D Mc

This is a good question and should be clarified. When referring to a maximum amount to be taken from a tree, it is generally regarded as live mass. This includes storage tissues as well as leaf area but does not include deadwood. Thirty percent removal of live mass can be achieved through either reduction or thinning. It can also be achieved by removing one single live leader. As either reduction, thinning, raising or lowering could result in the maximum amount of live tissue being removed, it is important to clarify which method will be used to achieve the goal as the results would be quite different. Dave

I think that is some excellent deductive reasoning. The middle ascender in a three ascender system is the key to safety. If you correalate it to our more traditional tree climbing styles, we never back up our friction hitch because we know that no matter what awkward position we get in to, it is not coming off the rope. There needs to be this same level of confidence in SRT. In my opinion, the perfect middle ascender has not been developed as yet. The Croll is very smooth in its operation but does not meet the criteria of safety in its attachment. I have used the Unicender in the center position and it works very well but is far more complex than is necessary for this purpose, though its camming-type grab has been shown to be very rope friendly compared to toothed ascenders. If the criteria of safety and function were met with a properly designed central attachment, the backing up of the upper ascender could be eliminated, as it would only be functioning as a handle for advancement. Dave

Understood. I am most disturbed that these brainiacs keep pulling individual components out and expecting them, by themselves, to fix things. I am most heartened that the article referencing glomalin did not get much of a rise for the hopeful reason that this is old news. It does not seem to be in most areas. Dave

Totally agree. This article might give a little more insight, even though ag- based. Glomalin: Hiding Place for a Third of the World's Stored Soil Carbon We tend to think of our forests' ability to sequester carbon relative to wood volume when in reality it is so much more. It still bothers me that even in advanced studies by these scientists, that bring to light intracacies within the soil that are part of the necessities of life, their focus still drifts towards isolation and patentability of such substances for financial gain. Much of the micro/fungal/bacterial-intensive studies of the last few decades have been focused in this manner. Trying to make a better system when a perfect one already exists. Dave

Works for me. My wife was there in the spring of 1988 and remembers the devastation of the trees in the countryside. I am most interested in the advance of the decay; how much was present prior to the event, that sort of thing. Dave

Beautiful trees, guys. Monkeyd, do you know the history of the tree in the first picture? Storm damage, lopped off by the Saxons, or what? Dave

Wrong on both counts. I have read enough of your posts to know that you are a very intelligent tree worker. You do have the abilities to positively affect trees' lives. I have been doing residential tree work for over 40 years. There are literally thousands of trees still standing that would not be had I not intervened in their favor. These things can be as simple as removing a branch rubbing against a roof to very complex structural problems that needed expert advice, and subsequent work, to allow the tree's survival. Please do not get lost in the differences in the urban environment and natural forest. Tree failure and the resulting deadwood are the life of the forest. This is a complex web of connections that, whether we believe it or not, we are a part of. But that's another topic. Urban trees are there by themselves in a sense. Their survival is dependent on how they interact in this altered environment. If they do not satisfy us, they are gone. But the very fact that we keep planting them and protecting what we can is proof that they are important to us. That's where you come in making it work in the residential areas. Dave

Wow, that's sad. Dave

This is right. Not many of us would show up to a job with just one saw and a kit that couldn't handle variety. They make two sizes of spurs for a reason. If you need the long ones, they will make your work easier. The length of spur shouldn't increase the knee torque. In fact, if the tree is large enough to require long spurs, you will have less toe out and, therefore, better knee angle in the large diameter wood. I fear good spur work is a dying art. We are all so proud of our rope techniques but when it comes to spur work, it is just slap on a pair of whatever is available and go for it. There is more to it than that. Dave

It will be interesting to know what plans they come up with. Dave

James, I would agree with joining Butch's site. There are some good guys on it from Northern Cal. Also, I would suggest getting hold of Robert Phillips (his contact info is in the link below). I don't know Robert personally but he has a tremendous reputation of being well connected and helpful. Your experience level is at the beginning of the learning curve, so keep your expectations realistic. Set your sites at gaining experience and international knowledge; if you make money also, that's a benefit. Try not to pass up any opportunities you might have for at least seeing and hopefully climbing some of California's big trees. Good luck. Dave http://www.wcisa.net/docs/BoardOfficersCurrent.pdf

Fantastic movie! My wife and I just saw it yesterday. Tremendous! BIIIIIG trees. You directed your comment to Hama about the interconnectedness to all life, but surely he is not the only one who recognizes this and its implications. Dave

