New Member & a Question ?

I’m new to the forum & would like to introduce myself. My name is Doug & I live in Scotch Plains, New Jersey. I enjoy geocaching & there was one that had been placed 55 feet up on a limb of a big oak tree which I wanted to try & get. I did a little research on the internet & was amazed to see there were actually tree climbing classes. I signed up for Peter's June 18/19 class in Atlanta Georgia. This was a wonderful experience for me because have never climbed before. He is really a good instructor & makes you feel very comfortable. After getting home I purchased my gear & on July 4th I was signing the log book 55 feet up. Everything went very smooth, from the placement of the rope with the throw line/bag to the actual climb. Since then I have been practicing in my yard & each climb I am building more confidence.

The question I have is on the last two climbs (DRT) my rope (Samson Blue Streak) is slowly twisting as I go up. When I was getting close to the top I had about 6 twists & could not go any further.
I’m not sure why this is happening & how I could eliminate this twisting.

Thank You

Welcome to the TCI board!

There's two ways you could get twist in the ropes climbing DRT:

1. If the ropes were twisted before you clipped in you might not notice it on the ground because the twist wouldn't effect your climbing. As you climb up the twist becomes instensified as you shorten the rope and becomes a potential problem as you get close to your tie-in point.

2. If you are doing a branch ascent away from the trunk it's very easy to spin slowly without noticing over the course of the climb.

You can take the twist out by looking at the direction of the twist and then spinning yourself slowly in the opposite direction until it is removed.
-moss

Welcome to TCI - you will find there are several geochache in trees. We spotted one on the last climb here in a local tree.

(raised not far from you) check the rahway historic cemetary for Beech trees to climb - all you have to do is ASK.

ABout the twists - as Moss said - start with your ropes straight, you might be twisting or spinning as you go up on rope. you should watch that as you climb. Not a hard thing to correct.

I am planning a trip north to that area in October/November - maybe a visit to a tree.

Enjoy

JZ

Welcome T.S. to the web site!! Sounds like you have a great start. The twist in the rope happens to everyone sometime but it can be controlled if you properly check your rope before each climb. Even though you are the only one to use the rope it should be checked each time before use. As the rope is taken out of the bag/backpack/ whatever, it should be uncoiled on the ground. Hold the two ends of the rope in one hand and placing the index finger of the other hand between the two ropes slowly pull the rope through your hand. This does two things (1) It causes the rope ( if twisted ) to straighten it-self out (2) Gives you a feel of the rope for cuts, flat spots, any foreign oblects inbeded in the rope. This action should be done both ways to completely relax the rope. Also at the end of the climb the same inspection should be done before putting the rope away. Good climbing to you and please visit our Grove at Lake Horton if you are in our area. Trailwatcher / Treeclimbingusa.com

Thanks everyone.

Hi. I'm also new. Also from NJ. Hi Doug.
About 2 months ago, I was talking to my friend
about some trees on my property and the estimates
I got for trimming them.

He said, you're a climber, go up and trim yourself.
Well, I used climbing ropes for safety when fixing the roof.

Then googling for \"climb trim tree\" told me about tree climbing.
THAT's something I can do right here \"in my own backyard\" ha ha.


I climbed some rocks as a child and I climbed some walls
as a bachelor (skip 15 years here, 15 there).


From what I have been reading, the first step in tree climbing
is to take lessons. Can that be done up here in Northern NJ?


Thanks
Seth

Welcome Aboard fellow Jersey climber.
If you are starting tree climbing, this is the place to be!
As for climber’s training. . .
The mother of all REC climbing schools is in Atlanta, GA. but there may be other options if you can not travel.
Look around the board, ask some questions. Others will surely jump in with advice for you.

Also. . .
If you can’t make it to a class right now, Look at the “TCI Store” section of this website. There is a good training video on safe recreational climbing.

Regards,
Electrojake

I didn't mention, the friend who told me to climb and trim,
he agreed to be ground crew, and I think he'll be great.

He is absolutely meticulous...comes from being a Rocket Scientist.
Really.



Thanks for the suggestion, I ordered the DVD.

See you.

Pachai I just wanted to caution you that this is a rec climbing group and we're not doing this to save money on tree work. I've been climbing intensively nearly 3 years and have been gradually building my tree working skills. At this point I can accomplish some basic work tasks safely and have ventured into some interesting rigging scenarios. It has taken every bit of my climbing time to-date and plenty of research to get to this point.

There is a reason why it costs money to have tree work done. A competent arborist has developed a variety of specialized skills that integrate knowledge of tree biology, advanced climbing skills, saw handling in a tree, structural mechanics, dynamic physics as applied to tree structures, advanced rigging etc. There are many things that can go wrong cutting limbs up in a tree, much more than can be imagined without experience actually doing the work. It doesn't matter how smart you or anyone helping you is.

If you would like to complete your tree trimming anytime soon I would call your arborist back. If you have any hazards that need to be taken care of sooner than later call your arborist. If you're willing to give yourself 3-5 years to learn to trim your trees, I think that's what it will take. Even then you'll require assistance from a professional for the more demanding and difficult aspects of tree work.

Most of all I hope you find out that just climbing a tree is its own reward, keep the trimming to the small stuff for now, when you whack yourself with a branch it will hurt a lot less.
-moss

>>Pachai I just wanted to caution you that this is a rec climbing group
>>and we're not doing this to save money on tree work.

>>If you would like to complete your tree trimming anytime soon
>>I would call your arborist back. If you have any hazards...

Moss,
Thanks. I have been getting the idea from the messages here...
that this is recreational - and I have been reading
the other section, on close calls.

It might be a bit of everything. Recreation, Utility.

(Why did I spend all summer installing an A/C through the wall?
At this point, it's not the money, but I'll get A/C and
deck lighting and ....etc.)
(the only thing I didn't do yet was light up the tree

I guess the short answer is. . .
Please be safe.

Recreational Tree Climbing injuries are almost nonexistent. Our safety record is tied closely to the sanctity of the sport.
Soon as you pull out the saw and the loppers, it’s no longer recreational.

O.K. now, I guess you got the message.
We’re concerned for your welfare.

Learn.
Be careful.
Keep us posted!