Climbing spikes on a removal changed how I treat every prune now

For like 6 years I used spikes on anything that needed a fast climb, even routine prune jobs. Got called out on a big oak in Portland last month by this older climber I was shadowing. He just pointed at the trunk after I came down and said 'look at those holes, you are leaving wounds on a tree you are supposed to be helping.' That hit me hard because I never really thought about the long term damage, I just saw spikes as a tool for speed. Now I carry a separate bag with just a flip line and friction hitch for any pruning gig, spikes stay in the truck unless it's a full takedown. It slows me down maybe 20 minutes a job but the bark damage is zero. How do you guys handle clients who ask why you are not wearing spikes for a trim? Feels like half my customers think I am being lazy.

2 comments

2 Comments

miles94624d ago

Hell yeah. Clients are dumb, trees are silent.

graygonzalez24d ago

Wait, 20 minutes slower every single job just because of spikes? Thats wild to me, I woulda thought bark damage was no big deal on old oaks.