Imprisoned trees with HUGE epicormic, to climb or not to climb?

[WoodMouse]

That is the question.

 

Working in South London, i'm coming across more and more pollards with 25-30 yr old epicormic growth. Saw another tree today, possibly had 30ft poles about 4-5 years old. Would anyone here consider dismantles without a MEWP. Multisavers perhaps, using both ends of the rope even. I've been told the best thing to do is just walk away, but surely someone will have to do these trees. I'd like to price accordingly, but without blowing the risk assesment. What are peoples thoughts on the matter.

 

Thanks,

[Gary Prentice]

That is the question.

 

Working in South London, i'm coming across more and more pollards with 25-30 yr old epicormic growth. Saw another tree today, possibly had 30ft poles about 4-5 years old. Would anyone here consider dismantles without a MEWP. Multisavers perhaps, using both ends of the rope even. I've been told the best thing to do is just walk away, but surely someone will have to do these trees. I'd like to price accordingly, but without blowing the risk assesment. What are peoples thoughts on the matter.

 

Thanks,

 

What's your actual concern? Climbers have done these trees for years without the use of mewps and I'm not aware of any incidents due to it. I stand to be corrected though.

[Steve Bullman]

What's your actual concern? Climbers have done these trees for years without the use of mewps and I'm not aware of any incidents due to it. I stand to be corrected though.

What Gary said. Who on earth said to walk away from trees like these?

[WoodMouse]

Well, thats the thing. It's all very well and good while everything holds. But from what i've been told about the formation of epicormic growth, and the way the union forms, that the strength of the union isn't reliable. Yes, 99% of the time you'll probably be ok on a decent piece, but i have heard of people stepping out onto bits that have just come away. Also, i've seen stems recently that are literally twisted and buckled trying to support the growth. Let me see if i can get some pics up to show you. All the guys at G&T's used to talk about it, but it's only since i had a Lv3-Lv4 student come out with me on a few quotes that i was informed what they're being told in college. You should never even anchor into epicormic growth, and doing so would invalidate your insurance because if you had filled out the risk assesment correctly, climbing Epicormic would push the score above a 5 and into dangerous.

 

Honestly, i've done my fare share trying to build my business up, but now that i'm beinging in other people, it's a different thing to ask this from someone else.

[Steve Bullman]

I need to prolong my climbing career if all the new climbers from college are going to refuse to climb epicormic growth...Reckon in another 20 years time I should be able to triple my day rate

 

Joking aside(sort of), I understand what you're saying re the risks, but literally nothing would get done if we played by those rules.

[WoodMouse]

 

What about this one, that Epi's about 25yrs old, goes up to 90ft and isn't even square on the origional pollard points, at an angle.

[WoodMouse]

 

 

this one i'd feel only slightly more confident about. But technically speaking, its a neglected pollard, all that regrowth is epi

[Steve Bullman]

Looks fine to me from what can be seen by the photo...no different to a 1000+ other trees just like that I have happily climbed throughout my career.

[Joe Newton]

If that tree is 90' then I need to get me one of those three story sheds like in the picture!

[WoodMouse]

Thanks Steve, apreceate your opinion. So what about rigging, would you ever consider rigging off Epicormic growth like this?