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Setting routes on trees?

Original Post
Greg Stokes · · Smithers, BC CANADA · Joined Mar 2013 · Points: 120

Hey so I was just cruising the atomik climbing holds site, and they had a suggestion of using screw-on holds on trees to make top rope routes. Has anyone actually tried this? What about lead routes? There is an area near my home that has lots of huge trees with very few branches in the lower 60' or so that are slated to be cleared in the next year or two anyways, I was thinking of experimenting with this... Taking a whipper onto a 5" lag bolt can't be any worse than some of the placements I've trusted in the past...

Locker · · Yucca Valley, CA · Joined Oct 2002 · Points: 2,349

Yeah! Great idea! Why climb the branches when you can drill fucking holes all over the damned things?

Who needs trees anyway.

;-)

Greg Stokes · · Smithers, BC CANADA · Joined Mar 2013 · Points: 120

Yes I would not normally do this kind of thing, but the whole area is going to be clearcut for a real estate development by 2015, so I thought it might be an interesting experiment since there's not a whole lot if climbing nearby...

Gunkiemike · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2009 · Points: 3,492

I've done it. The lag bolts can get stuck in live wood; I actually sheared one off that was in a white ash tree for a couple years. My lead tree is protected by 4 inch x 3/8 galvanized spikes. It's an old (dead) oak tree and required a mini sledge to pound them in. They ain't going to come out. Never fell on them though.

Locker · · Yucca Valley, CA · Joined Oct 2002 · Points: 2,349
"My lead tree"

Too funny!

LOL!

EDITED:

"but the whole area is going to be clearcut for a real estate development by 2015"

In that case GRIDBOLT those fuckers and have at it!

;-)
Locker · · Yucca Valley, CA · Joined Oct 2002 · Points: 2,349

^^^

Dude's got a good point (Quite a few actually).

Tom-onator · · trollfreesociety · Joined Feb 2010 · Points: 790

"A tree is a living organism and you are going to damage it (severely) by installing a line of climbing holds up the side of the thing."

How many families in 'merica have done irreparable damage to trees by simply building a tree house for the young'uns?

The shame and horror of it all.

Mature trees are a fairly resilient species. If they are indeed destined for clearing then lag away and post up photos.

Greg Stokes · · Smithers, BC CANADA · Joined Mar 2013 · Points: 120

I totally agree, I know many people here in the forestry industry and would not want to see anyone hurt due to my actions. With this in mind, I had planned on removal of all hardware at the end of next season before the trees are harvested. But it sounds like maybe lag bolts will not want to come out, and the whole trespassing thing would probably not end well for me...

Mostly I was a bit curious, I had never seen this kind of a setup and was surprised to see a hold company advocating this kind of thing, and was wondering if in other places this might be a more common practice... Sounds like not so much. Thanks for the feedback

Locker · · Yucca Valley, CA · Joined Oct 2002 · Points: 2,349

Wait until they cut all the trees down, mill them, then use the wood to make a "Woodie".

Problem solved!

Dan Felix · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2012 · Points: 35
John Farley wrote:Greg: I regularly do various types of tree work and milling.
As a landscaper with a bit of arboriculture in my background, John beat me to it.

Hell, here in NH you can't put anything INTO a tree for a hunting stand without permission from the landowner. I can't even begin to imagine how a line of 5" lags would be viewed in multiple trees....
frankstoneline · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2009 · Points: 30
John Farley wrote:Greg: I regularly do various types of tree work and milling. I don't particularly like the idea you are suggesting or that is being encouraged by Atomik for countless reasons. While arborists and fallers are conscious of the fact that metal foreign objects may be in the trees they are working with, it is not always easy to see or find. Since the tress you are considering are going to be cut down and processed in some form, consider the effects of your '5" lag' on the following scenarios: 1). Chainsaw vs lag 2). Woodchipper vs lag 3). Mill (Bandsaw or swing blade) vs lag Nails, lags, screws, bullets, any such metal in wood has a very negative effect on any of the above...At best costly and time-consuming damage/repairs, at worst potentially fatal consequences. All that aside, Locker brings up my first issue with the idea; A tree is a living organism and you are going to damage it (severely) by installing a line of climbing holds up the side of the thing. Another issue for you on this particular project: Trespassing.
Best not to make life any harder for those finding lucrative gains in irresponsible use of natural resources, lest their subdivision profits be diminished...
Ope · · NFA · Joined Oct 2012 · Points: 0
Greg Stokes wrote:Hey so I was just cruising the atomik climbing holds site, and they had a suggestion of using screw-on holds on trees to make top rope routes. Has anyone actually tried this? What about lead routes? There is an area near my home that has lots of huge trees with very few branches in the lower 60' or so that are slated to be cleared in the next year or two anyways, I was thinking of experimenting with this... Taking a whipper onto a 5" lag bolt can't be any worse than some of the placements I've trusted in the past...
Why use lags when you can girth hitch the tree with some old webbing or climbing rope for your protection! Regarding holds, make your own that you can strap-on. This way you can change round, plus less damage to trees!

Any other ideas?

Ope.
frankstoneline · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2009 · Points: 30
John Farley wrote:Howdy Frank. Not in the sub-division biz myself. Out of curiosity, what do you do for a living?
I teach for a living. Despite what is suggested above, I don't live in a tent, I live in a house, though not one in a subdivision (I grew up in one of those). I'm not saying the housing developments or construction are wrong, I just don't think we need to encourage construction of structures of that type any more.
Jesse Newton · · catskills · Joined Dec 2011 · Points: 145
george wilkey · · travelers rest sc · Joined Jan 2013 · Points: 235

as a former arborist and professional tree worker, I agree with all these comments about hurting the tree. I also know from experience that the guy that cuts into your lag while harvesting that tree will cry out for your blood.

so, if you know the trees will be cut, bolt away but remove the bolts before they are harvested. if you bolt a tree that will not be cut its actually better for the tree to leave the bolt and let the tree grow around it. removing it just opens a big hole for insects and disease to enter.

as already pointed out, why not just climb the tree?

Ryan H · · Chamblee, GA · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 0

We play a lot of Disc Golf here in Atlanta since there are not many rocks close by. We are constantly scoping out trees for Tree-boulder problems. Sourwoods are generally the best as they twist and arch out multiple leaders in search of more light. Or trees that have been bent over provide some nice inverted roof climbing. Trees are plenty of fun to climb as is, no need for screwed on holds.

5.samadhi Süñyātá · · asheville · Joined Jul 2013 · Points: 40
george wilkey wrote: as already pointed out, why not just climb the tree?
are you purposely trying to come across as dense?

Because climbing a tree in no way resembles specific and efficient training for climbing?

And why should I (or the OP) have any sympathy for the forester who has just as much (but not more) of a right to use the trees as I do. Why should my noble pursuit of climbing objects be set aside for his pursuit of tree harvesting?
Mike Lane · · AnCapistan · Joined Jan 2006 · Points: 880

An old, dead cottonwood with the bark fallen off would be perfect for this. Rob Candelaria used to rig up trees with holds too.

Dan Felix · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2012 · Points: 35
5.samadhi wrote:And why should I (or the OP) have any sympathy for the forester who has just as much (but not more) of a right to use the trees as I do. Why should my noble pursuit of climbing objects be set aside for his pursuit of tree harvesting?
Really? Just a bit entitled are we?

The damage to the tree aside, foresters (loggers in particular) are CONTRACTED by the landowner or a landowner designee to harvest the trees. Unless you get a contract of any sort (IOW, a permission slip) from the actual landowner, your entire statement is completely asinine.
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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