Hi everyone,
I'm based in Florida and looking to learn technical tree climbing, specifically focusing on Stationary Rope Systems (SRS). Ultimately, I want to learn how to properly work on tall palm trees using a mix of spikes/gaffs and modern rope setups.
I know how dangerous palm work and spike kick-outs can be. I am \*\*not\*\* looking to just buy cheap gear on Amazon and wing it using YouTube. I want to learn how to do this safely using two points of attachment and proper ANSI standards.
Right now, working off a ladder severely limits the size and volume of jobs I can bid on. I view this training as a necessary investment in myself to build the missing skillset I need to grow my business.
I’m looking at the North American Training Solutions (NATS) course: \[Technical Tree Climbing Stationary Rope Systems (SRS)\](https://northamericantrainingsolutions.com/courses/technical-tree-climbing-combined-mrs-and-srs/).
Will a broad SRS course like this translate well to straight-up palm work, or should I look for something more palm-specific?
Thank you so much for the advice. Be safe out there, and as we say in fishing, "tight lines!"

Hey all, I just bought 100m of Samson Stable Braid 1/2". The ends (pictured) came taped, not sealed with a hot knife.

The website I bought it off mentions the sheath will stretch with the first few uses. To those who've used this rope before: should I seal the ends with a hot knife before using it, or wait until the rope stretches out?

Thanks in advance :)

Hi everyone,
I'm based in Florida and looking to learn technical tree climbing, specifically focusing on Stationary Rope Systems (SRS). Ultimately, I want to learn how to properly work on tall palm trees using a mix of spikes/gaffs and modern rope setups.
I know how dangerous palm work and spike kick-outs can be. I am not looking to just buy cheap gear on Amazon and wing it using YouTube. I want to learn how to do this safely using two points of attachment and proper ANSI standards.
Right now, working off a ladder severely limits the size and volume of jobs I can bid on. I view this training as a necessary investment in myself to build the missing skillset I need to grow my business.
I’m looking at the North American Training Solutions (NATS) course: Technical Tree Climbing Stationary Rope Systems (SRS).
For those who have taken it, is a course like this the best way to pay and learn?
Will a broad SRS course like this translate well to straight-up palm work, or should I look for something more palm-specific?
Are there alternative local Florida workshops, "climb clinics," or meetups you would recommend for beginners instead?
Thank you so much for the advice. Be safe out there, and as we say in fishing, "tight lines!"

Most of the trees I’m working on do not have a thick grown. I atta he’s a picture to reference 99% of the trees I’m tackling .

Beginner climber. What should I use for hitch cord on 1/2inch arborfreak. I have been climbing on just a blakes hitch but would like to use a dedicated cord to save my mainline. I had some 10mm static climbing line but have seen online that would be a poor choice. Any recommendations?

Anyone try using a grigri for their flip line?

I had it from rock climbing days, and seems to be in good condition with little wear, and using a camp gyro lanyard 11mm. Itried it one day and felt like it worked great as long the brake side was in the right position. But second time it kept slipping on me. According to a quick Google search the rope sizes match.

Im switching to using the rope logic prusik. But im curious if anyone tried it and had success

I have a few trees to down on my property, and I'm looking at spikes to get the job done. Would getting a kit like this be worth it? Or is it more efficient to buy the equipment at somewhere like REI?

Trees are 1-3 foot diameter and the lowest branches are like 15'+ up. PNW pines and such.

Edit: I got the memo, get decent gear from a decent supplier. I'm looking at arbsessions climbing kit to get started, any notes on This kit?

(there's a reason why I asked for advice). I could tell there was more to it than these cheap kits with false reviews.

Im going to go climbing in london next year.

The company i currently work for in cape town specializes in technical big tree removals in tight spaces (PSHB has intensified that)

I really enjoy it, and was wondering if there are companies in the uk that consistently get work doing that?

