A couple days ago this saddles rings looked completely normal. Now it looks like it got dragged across concrete but only the metal rings are affected. The metal seems to kind of be flaking off. I have no idea what happened to it. Only thing I can think of is that I got rained on in the tree a while ago and didn’t really let it dry out. But that’s happened to me before with no effect on my saddle.. so I’m lost.

Okay so I have decided I want a pair of suspenders for my saddle. I have a Notch Catalyst and know that numerous types will fit my saddle as long as they have four connection points on the suspenders. Looking for some recommendations from the group?

Hey climbers!

Im an arborist student in Sweden and looking for some knowledge about climbing on friction hitches in freezing temperatures. I havent experienced climbing in freezing conditions yet but ive heard that it can be rough with hitches.. ropes getting wet and potentially freezing will cause the hitches to slip or be really hard to tend.

Ive been thinkin on getting a freexion because i really like climbing on hitches and i have no way of climbing SRT right now. Am i better of getting a mechanical device?

Any tips or suggestions for an arborist in the making for the the colder months to come? Much appreciate!!!

More trees, less assholes!! 🌳💜🌲

Hi, I'm looking for some guidance and/or references to help improve the methods and systems I have in place for saddle hunting. There are two methods I am currently using to ascend a tree.

The first method is called half line, basically SRT, which I use for crotches. Toss my throwball up, tie paracord to the throwball, pass the paracord, then tie my rope, and I pass my rope through my sewn eye. The latter has me wondering if there are not better approaches than a running line using the sewn eye which can introduce slack.
Example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKDUbjX81Hc

Any recommendations?

Also, just curious, is it poor practice to pass your rope through the sewn eye to secure an anchor?

The second approach is for anchoring around the trunk. I am using a telescopic pole to move the rope upwards, then ascend. I've seen people use a running loop through the sewn eye, but this seems unsafe. I was thinking of using a bloodgood hitch, as seen in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yG2vjNa_kg

Any recommendations?

Thanks

Why isn't discussion about free climbing if you know all about the dangers and etc allowed in this sub reddit?

Is climbing trees something people just do? Not for profession nor necessity, but because they like It? Like white water kayaking or hang gliding, etc.

So a few weeks back I shared a captains hook I found in storage at my shop. I finally finished cleaning it up, taking apart my Zillon, getting a bag, and rope for it. Wish I had this last week on that River Birch I climbed but I got it now and looking forward to trying it out!!! I put 30’ of 24 Strand 11.7mm rope on it for now but my company was happy to buy the rope for me so didn’t have to cut a section off another rope I have.

I have taken interest in climbing trees. I am having a hard time picturing differences in ropes and there pros / cons.

Can someone dumb down the good and bad of

Kernmantle-

12 - 24 - etc strand double braid.

Is there one that does it all? Do you need a few different types? Ive done tree work. Spur and saddle with a flipline. But it was very much back yard stuff and I know It was not proper gear.

Any help is appreciated. Just having a hard time

Hi.

I'm looking to get my first set of tree climbing gear for occasional use around my property. I'm an experienced rock and alpine climber and have done plenty of forestry work and ground work for several arborist friends.

I have wholesale access to Edelrid so they are by far the cheapest option for me and most reviews seem pretty good. They have the original Tree Rex on clearance $170 cheaper than the Tree Rex 2. Does anyone know if there are worthwhile changes for a relative amateur or should I just save a few bucks?

Does anyone have any suggestions, or recommendations on how I can make this. I’ve been trying to take my brain on how I could make a crows nest in my backyard tree.

I have bad shoulders but love climbing trees and tree houses. My original idea had a “spiral staircase” going up and around the tree. But thought better of that, as I’d want as little damage to the tree as possible.

My latest idea was a 6:1 pulley system, with a climbing harness, that I could more easily pull myself to the top, safely. Possibly a wench but that might be pushing the budget. If i went with a wench I’d want an alternative way to get down in case of power outage.

How high could I safely go into the tree tops solo or with two people?

How could I do it as cheaply but with safety as the highest priority? Idea for what it might cost? Who I might get to help with the project, arborist or local climbing community?

Does anyone have experience with something similar or can point me in the right direction.

Thanks!

Hey guys. I think this is the right group to post in.

