Climbing News

I remember having so many questions when I first started climbing. What are all the knots I'm going to need to know? How do I get all the way up there? Will this rope work well for rigging? What's a block? What's a VT? The questions were pretty much endless! The biggest question I had though, had to do with gear. What harness is best for a beginner and what rope should I be using? So I started looking into it, and even back then the results were daunting! No worries, though, because I'm here to tell you where resources for new climbers can be found.

Now-a-days, a new climber must be completely overwhelmed by the amount of gear that is on the market. Through online dealers, as well as the plethora of Facebook and Youtube personalities pushing their favorite gear, it is all a bit much to take in for the fledgling climber that just wants to get their feet off the ground. There has to be a good place to start looking for resources for new climbers, right?

After spending three days of talking with the heads of our industry at one of the biggest tree shows of the year, it has really revived my passion for tree work! The TCIA Expo gets me pumped every year to come back to work and start putting new techniques and different procedures in place at my own company. It also helps me get a great understanding of where other company owners are at with their own companies, as well as getting to ask them questions about how to make my company better! There really is no better place to get so much information under one roof! If you missed the 2017 TCIA Expo, no worries, I've got you covered.

From working trade shows and talking with climbers from around the country, the one thing I always hear is how much climbers love the Petzl Zig Zag! This mechanical descender takes the place of your friction hitch and allows the climber to flow through the tree with the touch of a finger! Imagery aside, this device is a huge stepping stone is most climbers' careers, signaling a move away from the Blake's Hitch or Tautline into cutting edge climbing.'

Two Great New Climbing Line Options

There are two really cool new climbing lines that have been released in the past month from Teufelberger that we would love to tell you about! These climbing lines would make a great Christmas present for any tree climber in your family! These new lines are called Xstatic and drenaLINE, and each works great for different types of climbing. Teufelberger is probably best known for Tachyon; its powerhouse DdRT or MRS rope. These two new lines help fill in the areas that Tachyon was lacking and should be immediately added to your holiday wish list.

Are You Winter-Ready?

With fall already here and full-blown winter lurking just around the corner, itâ€â„¢s probably a good time to discuss some warmer apparel for the chilly weather ahead. Whether you are out there smashing logs into blocks, getting every last piece of dead wood out of that giant Oak, running around to get your fall fertilization done, or meeting up with customers for estimates, we all want to be warm and comfortable when Old Man Winter comes around! So letâ€â„¢s take a look at some of the best apparel we have to keep you warm and comfortable this winter season!

When you think about the most used knot in the tree industry, what comes to mind first? Maybe the Blake's Hitch? What about the Clove Hitch, that's pretty useful right? How about the Figure Eight? Wait, you thought about all of those before the Bowline??? The Bowline is easily one of the most used and most useful knots in the tree industry!'

I have found myself lately using the 'V Rig' technique more and more when I'm working in a spread out tree or a tree with relatively low tie-in points. The V Rig technique is a neat little tool to have in your bag of tricks for when the tree decides to get you into those weird positions that you just can't quite get comfortable in. After practicing this technique, I have found myself using it to get a better position while cabling, pruning, or even crane removals.

With winter quickly approaching, many tree companies are hustling to keep up with the summer rush of removals and pruning work. It seems October and November always brings the biggest rush ' other than in the spring. Pretty much any time leaves are forming or leaves are falling, customers notice their trees! What if there was a way to make a little bit more out of the fall rush and make trees healthier at the same time? Fall fertilization is a great thing that can help boost the health of the trees, especially after they have been pruned. Additionally, fall fertilization it is a great added up sell for almost every pruning job!

How many of you went to the TCIA Expo in Columbus Ohio in November? We have been going to the Expo for the past six years and it is always a blast to see our old friends and to meet new ones! Over the years we have met climbers and business owners from around the world that have flocked to the TCIA Expo for knowledge and networking. We love our tree family and want to continue to see it grow.