I'm getting some calls

[SouthSoundTree]

Thanks, atw, I'm Sean.
Oly to Seattle isn't too far, but about 60-70 miles. Traffic can be a killer though. I'll keep it in mind.
So often I need more ground support than extra climbing support, as it a small show, often just me and Ben (a groundie/ occasional climber).
Which part of NW WA are you in?

 

[SouthSoundTree]

I've found it so stressful to worry about someone getting a stick in the eye (behind eye pro) or a simple strain or twisted ankle. Its pretty easy to control "struck-bys", but there are things that are really out of your control.

Knowing my butt is covered with W/C from the temp agency is a relief, even if the guy isn't great. Sometimes, its just a matter of having someone to untie/ unclip, then finishing clean-up on your own. I can order a background check and drug screen if I want, so I won't have to worry about finding short term help from Craigslist or someplace and then finding out that they're a meth head or something, and have them at my customer's house, possibly scoping the joint. I dont' know a lot of people in Olympia, and less that would fill in as a groundie. You may know a better set of people to fill in.

I think breaking out on your own forces you to get better at self-lowering. When working solo, I started using a DWT with knotless rigging a lot, allowing me to untie the termination and slip the piece free once its landed. Also, lowering many pieces midline helped, allowing 4-5 trunk section lowers off a 200' Natural-crotched rope.

 

[atw]

southsoundtree-
hey sean I am up in Deming which is about 20 mins. East of Bellingham on the way up to Mt. Baker

 

[SoonerFan]

I started using a DWT with knotless rigging a lot.

?????

 

[dandandatreeman]

My brother helps me. I still worry about him grabing a saw, but he is learning. If I run into something that is alittle hairy I have some guys that I do tree work with on a regular. I'm in good shape for help. Besides I am going to just be climbing for these other companies till I have everything else. They should have the ground covered. I can run a whole job but till I have some more things to do before all that happens. Thanks for sharing your experiances!

 

[SouthSoundTree]

?????

Double Whip Tackle.

 

[SoonerFan]

Thanks!!!

 

[rskybiz]

Me too Thanks sst

 

[SouthSoundTree]

Another good thing that can be applicable when you need to lower multiple pieces, but don't have a groundman, or they're otherwise occupied, is using midline attachment points to the rope.

In the following illustration, I used this technique to wrap stubs for adjusting friction with NC rigging while working out of a bucket, solo.

the top red piece needs to use 40' of a 200' lowering line, leaving 160'. The gold section will need 30', leaving 130' as measured from the standing end to the crotch. The green piece will eat up another 20', leaving 110'. The blue piece will require 10' to lower it to the ground. leaving 100'.

The blue piece will be cut from ground level so there will be some rope eaten up by running from the ground up to the crotch and back down. Clove hitches on the top of each piece, and a double half hitch to back up the cloves will eat up more rope.

I was able to lower about 4 trunk pieces from a 40' crotch. These distances and rope lengths are approximate and simplified from my actual tree. As the pieces got thicker and heavier toward the bottom, the rope angle became more plumb, so more of a static load. I was able to finish the slant cut with one hand, and run the rope with the other hand. .

 

[dandandatreeman]

Never had to do any of that, but I have been in situations that I had to rope by myself. My brother is going to be pissed that I don't need him to rope for him anymore. LOL Awesome posts Sean!!!!!

 

[SouthSoundTree]

The more that I can do in the tree, means less downtime for me to worry what's happening on the ground when I'm working with my employee. I try not to backseat-drive the ground work from the tree, but its hard thinking about dimes and dollars adding up with inefficiency of me sitting there waiting, so I'm happy to do what I can from the tree, safely, and take some of the burden off my groundman, and require less ground support.

This midline lowering attachment point could be done with a lowering device installed at the top of the brown trunk and operated from the cutting point, as well.