Climbing spikes vs. rope access, switched after 15 years and my maples thank me

I used to do everything with spikes. Even removals, sure, but also for trimming big live oaks over in Austin. Boss at the time said it was faster, and honestly it was. But the wounds on the trunks, the bark damage, they add up. A guy I subbed for back in 2019 made me try SRT rope access on a live pecan, and I felt like an idiot for not learning it sooner. The control you get, the lack of gashes, it's just cleaner work. My knees also don't hate me as much at the end of the week. Anyone else made the switch late in the game and feel like they wasted a decade on spikes for live trimming?

2 comments

2 Comments

williams.sage1mo agoMost Upvoted

It is kinda funny how we hold onto the old way of doing things just because it works, even when we know deep down it's hurting the thing we're working on. Same thing happens with folks who keep using a rusty old saw when a new one would cut twice as fast, they just got used to the struggle. Once you see the damage first hand, it's hard to unsee it. Good reminder that switching up your tools is sometimes the real skill.

wadew511mo ago

Took me way too long to figure that out myself. Spikes on live trees just feel wrong once you know better, and honestly the work is smoother without them. Good on you for making the change, your maples are lucky.