will.morris
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Everything posted by will.morris
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Recreational climbing North East/Northumberland
will.morris replied to gustharts's topic in Climbers talk
Myself and some of the other Kirkley guys climb recreationally every wednesday afternoon . We've found some nice big beech trees in a woodland near Mitford that we are talking about going to, but at the moment we just climb some sycamores just the other side of the college perimeter (with the farmers permission). -
Have you got a comp in mind that your thinking about?
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Ouch . I wish him all the best for a speedy recovery. Will show this thread to a mate of mine whos been climbing about 6 monthes to make him see the dangers not put him off. He had a small fall on wednesday only about 10ft. Hadn't told me he was coming off his split tail, tried to tie a VT but he'd left it far too long, went to step off a branch and it just did'nt bite ... told him if in doubt to ask me to show him how to tie it and reinforces the importance of low and slow on any new system. Stay safe!
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I'm near Newcastle and I'd be up for it as would a few mates I'm sure. Choosing the location would be the tricky bit as you say your north west.
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Ahhhh I thought I recognised the username haha! Yeh no worries bud just give me a shout if you ever need a hand grounding/second climber just message me on fb.
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Visor for me but I keep thinking about glasses. Especially days when I'm grounding for the climber in a conifer, can't look up without getting dust in your eyes. I find my ear defenders are more of a pain up a tree when a small branch gets between them and the helmet ... normally happens whilst in a tricky position on a wobbly branch due to sods law
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Please see PM
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No no not at all mate, I do very much like being alive But I have only been climbing for 18monthes and i was just looking at the load ratings and saw that it was high enough and was curious. But people have advised me not to use a unit for climbing after rigging so I will take this as a lesson learnt Query asked, situation solved ... this is why I ask questions, cheers guys
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But I am listening to what people have said about once used for rigging don't climb on it. I'll take this on board and I'll just borrow a proper lowering kit from one of the people I work for Cheers guys
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Ah cheers Rupe ... You posted just before me. Are you competing in the Cragside competition in may? I saw a video of a Rupe on youtube doing a run with a helmet cam and made the assumption it was you? Though I could be totally wrong
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No I havn't because I normally just work as a climber or groundsman for various tree surgeons on an as an when basis as I'm still studying. This is just a job for a friends parents that knew what I did, so I can't justify buying any kit for it. I'm only talking about say maximum of 10ft sections with a diametre no larger than a coffee mug, which is why I could'nt see why it would be putting too much strain on it. I can get the pulley higher than the butts being tied so it would be static loading not dynamic. Does this change your view?
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Hi mate. I'm based in Ponteland and am always looking for climbing work in this area. I'm in my second year doing forestry and arboriculture at northumberland college and i have all my own climbing kit (minus a top handle). I've been climbing for 18 monthes. Hav'nt climbed anything massive yet, properly upto about ~80ft but I am comfortable on these and would'nt be afraid to do bigger climbs. Though i would understand if you had worries about sending me up a massive tree to do large rigging pieces due to my lack of experience but I am hard working and within reason I will give anything a go if I feel confident enough. Working both ways though I would'nt expect to be payed what an experienced climber would. Give me a shout if you feel i could be of interest to you
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Recently bought a DMM hitchclimber pulley for my VT. But I was wondering as the unit is rated to 30kn (I assume thats the breaking load limit not the working load limit), is there any reason why you can't use them for rigging small branches/sections with a climbing rope? Was just curious as I have a job coming up to take down two ~40ft beech trees but they overhang a house, a conservatory, a paving slab path and an AGA oil tank, with each target under each 1/4 of the tree. Would be good to know if I can use the hitchclimber pulley as it will be a lot easier than using a heavy duty pulley block and line each time. The plan would be to get the limbs off and under the tree so i can just chog and drop the stem in small sections. Any views?
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Not sure about the power lines sorry, but I agree that often customers exagerate ... The 'massive' trees that turn out to be a 30ft sycamore
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What equipment do you have on your harness?
will.morris replied to button1803's topic in Climbers talk
Fair play -
Don't know about other shops but Gustharts in Northumberland have an indoor set up that lets you see what a harness is like to hang in. They also let you test climbing on it.
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If this was facebook I would have 'liked' this comment haha! Could'nt deal with a 40hour week of pure bordom just to put food on the table. Fitness as well, a days tree work is far more than a 45min gym sesh after a day in an office as you'll all know! In only my second year of climbing I'm still super keen and go climbing recreationally when I'm not at work/college ... hope I never lose the enthusiasm
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Agree totally mate I've been climbing for about 18monthes and easily meet the CS38/39 units, but I would'nt for one second consider myself a brilliant arborist yet. I'm sure you'll agree in that its more than just speed, next week I may find myself in a position where I'm working over a green house for example and I'll lower a piece because I don't feel 100% dropping it, but experienced guys on here would have the confidence to know that it will drop safely with the right cut. Little tricks as well, college has trained me to do things the correct way, but knowing what to do when something goes udders up is something that experience makes all the difference.
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Cutting Edge Not as strong as a silky but if your not a complete beast with it it cuts fine, though i do always have a spare blade with me just in case.
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Yes and no. The CS units are to show that your meet the basic safety requirements. If you had to be a super experienced climber to pass it then it would encourage new arborists to work without it, as you can't gain experience before doing the hours and people aren't going to climb purly recreationally for years until they can start work. A cambium saver does'nt prove that your a good climber nor does it affect your safety and where would you draw the line ... you could'nt have CS38 where you need to be an expert on fungi, know everything there is to know about rope structure and loading etc. Its all about proving you can move around a tree safely, rescue people and use a saw in a way thats not a danger.
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What equipment do you have on your harness?
will.morris replied to button1803's topic in Climbers talk
You don't regularly carry a side strop? What do you do for a secondary attachment when using a saw? I have a 5m lanyard with an isc mini rope grab (find a long lanyard handy), handsaw, small prussik (purly if needed for rescue), spare karabiner, cambium saver til i put it in, DMM ring (as the sequoia doesn't come with one and i think it makes the vt work better). Keep meaning to get some blood stopper things and a few slings. Anything else I get sent up, proper pain in the arse having to ascend to an achor point with a 20 hanging off you. -
As people say get a cambium saver, saves a lot of wear on your rope as well ... remember which size ring you went through first though, if not you'll soon find out why Other than that mate good little starter kit, get used to moving around the trees first and accumulate new kit as you go. Plenty of gadgets out there when/if you feel the need to change in the future. Don't waste your money on an expensive/fast system just yet because it won't be used to its potential and to be honest you'll more than likely end up scaring yourself. I've been climbing for about 1 1/2 years now and have only recently moved from a prussik to a VT.
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I did my CS30 & 31 after a 5 day course having never touched a chainsaw. It's a fair amount to take in in 5 days but if you put your mind to it its easy enough. Make sure you have a sharp chain on the day, nothing worse than being assessed when your using a blunt saw. Good luck!
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safety; top handle saws - risks and incidents.
will.morris replied to blazer's topic in General chat
Would love to see the true statistics for how many tree surgeons use top handles on the ground and/or one handed. In college obviously its a no no. In the real world when you have a small limb to bash off before the branch will go through the chipper, your boss is up the tree with the 362 and your on the ground with a 441 and a toppy ... I know which saw I'd pick up. -
Took me a while to work it out but thats class
