What’s New & Improved in Climbing Ascenders and Friction Tools
When it comes to getting in and out of trees safely and efficiently, today’s climbers have more options than ever. And when it comes to ascenders and friction tools, there are some innovative devices out there that recently hit the market, having been introduced by arborist equipment companies in early 2019. We contacted a number […]
Climbing Gear: The More You Know, the Less You Need
It is a wonderful time in the tree care industry for the climbing arborist. It seems every couple of months there is a new piece of equipment that comes on the market. It can give the climbing-arborist gear junkies a rush of gear adrenaline and at the same time fill safety coordinators with anxiety. Does […]
Dual-Stationary-Rope Work Positioning for Pruning or Removal
My name is Macintosh Swan, and I have a lot of climbing gear. I preface this discussion – of climbing with two systems in sync – with that statement. If we are talking drawbacks to dual-stationary-rope systems (DSRS), I think the volume of gear required would be at the top of the list. In my […]
Burnside Sycamore – Witness to History
During a trip to visit family in Maryland this summer, I took a side trip to Antietam National Battlefield, a National Park Service protected area along Antietam Creek in Sharpsburg, Maryland. It commemorates the Battle of Antietam that occurred September 17, 1862, during the American Civil War. It is regarded as the bloodiest day in […]
CAUTION: Challenging Setups for Compact Lifts
A compact lift is only as safe and effective as its operator can make it – often a challenging task, especially in awkward or downright dangerous situations. And as much as manufacturers of this equipment are champions of their brands and the equipment’s efficacy in accessing tight spots, they also are to a person adamant […]