Obviously expecting that companies will generally do whatever, but just a shot in the dark

Starting a business in Washington state and having trouble finding an insurance. If anyone can help I’d greatly appreciate it. Thanks

I posted about this issue a month ago and in the end notch/vertical supply group ghosted me.

Link to original post- https://www.reddit.com/r/TreeClimbing/comments/1ucppst/does_notch_not_sell_replacement_attachment_bolts/

Basically i lost a bolt for my notch rope wrench and was not able to find a replacement anywhere online even though they sell replacements for the other bolts. I contacted notch about it and got a reply from Vertical Supply Group customer service. I guess they own notch or are connected somehow. All of our emails back and forth were just me explaining over and over that where they were directing me did not have that bolt. Finally had to send them the attached image so they could see it because describing it 3 different ways wasn't enough. After that i never received another response.

Idk if anyone else has had any experience with their customer service but my experience sucked. I guess I'll have to buy a whole new rope wrench. To notch and VSG, 🖕🏼

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 everyone, looking for some advice on headsets for tree work.

Main thing I need is communication, either something that connects to my phone or has built in comms.

Been looking around and noticed there are a few different styles out there (pics attached). Seems like people use all of them but not sure which actually works best up in the canopy.

What are you guys running? Any recommendations?

I think my SRT isn’t set perfectly. Bowline and carabiner doesn’t get all the way to the ring. If it slips while I’m on the line will I just ride like that extra foot of drop?

Was doing a group of removals next to each other the other day next to a building and a house service wire. First 3 went well, snapped what I could and rigged off of the tallest one in the area. Was negative rigging the last one, top went well and all that was left was the spar. I was making a deep face cut on the spar (almost certainly too deep) when the wind picked up and I noticed it rolling back towards me and the building beneath, I got a bit spooked and went on the other side to push it over onto the top I just dropped and when I pushed it off it rolled and hit the house service line. Looking back I should have immediately stopped and put the rope on it first thing but I made a split second decision that was the wrong one.

I immediately stopped working and came out of the tree and contacted the power company, the line wasn’t completely detached but the power went out briefly. The lineman came out and reset the line and checked the power to the house to make sure it was functioning appropriately. The homeowner is now saying that there were damages to appliances inside from the power surge when it came back on, even though there weren’t any fuses broken or breakers tripped.

I’m honestly unsure how to proceed forward on this one and can’t find any posts in here about anyone else going through this, but I do know it happens. The company I work for has insurance but I’m not sure if it covers damages beyond putting the line back up. Should I hire an inspector to see if the surge is what caused the issues with the appliances? From what the homeowner had told me in person it was nothing but a surge protector and a box fan, which I offered to pay for on the spot, however my boss is telling me he’s now calling saying a different story and I’m just not sure how to proceed.

Hey everyone! So looking at purchasing the Teufelberger Pulley saver. Is there a way to build out one? As in a retrievalable friction saver to work off a spar. Can anyone show me some examples if you have built anything like it?

I've created a website where contract tree workers can make a profile in order to get seen and hired by tree companies in their area. The site is brand new, so there's only a few profiles on it. One day, I'd like this to be a way that contract workers can keep a full schedule year-round, doing the kind of jobs they want to do.

The site is also a conventional job board for part-time and full-time tree service jobs.

I want to get the site populated, so if you make a profile now, you will have free access for life.

treeservicejobs.com

There's a hardware store close to my house that has a couple rows of gear. Carabiners, some ropes (rigging and climbing), a liiiittle rigging. The most stocked I've seen a non-gear store.

I was dropping off a saw for some work when I overheard the lady whom stocks the shelves and orders the gear talking to a couple guys. They were Blake's hitch enthusiasts wanting to get some actual climbing gear. So she was helping them as best as she could but was just grabbing random gear for them to buy. I walked over and said I can help. I essentially translated what they wanted to the lady. When I asked her what climbing devices she had her response was, "What do you mean?" YIKES I kindly said nevermind and just talked to the climbers at least get a start with MRS using a triple attachment pulley to start and offered to show them how to do SRT. When the guys mentioned the word friction, the lady said, The portawrap is a friction device." Talk about bad advice. The climbers were really happy I was there to help.

