RC0

Hi Paul. In the 12 + years Ive been a member here, I dont believe we've ever spoken O.46 seconds of the vid is the first shot of the carabiner gate positioned pointing towards the log. A change in line tension, orientation, or even a collision of the rigged section against another part of the tree can cause a twist lock to press and work its way either partly or fully open, if you're unlucky. Consider also how a gateless chain hook would look in either a craning or winching situation when positioned the same way....not good. Always choke the rigging from the inside out, so the spine of the hook or biner has its back to the load. Other options include using a synthetic choker sling or strap instead. They are quick, secure and position the carabiner clear of the load altogether. Knots (when tied correctly) are generally the safest of all, but I can appreciate why guys dont want to keep tying and un tying them all day every few minutes.

Mate Im near 8 years out of touch with UK tree work now, so I wouldn't have a clue without being there. Plus we never have to factor in the cost of moving logs here in Victoria....rather, we just saw them up and people take them. Id be interested to know actually, what that job is worth now days ?

Nice job all round. Good control between you and the ropeman. If youre going to use carabiners for rigging logs, a good rule of thumb for rigging is to point them out, not in....so the spine sits against the wood and not the gate. See 0.46

Not roo many lightning strikes in town but they are the main cause of forest wild fires in the summer. Couple drops from yesterday. Got 4 more days of the same next week. Some nasty stuff up there. Big hollow/split red cedars upto 180 ft. Got to be ready to bolt in a split second:

Its about 9x8ft Mark

I can certainly answer questions, help and give directions on a worksite etc....but teaching, I doubt Id be into that. Dont know how things are in the UK right now, but here at least, many of the young lads looking for a career in this line of work or similar are just neither hard nor busy enough cut the mustard. Its like, they're not hungry or something. There seems to exist a very small and rigid comfort zone that they wont step out of, physically and mentally. I dont know when this happened or whos to blame, but I do believe my own eyes and ears. Dont want to sound like a cliche with rose tinted glasses and all that, but I just cant be around lazy, weak minded people. I couldn't imagine trying to teach even one such individual, never mind whole groups of them. Im sure theres some good lads still out there, farming and military stock come to mind....but those sorts seem to find their way pretty well without a teacher anyway. No, I think I'll just keep my head down, under the radar.... then as and when the day comes that Im struggling, Ill call it quits, and do something else

Aside from getting paid, I think lots of treeworkers embrace and push themselves through rough and precarious situations just to get to the otherside....whether climbing, falling or loading up the truck with huge logs. It not only makes you a stronger and more confident person but also has a calming, humbling effect too. So why wouldn't you ? I guess people climb mountains or go wilderness trekking with a similar mindset. Theres some feelings and experiences that you cant buy or sell, but you do have to make them happen, they rarely just land on your doorstep.

Theres a big difference between an Old growth fir, and second growth. The old ones are night and day hard work to get up and past that bottom 1/3 or 1/2. Needs technique, strength and endurance on the spurs and flipline. When you're up near 200 and above, they certainly move alot differently when you top them. But If you have the desire and strength to get up and do the work, then you will. I think if you were given the opportunity to get up there, and you said no, then it might be harder to live with that decision than actually pushing yourself to get up the tree and get the job done. Professional pride and ego I suppose. Obviously theres mistakes you could possibly make up there that might be your last, if you didnt read the situation correctly, like when taking a huge top etc. You hope you haven't overlooked anything. But, aside from that, my point is Ive never been stood at the bottom or at the top on the crest of a dodgy, giant tree thinking 'this is great, yippee'. More like "youve gotta get fakin through this mate, keep it together". I might be in that predicament again late this week incidentally, so Im already starting to run technique and scenarios through my mind. We're still in storm season here too, some nasty gusts. Some things you can't control and forever hope not to come unstuck or be pressured into a mistake due to the expectations of others. Some jobs costs cost thousands of dollars to get a park shut down, road closure and everyone there on a given day....but then a storm rolls in and all eyes are on the climber, or subcontractor in my case. Then what? A 200 + ft tree might be swaying 30 ft back and forth at the top. Its a tough spot to find yourself in.

Yes they do, but they'll mostly be in hibernation now. Apparently in the spring bears feeding on the roadside is commonplace.

Thanks Mark, thats a nice thing to say at the end. Still get the odd heart stopping moment to keep me on my toes. Maybe in another 10 years Ill be in a position to wind it down a bit.

Yeah it was good mate. Ate and drank like lord. Back to normal now though. I did put together a short drone vid, thats about it

Thanks. I looking for 2 years for the right truck/generation of the 3500 diesel. The one that followed was not so reliable. We took out the back seats too for extra storage

Finally got the dump box on the Dodge. The 5.9 Cummins just coasts beautifully. Barely need to touch the pedal.

We drove through snow in the mountains on route....but Tofino is on the west coast, temperate rainforest... they never get snow here.

Just arrived at our cabin. Its late friday afternoon now. Nice spot on the harbor side of town. Better than I was expecting.

These are everywhere. It is sortof cool to know they're out there

Ive never seen a wolf there to be honest. But they are notorious for snatching dogs off the beaches with the owners powerless to intervene. Got to be mindful of cougars also. Always just in the back of your mind when you've got kids. Aside from that, brilliant place. We go every January. Storm season.

Taking our up to Tofino for a week, on friday actually. Beautiful county. Just have to stay clear of the wolves

My year is just fine. How is your year ?

Hello mate. I got a couple Hemlocks done too, but lost lots of time waiting on traffic management and the blasting....maybe hour and a half. A frustrating day because off. But could have been worse, blowing a gale or chucking it down with rain.

The site is a provincial park, mid Vancouver Island, consisting mainly cedar, hemlock and fir. The trees were being cut down because they had root rot. They are are left as standing wildlife poles at 20 and 40 meters. I was using the overhead pulley and tail of my climbline to pull up a bigger saw, 372 with 30 inch bar. I was at approximately 150ft at that point, so quite a ways to pull the saw up. Easier to pull down on a line than pull up over such a distance. The notch in the top of the stump was to speed up the decay process and so i could run my line through it and rappel down to the ground.

I did drop in on him on my way home actually. I dont get up near Nanaimo very much so it was an opportunity. No video or anything, just a couple hours bullshitting. Hes a decent bloke actually. Darrin, you often see Red cedars dying off on the tops, but not so much the firs, spruce and hemlock. The tallest tree on the island which is approximately 320 ft, a Sitka spruce, is still growing at the very tip.

Id assume the Parent tree co was charging x amount per tree. Dont know how much. I was just subbing, and have a different payment arrangement with them

Thanks. I got 5 trees done that day. should've been more but for a few major hold ups. Heres one that actually cost me 30 mins or more:

For big stuff like that, absolutely, but Forestry climbers/Heli loggers mainly. Thats a whole different breed and game than your residential Arborist type.