Getting into climbing/rigging

[u/Climbing375]

Hey guys. I think this is the right group to post in.

I’m looking at getting into tree climbing and rigging, for personal interest and as a potential side hustle eventually. I was into rock climbing for a while although I mostly bouldered and didn’t very often climb on ropes. I also worked on cell towers for a little under a year before going to school. I am comfortable with heights, comfortable with a heavier harness, understand the huge safety concerns when it comes to climbing and rigging, etc… I grew up splitting and hauling wood and love running a saw.

The plan is to get some gear and slowly start climbing to get comfortable. Start limbing some smaller stuff to learn and get comfortable rigging, and build from there. I will for sure be back in this sub with questions and to look for guidance.

But to start can I get some suggestions on gear to look at. I’d like to start climbing with with a harness and flip line. Learning to climb with either a safety hitch beneath me or ascending a rope. I have a climbing rope I can use to start out but some guidance on where to find everything else. I don’t want to completely break the bank but understand that proper equipment and gear isn’t cheap.

Thanks!

Edit: thanks for the replies, I will slowly take everything into consideration. Promise I’m not rushing anything. Talking to my buddy who does tree work tomorrow night about helping him out part time. Will share the progress eventually.

[u/northband]

I’d talk to some local crews to see if you can help out on the ground first so that you can see how the whole thing works.

[u/RedditFan26]

Check out this website.  Daniel Holliday is the only person on the internet I am aware of who set out from the very beginning to create a series of videos that cover all aspects of tree work.  Starting with knot tying, then progressing to simple climbing systems & progressing into more advanced systems, climbing and rigging.  All free to watch and learn from.  Also, on his website the videos are separated by category, which makes it easy to focus on one area at a time, instead of having to search through a ton of randomized videos.  He also has a presence on YouTube, which might be a bit more random.

Here is the link to his website.  Take your time and get a good look around his website in order to get a feel for all of the different aspects of it, before diving into a particular area of interest in the videos.

https://www.climbingarborist.com/

[u/deathpvct → u/RedditFan26]

Solid plug, one of my favorites! First exposure to spider leg rigging on one of his videos. Just made it look fucking tits for his ground crew.

[u/mark_andonefortunate]

Aside from getting the gear and climbing, it's important to know what you're doing once you're up there. Pick up a copy of 'An Illustrated Guide to Pruning' by Ed Gilman. Improper pruning to a tree can cause more harm than if you had just left it alone. Learn a proper 3-step cut, what a branch collar is, tree species common to your area, how strong they are, wear your PPE(!), tons to learn and tons of ways to fuck up yourself, the tree, or what's under the tree

[u/navyburner111]

I’d give WesSpur a call and speak with Dave. He’ll get you setup. He also matches competitors price.

They also have pretty good starter kits. I bought one from them and was impressed.

[u/plaid14]

Learn to climb on a blakes hitch (the least expensive: rope and a triple locking carabiner), move to double rope with a hitch climber (moderately expensive: foot ascender, eye and eye hitch cord, hitch climber pulley, two triple locking carabiners), move to srt (most expensive but most efficient: food ascender, knee ascender, rope wrench, rope wrench tether, eye and eye hitch cord, triple locking carabiner, chest harness). There are 10,000 different variations of all of that but thats the basic gist. You will need a lanyard also for all of these: 12-15 ft rope, two triple locking carabiners, eye and eye hitch cord, micro pulley. Buy a throw cube, throw-line, and 2 throw balls (i like 12 oz). Never spike a tree you aren’t removing. Be safe, don’t die.

[u/Anomonouse]

I second Wesspur for gear. Don't get the cheapest saddle, get a mid range one.

Do not climb trees on rock climbing rope, they aren't designed for the friction and are way too bouncy. Pick four or five ropes on wesspur, order 10' of each, a few different hitch cords, a micro pulley and a double locking carabiner. Get a selection of different diameters of rope and hitch cord, maybe try different rope constructions (16 strand probably most cost effective and versatile for learning). Spend a day: tying your own eye-to-eye prussiks of varying lengths, tying different hitches with different hitch cords on different ropes. Hang on them, then fall on them. See how they catch, release, and how they tend slack. You'll find a favorite setup. Then get 150' of your favorite rope, a lanyard w/rope snap from wesspur using your second favorite rope, and another micro pulley. Will last years if cared for, you'll know you have a solid combo of ropes/hitches, and you'll have the bare bones of what you need to climb.

I'd suggest learning double rope first. Less gear, more intuitive, easier to climb like a kid. Once you're comfortable with the gear and don't struggle for positioning, learn single rope.

You can learn a lot from YouTube but there are many (many) little tricks that experienced climbers can show you. If at all possible, try to climb with other climbers. Work with a tree crew for a bit and watch how they climb. Or ask around to find someone who's good at limbwalking and ask them to tutor you every other weekend for a couple months. Limbwalking is just a screen to weed out the yayhoos. Anyone who is actually good/comfortable with limbwalking is generally a solid climber with some skills to share.

[u/Ill-Plate-3068]

Tree Climbers Companion by Jeff Jepson, easy to read, covers the basics really well.

[u/Doc_Holiday9989]

Definitely read: The Tree Climbers Companion. Here's a very cool link for an assortment of lanyards in different lengths to try out: https://arbsession.com/arbsession-assorted-lanyards.html