RC0

Smaller tree ? doesnt matter, its the same principal. Ive watched some of your videos in past. Its mostly typical of tree work anywhere. Trees, targets below, and resources to deal with them. Heres a small tree. but it still had to be rigged. I couldve dumped it all at the bottom of the tree of course, and dragged it through the gate. But why ? We were there about 2 hours from memory. Me and another guy. A different style of slinging though. http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/video-forum/73586-zipline-swinging-limbs.html You're still young Paul. Dont get set in your ways out there.

It's the fastest, and most energy efficient way to rig a conifer, or similar single stemmed tree....hands down. Watch the other vid I put out previous to this. The economy of effort and time is very apparent. Just me and one other guy. The tree had to be rigged because of stuff underneath, no way around it. So, to rig the limbs conventional style Darrell (groundworker) has to lower each limb to the bottom of the tree, lay it out somewhere, then cut it up, and then make a couple journeys at least dragging the branches to the burn-pile....or could easily be a chipper on a different site. It becomes a 5-10 minute turn around per limb, if he's works hard....less time as we get into the small stuff past 100 ft. Meanwhile I'm redundant for long periods, waiting. That set-up needs 2 groundworker to realistically keep me busy. It'd be tedious, and I'd probably price my self out of the job with such a wasteful and time consuming strategy. The zipline is probably one limb per minute on average, once we're set up. Darren doesn't waste any time or energy because the limbs are delivered right to him, over the targets, facing the right way. Large and small, it doesn't matter. No need for a 3rd guy. No sawing, no dragging, simple hardware. Why would you want to spend time going from A to B to C, when you can skip B altogether, effortlessly ? Is that too boring, Paul ? The logic is so obvious. Mystique doesn't come into it. What I tried to convey in the video, is that there are measures you can take to make the job safer by a margin or two. You should get on to that. By the looks of the fauna out there I'd bet it's a technique thatd lend itself well. It's gonna happen anyway. In your shoes I'd rather be the pioneer than not. Adam, we usually tension by hand. Occasionally a 2:1, but not often.

And thanks all, by the way !

There's less Danger in my setups Paul, because I know how to mitigate it. It takes experience. This is not advice, but if you were wanting to experience danger.....strip out a 100 ft + conifer and dump the top onto a wide angles zip line. Only needs to be hand tight and locked off at the ground anchor.....rest assured the top will take care of the tensioning you speak of.

You might have caught the the previous zipline vid I put out a few days ago. I was back at the same job on monday, and got the inclination to video and explain some of the considerations I have when applying the technique to the tall skinny types that are in the vid. If you're having to deal with similar profile trees as what grow out here then you might take something from it, or be reminded of things you'd forgotten. There seems to be a trend of zipline videos out there over the last few years, and to an extent sort-of glorifying the concept, without pointing out the potential dangers. Im hardly rehearsed, eloquent or thorough in the vid, but the points are valid at least. I receive lots of email or on-line messages from people I dont know, telling me how much they've learned, or think they've learned for some of the videos I've put out over the years....and to be honest it worries me at times, because i dont know these people or how they're interpreting or applying this stuff. Anyway, if you have time here it is. Use HD setting:

Thats a good move. Bartlets have a pretty good rep. Are you on a working holiday or did they sponsor you ?

I know the type well mate! Well done. who are you working for ?

Back at Sooke today. Next tree was a little shorter with less and lighter limbs. couple pics of the top being zipped:

The strategy depends on the consulting Arborists recommendations. The guy who I brought in tends to favor taking small 5-6 inch diameter tops, instead of thinning. He's had good success rates with this type of storm proofing in the past....especially in the case of a lot-clearance, say, when you're left with a remaining stand of tall firs to be retained. You can't just leave a load of 140ft beanpoles exposed and not modify them. I'll let you know what gets decided, and get some footage if I can.

Normally good weather through October Adam. Then it changes. Thanks

Thanks all. They're all my jobs now on Mark. The tide comes up to about where the pile is. The fire ban just ended the start of October, so the homeowner will burn everything where it was left. I have another tree to take out there tomorrow. And some ongoing windfirming of a big stand behind the house over the next month.

