Had a wake up call at a job site in Boulder last spring

Ngl I was on a job taking down a big old cottonwood near a creek in Boulder. Homeowner wanted it gone and I was about to just chunk it down like I always did. Then my buddy who runs the local climbing crew stopped by and showed me how to piece it out with a block and rope to protect the bank. That one swap to rigging gear changed how I handle every tree near water now. Anyone else had to change their whole setup because of one spot?

3 comments

3 Comments

graydavis1mo ago

I mean sure it sounds smart but how often are you really wrecking a bank with one tree? Feels like overthinking it unless you're working mud season.

webb.ben1mo ago

One bad slide during mud season and @graydavis changes his tune fast.

the_wyatt1mo ago

Roll my eyes at this a little bit honestly. Unless you're dropping trees right into the creek or driving equipment through the mud, a single tree ain't gonna do much to a bank. I've dropped plenty of trees near water and never saw a bank get wrecked from just one trunk hitting the ground. Feels like people get all caught up in the new shiny gear hype and forget most jobs are just simple cuts with a saw and some wedges. Yeah be careful near water but I wouldn't swap out my whole setup over one spot in Boulder.