Holiday Cheers to you and yours as well, David. Don't often post but I try to keep tabs. I have interest in your research. Hamadryad, you would do well to follow Mr. Monkeyd for his path is similar to yours. It is well-blazed and documented with pictures but it may still be hard to follow because of his light step. You will note that with many of his presentations he will end with a question. Have you ever noticed that it is the teachers who ask the questions that the students may answer? Dave

Yes, that is it. You are very focused. Focusing allows clarity of all that you are looking at...but does not allow you to see all that is. Dave

I fear for your trees. Do you believe you are the first with enthusiasm and heart who believes that they have finally found what is necessary to fix things? With the knowledge you possess at the moment, you would gladly press your cause with physical action. Where does this assurety come from? You admire the woodsmen of old with their understanding of the world around them. Yet people then are as people now. To survive requires being clever. I could survive in the wilderness from the age of 10. I was clever. However, with the help of time, I was able to understand you cannot rush time and you cannot teach wisdom. Dave

Thanks, Drew. Having a gate and a roller on the lower bar should be a very worthwhile improvement. Dave

I would love to see this new version as I have not heard of it. I have incorporated a pulley to mine. It is useful in some situations. As an improvement, I have made the suggestion that the rope be captured in the lower gate. However, the Uni works very well as is; like Drew said, it is hard to explain. With that said, not everyone will like it; just like not everyone would like to drive a red Ferrari...really??? Dave

I agree for many of the reasons already stated. And one more which is when used for siding for a corral or animal pen, its ability to not produce splinters that penetrate the hide saves wear and tear on both animals and their handlers. This is a common thought but the tulip poplar is not a poplar at all. The Liriodendron tulipifera is a member of the Magnoliaceae family not the Salicaceae. But, nonetheless, a very nice wood. Dave

Don't know if this has been linked somewhere else but this is interesting information on the misuse and accumulative side effects of glyphosate that we should all be aware of. Use Glyphosate Properly to Protect Woody Plants Dave

Nice job, as usual, Reg. You set a high standard for yourself that you always manage to meet. I particularly like this little guy. I use the Port-A-Wrap III a lot but you have addressed the drawbacks I have found with it. Well thought out and simple. Dave

+1 This is a fantastic tool. Here is a link with pricing. If you click on the photos and the link he supplies to the YouTube video there is another video on that page called Drop Test One. Worth watching. Thompson Tree Tools Dave

I can certainly see both sides of this discussion. Having been an employee, a company owner of a large crew, and back to self-employed doing all the work with my wife, I feel I have a broad-based understanding from all sides. The safety procedures and standards we take for granted now just haven't been in existance for that long. Many certs and requirements are pushed by insurance companies that are covering their backsides because of claims made against them by us. If you are resentful of these requirements, we have nobody to blame but ourselves. All that stuff aside, climbing with a qualified rescue climber makes sense. If for whatever reason this can't be achieved, you should give some serious consideration to some of the many different types of ground-based rescue systems that can be implemented. These have their draw backs but at least it opens the possibility of a ground-based rescue in a position when none other would be possible. Dave

I have been following the development of the F8 and it is a pretty interesting concept. If while experimenting with this some of you get hooked on the benefits of single rope, don't over look the Unicender. I'm an old time climber and would not have believed anything could replace doubled rope but the Unicender is doing a pretty good job. Limb walking was also its short coming until I added the fair lead. Now I can return from limb walks without overweighting the limb just as in doubled rope. Also the Uni can be used for doubled rope in both instances it has the same "no set back", similar to the Lockjack. Just a whole lot more robust and versatile. Dave

I would like to interject a few thoughts on this discussion. Through the many research papers applied to mycorrhizae an interesting side note has come to light. The relationship must be needed for the connection to be made. Fertilizing has been shown to interrupt the process. If the two subjects don't require the assistance of each other, they will not make the connection. Adding mycorrhizae to deficient or compacted soils is treated a symptom without correcting the problem. Lee's advice of nurturing the mycorrhizae through cultural means will have longer lasting benefits. Discussions usually focus on the symbiotic relationship with trees and mycorrhizae, however, the soil biota is also dependent upon this relationship together working as a whole. Isolating individual portions of this equation may create only partial results and in some instances may interrupt the entire process. Dave

David, once again I think you have chosen well for the situation at hand. It is wise to remove the deadwood in this situation. The tree does look bleak. If it fails, it will just be for its time not because of your efforts. They were very appropriate. Dave