Making Rope Management Part of the Plan
Perhaps one of the least-sexy topics in all of arboriculture is that of rope management. It doesn’t get the same attention some other topics do, but probably deserves more than it gets. This article is a brief attempt to shine a light on an underrated and underappreciated part of tree work. Rope management is a […]
Rigging Is a Team Sport
There are few aspects in tree work that require coordinated teamwork. Efficient climbers can perform a good portion of their trim work without the direct aid of a ground person. Ground workers can usually process and transport tree debris to the chipper without aid from a co-worker. If the material is too large, it can […]
Knotting Really Matters
As working arborists, ropes are a vital part of our daily work. From climbing to rigging, rope is a ubiquitous component of our systems. As soon as you give a rope a job, it becomes a line, and a line requires a connection to something to do its job. While there may be many ways […]
Not for the Knotless – Untying Rigging Knots
A knot in your calf, garlic knots, climbing knots, rigging knots, getting married – aka, tying the knot – or the early ’90s saying, “Not!” I’ve watched countless videos, heard many speakers and been trained several times over on “how to tie,” “when to use” and “the best” knots. I even led a discussion at […]
Testing Equipment and Techniques to Reduce Loads on the Stem
Tree-removal operations in urban and suburban settings often employ extensive use of rope-based rigging to control and manage the dismantling of large trees. These scenarios typically conclude in what is commonly referred to as a negative-rigging situation, where the load the rigging must bear “falls into the rope” from above the anchor point (such as […]