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Used to climb every single removal with just a handsaw and a lanyard for years
Back when I started doing tree work in Portland about 6 years ago, I thought I was tough for taking down whole oaks with just a Silky saw and my 16 inch climbing lanyard. No chainsaw up the tree, no mechanical advantage for lowering branches, just muscle and patience. About 2 years in, I took a nasty swing from a hung-up limb that almost threw me off balance, and that was the day I switched to carrying a small top-handle saw and a proper friction saver. I still keep the handsaw in my bag for quick stuff, but idk how I managed those big removals without a chainsaw up there. Has anyone else had a close call that made them change their whole climbing setup?
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amy_craig2817d ago
Oh man, that swing you took sounds terrifying. Did you have any warning before that limb hung up or was it just completely out of nowhere? I had a similar wake-up call a few years ago when a branch I thought was completely clear hit a hidden power line on the way down, and that was the day I started double-checking every single drop zone, even on trees I knew well. @the_thomas nailed it about the Silky being a lifesaver, I still carry mine for those tight little cuts where a chainsaw feels like overkill.
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logan65817d ago
Man, is it just me or does every climber have that one "oh crap" moment that finally knocks some sense into them? I had a buddy who swore by his handsaw-only setup for years until a widowmaker branch came down like a freaking spear right next to his head. Now he keeps a tiny top-handle strapped to his saddle even for tiny pruning jobs. My own rude awakening came when I got lazy and skip a friction saver on a quick deadwood removal - rope cooked through my saddle loop in about 2 seconds. Now I feel naked if I don't have both a Silky backup and a proper chainsaw up there, plus a second lanyard for flipline. Funny how a near-miss can make you feel smart real fast.
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