A client in Cincinnati pointed out my climbing line was running over a sharp branch stub.

I was taking down a big maple in his backyard, about 80 feet up. He called up and said, 'Your rope is rubbing against that broken limb right there.' I looked down and sure enough, the line was running right over a jagged stub I'd missed. I moved my tie-in point immediately. That was three months ago, and now I do a full 360 check of the canopy for any rub points before I even leave the ground. What's your method for spotting hidden hazards like that before you ascend?

3 comments

3 Comments

scott.miles26d ago

Good on your client for speaking up, that's a solid save. Honestly though, a 360 from the ground just doesn't catch everything in a dense tree. The real check happens during the climb itself, moving slow and looking at every potential rub from different angles as you go up. You can plan all you want from the dirt, but your eyes on the trunk see things your eyes on the ground never will.

riley_miller2526d ago

Totally agree, @scott.miles. Found a cracked union way up in a pine last month that the ground walk missed completely.

davis.adam23d ago

True, but that ground check still sets the baseline.