Beautiful setting just outside of Sooke, BC. The taller of the two trees was about 150ft at a guess. A very exposed location so we needed both calm weather, and heads. Use HD setting. Thanks.

That's an odd title for a thread ! I think you just have to do your best with every situation. Get paid and go home in one piece. Not every job requires finesse, just control. Control is the key....but that comes only with experience. If you're just pruning fruit trees most days your probably not the best candidate to go rig out a big dead tree. And, you can't really compare yourself to someone else unless you've truly walked in their shoes. Who knows if you'd fair better or worse. I don't think its so much physical limitations, more mental ones. At least, that's been my experience...and I've been around. I've had to will myself through countless sketchy situations, and still do regularly....while other climbers sit on the sidelines. I don't know who's smarter, them or me. I think them. Knowing your limitations, or experience in a given situation is something you can't afford to lose sight of. Never just take a chance if you feel like you're in over your head. Probably I've gone a bit off topic, but to me working safe is more important than trying to be fast or fancy or whatever.

About 150 or there abouts. The bigger one that is

Some tall trees out in Sooke today

Thanks guys. Josh I'm not sure about the 2 trailers. Never seen that here. Reverse parking not an option I'm guessing. Mick, the white one will have to go. Much as I like it, I can't justify keeping it. Good thing about the white one is it'll still squeeze into pulic parking spaces in town. Won't be able with the red one, so will have think about that situation.

Just got a deal on this truck tonight. Should have it on Saturday. 7.3 V8 turbo deisel. 4x4. Tipper 9 × 7ft. 6 seats. Manual gear. Straight through exhaust, loud. 20 years old but superb condition. About 80k miles on motor.

I think since a visitor got killed a few years back, the park has been given an annual budget to deal with the worse trees. I think 8 or so we're dynamited (like in the earlier vid), while others were topped or felled. It's quite a big area, of seemingly sound and comprised trees, typical of those in the photos. How they actually prioritize is anyone's guess.

One more I forgot to add.

Took a drive out to Cathedral grove just a couple of days ago....seems as we were close by holidaying at a beach resort for the week. It's a much different perspective when you're not actually there to work. Great place to spend a couple of hours if anyone's ever passing through. I only had the phone camera, and it's always difficult to get good perspective photos of such trees as is....at least when nobodies working on them. Most of the trees are over 200 ft. Western red cedar and Douglas fir. Hard to work out what happened to all the missing bark on the first pic. Or, same tree in the first 3 pics. Maybe lighting blew the top out, at about 140 ft. What remains up there are huge laterals seeming converting into leaders. The tree is well within falling distance of the road and parking areas on both sides. It's about 7ft dbh. Notice the next pic, looks like an old cedar stump but now with a hemlock growing on top. Look carefully and you can see the old springboard notches. The next couple of cedar photos. Totally hollowed out, but with 180 -200 ft bearing down. I suppose large people manage to stand up on only 2 feet also, with out falling over. The big dead Douglas fir is well over 200 ft. Same as the live ones. Picture a climber up there....would look like an ant at half way. Obviously theres a lot more to see than my handful of pics. But if you like big trees, Vancouver Island still has its share....be it in smaller pockets now days.

check out this short vid guys. From a recent job I did solo. Use HD setting.

Maybe try asking next time

I'm really hoping that's only a download mate !

Thanks. Tim the legloops are pretty normal sized I think by now days standards, whilst when the kolibri came out skinnier one were more the range....which is why I personally favored the kolibri, along with some if it's other features. I hardly noticed there difference, even though they are not rigid like the kolibri. There's nothing really groundbreaking to note about the Vega, but is perhaps an indicator of how much more comfortable harnesses are in general across the board. I think it's a much safer bet now days to buy without having to try it first. Certainly in the past, say 10+ years ago I tried and sent at least 3 back because they were so uncomfortable.

If you are in the market for a new harness, this might be worth watching. Use HD setting. Thanks