Unorthodox techniques

[Peter]

I'm referring to the little tricks you pick up as a climber that aren't and cant be taught on an nptc course. Not downright dangerous lunacy, just the things that make the job quicker and easier.

 

For starters, how about when taking out a top, as it falls and the hinge breaks, throwing the butt to avoid obstacles on the ground or just drop it the right way round for the chipper. The first time I saw someone do that was over some LV lines, the top would have just landed across all three wires but he pushed it out far enough to drop the far side of the lines. I wouldnt do it with powerlines, or a greenhouse, but in some situations it works a treat!

[Andy Collins]

As a groundie, I have a lot of respect for climbers who can and will use this technique, saves a lot of labour when clearing up, of course its not always practical.

[Peter]

We dont always do it to be helpful

[Andy R]

on smaller tops or some limbs if you just hold the butt and let the end fall a tiny bit then flick it so it does kind of a somersault...or flick the butt round to the side like pete says...Very rarely use it though, needs to be enough room, and at just the right height.

[Peter]

Did one yesterday, in woodland. Dropped the top into the tree next to mine, so it was laying at about 40 degrees, then picked the butt up off the stump, and flicked it down and out, so the top performed a reverse somersault. Just have to keep your head down as the tips go past....

[Dean Lofthouse]

I do that all the time as well as cut and holding

[Jason James Gairn]

Lining up the brash in the same direction (as the chipper) always earns points with the ground crew. personally I do it as much as possible. Is this a thread designed to tease those naughty habits out of us? Here's a few. One handed 200t starts, sometimes with teeeth! Throwing the saw into a crotch and pulling on it to move through the tree. Cutting steps into a stem. i could go on, but I have my reputation to think of.

[Buzz]

I must admit I've never had to start a 200 with my teeth !!

[Will Hinchliffe]

I use my side strop like Indiana uses his whip and pull myself across the tree if I cant swing. Im partial to the occasional spear/ slash cut.

[Mr Ed]

Cutting a limb and letting it tear, then cutting through on the back swing so it somersaults to land the opposite direction. Usually works well when chunking back a big limb.

 

Taking a ginormous top out so you can get away with just dropping the stem afterwards.

 

streching a speedline off th tracked chipper

 

using the tracked chipper to yank off a giant top

 

Felling trees into really tight spots to avoid having to dismantle them

 

cutting two V's in the top of a stem as an anchor point to drop down...