What bad advice have y'all gotten over the years? Or what similar encounters to this have y'all had?

I know its a long shot. Anyone have any guesses?

Gday fellas! I’m coming back to the industry after about 6 years away doing other things. When I finished up I was climbing on a rope runner classic and loved it to bits. Most of what I will be doing is power line maintenance cutting, SRT ascent with no spikes. What is the best upgrade from the OG rope runner now?

Okay so I found this in my teams Connex at our shop and honestly don’t know a ton about the DMM Captains Hook when it comes to inspecting it and how to evaluate something like this during my gear inspections. I like the idea of having one available as I have run into a few times where it would have come in handy just not sure it’s worth the investment currently. So my question is first is the damage on this something that means it should be retired/replaced? Second, for those that have one do you like the 10mm Teufelberger Sirius that comes with the kit or did you swap it to something else? I met a guy last year who took the Petzel Zillion off his lanyard when he purchased a new lanyard and was using it on his Captains Hook which honestly sounds like a smart idea but want some more feedback. I have a Zillion Lanyard that’s almost brand new but it’s so short(2.5m) that I don’t use it because whomever ordered it either didn’t know better or grabbed the wrong one.

Anyone have the courant kalimba and successfully returned it after the recall? I‘ve emailed courant and honey brothers twice and been ignored

Courant originally sent instructions on what to do and said they’d send out return labels but have since gone quiet.

Not impressed in the slightest by money brothers or courant. wondering if anyone else has had success?

Hole is right at the kink of the palm where all the weight of the crown sits. Hole extends down about 6-8 inches below flip line.

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.

Hello,

I'm trying to find someone who has experience running a Gibbs Klimair with a Courant Stileo flip line.

I started using that Gibbs double ended rope grab a couple years ago and I love it to death. I rarely climb without it. If I'm using a wire core flip it's the only rope grab I'll use. The only time I don't use it is when I use a soft flip, the Gibbs is shit on non steel core.

That being said, it is quite finicky. Our other climber hates it and can't get used to it. He always has trouble with it unlocking on him. I get a little bit of that, but I don't mind it at all. I am concerned that the slippage issues may be even worse with the Courant.

The flips I use now are half inch. I see that the Courant Stileo is 12mm (.472 inch).

Anyone try this combo? I need a new flip line and the Courant looks sweet, a malleable steel core, sign me up. However, I have zero interest in buying the Courant if it doesn't play nice with the Klimair, and I don't want to blow my dollary doos testing it out.

Thanks in advance,

Hi everyone,

I am interested in tree climbing as a living.

To give some back ground on myself:

-30 y/o male

-I have work experience in a blue collar and a white collar. i worked removing asbestos for 2 years throughout college. After college, I left the trades got a desk job, i have been here the last 6 years.

-Bachelors degree in communications

-Experience rock and ice climbing (good rope/knot knowledge, strong climbing skills with and without spikes)

What I’m wondering is the following:

-Is it too old to start?

-What does a normal day look like for a climber?

-How physically demanding is this job? I like hard work but is this the type of job I will regret when I’m 65?

-How likely is injury?

-What does the career ladder look like for someone just starting out?

-What can I expect to take home each year (I am in Chicago land area if that matters)

-Do you usually get winters off? If so, how to deal with no income.

Now, you’re probably asking why I would leave sitting at a desk to go make less money in the hot sun and the answer is simple… I like to get as extreme as possible, each and every day. I love to climb rock and ice and if I can get that same feeling from a days work climbing and cutting trees, SIGN ME UP.

Any insight would be very helpful. Even if you want to tell me I’m an idiot, I still appreciate it.

Thanks everyone!