Amelanchier

I think for certain fungal species, we can say with a fairly high degree of confidence that an infection is related to a specific injury. For example, Polyporus squamosus typically infects and decays old branch stubs and the pattern of decay is often limited to the branch protection zone. In such a case, knowing tree and fungi biology, we can make a judgement to the mode of entry. I agree though, that other species may more difficult to diagnose the origin of infection. I suppose that the more extensive the decay, the more difficult it is to interpolate the causality of the infection. Its never going to be something concrete without access to a lab, so more often than not I think a professional opinion based on probabilities is more than adequate! Certainly in the stump shot above, the most significant decay (and therefore most likely to be the oldest) is located around that buttress that Monkey refers to. Whether the tension crack occurred prior to decay or afterwards is an issue that he might clarify his thoughts on... Monkey? Care to elaborate on how you determined the mode of infection!!

Fungal spores are everywhere. We're breathing millions of them in right now, "tree" fungi spores included depending on where you are! The second you pull a silky into a branch you allow oxygen, spores, bacteria and viruses into live cells. As the man said; "pruning is wounding". It is possible to interpret the patterns of decay (especially those that take a long time) by looking for reaction zones and relating that to adaptive growth and codit formation. Not always clear cut but a bit of Tree CSI is always a challenge!

Word.

At the risk of derailing this thread. I used to try and avoid using a chainsaw at all!!!! It's nice to clamber about in a normal pair of trousers with a pair of nomal boots on having a chat with the groundy whilst pruning with a handsaw. I'm sure it was faster for certain jobs. Better cuts IMO as well. Horses for courses I suppose.

Point taken!

I carry a first aid kit on my harness. It really slows me down. Its so big and heavy, I can barely get off the ground Honestly. Is it really such a chore to take some basic extra stuff up the tree? I mean ******* hell what kind of trees are you climbing? No handsaw??? Do you seriously make every cut with a chainsaw???

Priorities mate. Well done to all the climbers, thanks to all the techs and judges. Cheers to Alex for bringing it all together. Best comp I've ever been to. I'd write more but there's just too much to know where to start...

If you're felling Salix fragilis it wouldn't even matter if you left it attached to the stump!

Well, you learn summit everyday on this forum don'tcha

Ha. Fair enough. Whats that for then... cram more chip in???

Ed, whats going on with the floor of that artic at about 2:40???

Now don't take this the wrong way, but why do so many people use their feet as their primary sensory organs when it comes to fungi??? Guys I used to work with (who are probably reading this and know who they are!) used to do it all the time. "What's this?" "I can't tell now because you've just kicked it to bits" "Oh well"

Ha. The guy I used to work with when I started out used to do that, ******! He also used to wait til you'd started chogging down some skinny dead toothpick of a tree and then go to the bottom of the tree and pretend to put a felling cut in. Complete with revving saw vibrations running up into your spikes... double ******!!!

You damn skippy it is. I would want to be informed of that kind of damage to protected trees. How else can we intervene? How else can we enforce the legislation? We receive calls from contractors informing us about things like this all the time. Its always dealt with discretely and the trees benefit.

Cheers Chris.

Metals fine. Groundy just needs to kick you harder

It would but its a flawed methodology IMO. The tree will attempt to maintain a "root to shoot" equilibrium. So by hacking off shoots, you will kill roots. And vice versa. Problem is, what does a 20% reduction of the canopy result in with regard to the root system??? I don't know... I think its unlikely to be an exact correlation, so how can you professionally judge the implications?? I don't think you can.

And why would soil moisture deficit be a problem??? Are we on a clay soil??? If we're not then I would suggest that pruning to mitigate moisture extraction is pointless. Before even picking up a saw I would be asking:- What is the soil type? How old is the mausoleum?? What depth are the foundations? What design are the foundations?? Has there been any historical movement of the structure??? Has a survey to BS 5837:2005 been done, showing RPAs?? Is there any evidence of root activity at the edge of the structure?? What is the engineers understanding of tree root systems?? I wouldn't touch the Oaks unless there's a bloody good reason to do so.

bump (or lifebelt)...

Too true sir.

I agree Steve, I think that most of them would stick with the short hitch if they were shown how to put some distance in between the hitch and the bridge for bodythrusting (i.e., adjustable bridge or even a sling).

Chip it. Wrong tree wrong place. That basal epi is screaming at me...

Not just you sir. I thought it might be my poor feathering of my leery uncontrolled descents. Doh.

I agree Tim, I have a rigging paw on the bridge of my cheap and cheerful sequioa and that allows for more options than needed. One main anchor and two choked lanyards from one point or two top anchors and a single lanyard More typically I would have one main anchor, one choked lanyard and the chainsaw all from the same point. Comfy. Add a hitchclimber into the mix on the main line/s the options just become ridiculous.