs off the top of the stem, each one came down in one piece dropped with a portawrap, but to get at the one facing the road, which was the one which needed to come down first, I was forced to work from the side with the lean across me...

 

You may need to go under to make cuts, but when moving I stick to the top.

[combined tree services]

Im not sure if it has been said already but one system i like to use when spiking leaning trees and small dia timber is to take up a couple webbing slings and spare carabs , simply stay on ur pole system but when u get to the point that u want to take out a top or section of timber simply get a webbing sling and choker it off round the stem of the tree , when doing this you need to be sure that you keep the free end at a length that its gust possible to use your spare carab and clip it on to your central attachment point . once you are clipped in then manouver your self untill the sling is tight and your secure , you will not get muach(if anny) movement and it will allow you to make your cuts . Also it is possible that in the event that you need to be rescued it may be possible to use the sling and carab as an anchor point . Another point is that this system is also safe as the sling can be cut away in the event of a rescue being required . Hope this helps and i will try to get some pics if anyone wants them .