RC0

super human tree climbers? Ok, i found a picture of a little birch pruning. Thats a wind-up right? Stop kidding around now mate, lets see the real stuff:)

I can't see them mate, can you re-submit them in this thread, always interested to see what others are up to. Thanks.

Thanks Fellas Same crane guy Steve. He's a veteran and master operator and rigger. This was one of Nick's (nailer) jobs and we all had to be on-form to get it done in time. Thankfully, no hic-ups whatsoever. Shame the footage looks so dark on the web, the original format (avi) is much lighter and more colourful.

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-8212521504510650185&hl=en-GB Todays job was a race against the clock i.e. imminent bad weather. We won! enjoy the vid

Graeme McMahon is just a truly awesome guy, what more can you say. IMO, he is The Main Man on the international climbing scene.

That was the only way to keep it Butt heavy. That fork was quite BIG. If I'd cut it higher the whole thing would've flipped over. As it was we could've just laid it down if it turned out too heavy to lift. A good reason to make the last cut as close to the ground as possible - you won't tip the crane because the chunk has nowhere to go!

I released a short version of this video on T.B about a year ago. I'd forgotten about this longer one. http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-4934705594182799965&hl=en-GB The two guys in yellow without helmets who keep wandering into the work area were actually on traffic duty and shouldn't have been anywhere near really. I think they got lonely. A short but stocky tree, miserable wet weather throughout the day. This is a 20 minute vid starting about a third of the way into the job. The pace is slow at first but warms up after a while, a bit like me nowdays. We have a 'big' tree hopefully coming off next week so look out for that one.

Beautiful!

They'll be an abundance of those Feckn cants out on the town tonight, images like that will be everywhere by 10.30. Some turn into real tough men when they're fuelled with alcohol....and in a gang!

I have heard people say this also, funny I just can't relate to it. What has the height got to do with ruining your body? Is climbing a single 100 footer more tiring than 2 fifty footers? The only serious injuries that Ive incurred were due to carring timber or dragging brush. Using a large saw in a tree over a long period can be tiring but that's where technique comes into play. One thing I do believe is that some people just have a tendancy to cry and moan about injuries, aches, pains, colds and virus's thoughout there whole lives. And with some workers Ive known, the authenticity of such claims was truly laughable. These were the same individuals who were always ready to give up on a challange i.e. 'Its too big' 'To heavy' 'There's too much'!!! Nowdays, I try to avoid working with such characters. Maybe it's an individual thing, perhaps some people just have a very low threshhold for physical challange, and if thats the case then treework is perhaps not the best career for them. When I was 18 I remember a climber as young as 30 telling me how much harder it gets at that age?? Work smart and size shouldn't come ito it. However, if you're just mentaly uncomfortable climbing over a certain height then that's a completely different issue altogether. Not one that many treeclimbers are willing to admit out in the open though! Sorry if that all sounds a little blunt or ignorant, it is however an honest account of my personal experiences. Thanks

Dagmar, my wifes from Romford-Essex . The only thing I can find wrong with her is that she's much smarter than me!

Ok, this is my best attempt to simulate Bodean's cracking and popping noises. If you shut your eyes and imagine a solitary tree being yanked over....it almost works! B.T.W, the guy talking at the end actually says 'Looking exellent', but he talks so fast that one might be mistaken to believe he says somthing else! http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-5737564389594506282&hl=en-GB

Yeah, nice Bodean. Thanks a bunch pal! Can I have your old boots? I don't think you're going to need them anymore:cussing:

Vduben, nobody is criticizing you or your buddy, although it’s understandable for you to interpret it that way. You must be feeling absolutely gutted while at the same time pretty shaken up by the whole thing. Sincere apologies if perhaps some of our posts, mine especially, weren’t as sensitive as they might have been. While there has also been some speculation about the legal implications of discussing the incident on this forum, at the end of the day you did not actually witness what happened so the content of this thread is just speculation. Let us know more only if you feel comfortable in doing so. Take it easy vduben, and thanks for having the guts to share bad news as well as the good.

Give me a chance to answer Mat, I do have a life outside of treetalk you know. The emergency plans are all in our site specific risk assessment's, which are thorough, you have my word. As a sub-contractor I dont undertake them personally, just go through them with whom ever I'm working for that morning. And nothing is ever taken for granted. Thankyou

Mine is a medic first aid, took a couple of eveings to complete, others on the course were mostly diver's. It actually runs out pretty soon come to think of it.

Vancouver. We were looking at a place called Richmond, do you know it?

We've had an application in for 2 years now to move to B.C Canada, hopefully we'll be out of here within the next 12 months. I sure hope there's some climbing work available over there!

Arguement? Have I missed something? Old monkey pretty much sums it up in that all situations are different. To start arguing about that would be quite silly dont you think!

A 260 without using a bore cut, its 50/50 wether or not you're going to out pace the split! Hindsight is wonderful, I know, but this sounds like it was a bad oversight from the people in charge, not the novice. I hope you're boss has his Risk Assesments in order because I dont think a verbal 'Keep cutting or run at the last second' will be acceptible to the HSE, let alone the guys family. Fingers and everything else crossed that his operations go ok. Keep updating if you can vduben.

Sorry to hear that, lets hope he can get over it. However, leaning Crack Willows are not for practicing on. Something went badly wrong from the moment that guy was allowed to make those cuts without proper intruction. There's a hell of a alot more to felling leaning trees than to simply keep cutting. I seem to recall there being a video here from Steve on felling a leaning ash, but Christ this was a 'Crack' willow! Poor guy, I cant believe this was allowed to happen! I would like to send this fella a get well card if thats ok, can you post or pm me an address please.

I think that also depends on trunk diam/species and climber etc If you're having to make 4 cuts to my 1 + the time it takes me to set the rigging, I'd be pretty confident of 'holding my own'. Cutting and moving large diameter hardwood-blocks can take time and effort. Rigging is comparatively easy for someone who's well practiced. I’m amazed how many climbers perceive this sort of rigging as being laborious and somewhat difficult. I am only slight of build yet have always embraced this stage of a job. However, I will concede that the slinging/tying part takes practice and organization, but for this climber at least, tying ropes has always seemed preferable to extra unnecessary cutting in the tree. Thanks for your input MMdman, I suspect I’m with the minority on this one.

I cant find much other than the tallest natives are either ash or lime. It says the tallest beech is 150 but no figures for the others. Someone on this site must know. The tallest conifers are dougfirs at 200+ Wales and Scotland but their not natives. Whats the tallest native broadleaf in the US?

For sheer volume, there are pleanty much bigger ones than that, although mostly broadleaves. Some beautiful redwoods and firs still remain in pockets of North Wales and Scotland etc

I dont know man, what do you think? Have a look through this site, its got all sorts. http://www.londonphysiocentre.co.uk/poor-circulation.htm I wouldn't panick just yet though my friend!