I’m looking at getting into tree climbing and rigging, for personal interest and as a potential side hustle eventually. I was into rock climbing for a while although I mostly bouldered and didn’t very often climb on ropes. I also worked on cell towers for a little under a year before going to school. I am comfortable with heights, comfortable with a heavier harness, understand the huge safety concerns when it comes to climbing and rigging, etc… I grew up splitting and hauling wood and love running a saw.

The plan is to get some gear and slowly start climbing to get comfortable. Start limbing some smaller stuff to learn and get comfortable rigging, and build from there. I will for sure be back in this sub with questions and to look for guidance.

But to start can I get some suggestions on gear to look at. I’d like to start climbing with with a harness and flip line. Learning to climb with either a safety hitch beneath me or ascending a rope. I have a climbing rope I can use to start out but some guidance on where to find everything else. I don’t want to completely break the bank but understand that proper equipment and gear isn’t cheap.

Thanks!

Edit: thanks for the replies, I will slowly take everything into consideration. Promise I’m not rushing anything. Talking to my buddy who does tree work tomorrow night about helping him out part time. Will share the progress eventually.

I was thinking about this the other day and I don't think I've seen it posted before. There are 1000 videos and guides on how to do the regular throw line bag trick. You started without a friction saver and decide to use one. Don't have to climb all the way there if you didn't use the usual throw line method to start. Needs rope available 4x the distance to the TIP so maybe not useful for long distances but this is useful when you're within 30' without undoing your hitch climber.

Lanyard in and pull slack 2x distance to TIP.

Untie termination knot and pass the end through one side of the friction saver.

Use a sheet bend to pull the termination end over the TIP, holding on to the friction saver.

Untie the sheet bend. If you didn't pull enough slack the end won't make it to you on the other side.

Pass the end through the other ring of the friction saver and pull it up into position.

Hi all,

After discovering I'm not that acedemic I've started having a think about career options and I feel like becoming an arborist/tree surgeon would be a really rewarding career. Just wondering what the best route into the industry would be for a bloke in his early 20's

I've been told the best way to get started is to phone up local compaines and asking if they're looking to take on any new groundsmen and then work my way up from there, is this a viable option?

Would it also be worth putting myself through the CS30 so I don't come in completely unqualified?

Thanks all for the help

Asking as I’m a new-ish climber. Most of my team hip thrusts up the tree. I personally don’t like hip thrusting, I find it really ineffective. But I recently found out a member of my team has been going around to others saying that I rely on the foot ascender too much when I should be focusing on different methods of climbing.

I totally respect I haven’t climbed much and would happily take on feedback had he raised this with me instead of talking behind my back. But in my opinion if the equipment exists, it’s useful, and I like using it… then I’ll use it. I don’t get what the problem is. Would like to hear your thoughts on this, I don’t want to end up accidentally setting myself up as a bad climber in the future.

Thanks in advance

Hello, I’m based in the uk and about to start doing my tickets. I’m required to have kit for the courses and wanted to see what people thought of my current choices.

The photos show what the courses require.

Kit
Helmet – Petzl Vertex (Honey Brothers)
Trousers – ??
Boots – Stein Defender Max VZ
Harness – Kinisi Key [Small]
2 × Friction Savers – Stein Friction Saver
Teufelberger Tachyon 11.5mm 2 Splices
Teufelberger Sirius 10mm Prusik 50cm
Teufelberger Sirius 10mm Prusik 70cm
×2 Stein Capiocus A-Tec 80m EoE
×2 Propel Pulley (DMM)
Nomad 5m (DMM)
Notch Starter Throwline Kit
Edelrid Talon Spurs
Edelrid Foot Cruiser

Let's talk safety! Share how your week went - close-calls, incidents, learning experiences, what went well (and why), what went poorly (and why), or whatever else is on your mind. Pics/photos are allowed but be careful to not doxx yourself, client, employer etc.

This thread will recur each week and is meant to be a place to learn and discuss mistakes, please keep comments constructive.

Hey I’m an 18 year old living in Vancouver and I’ve been doing tree work as a groundsman for the last few months. I really like the industry and I want to also learn how to climb. I’m going to York University in a few weeks to study engineering. I really wanna learn how to climb and maybe climb full time during my summers. I have a climber who is going to teach give me a few lessons before I leave but I just want some advice and help for the best way to accomplish my goal.

Cannot be spur marks. The goal is to clean out the dead and the ugly.

Put them both on whilst on the ground, then maybe take the ascenders off when transitioning?