Unpopular opinion: climbers shouldn't use spikes on living trees for removals

Watched a crew in Austin last month spike up a healthy oak just to take down a few dead limbs. I've been climbing for 13 years and never once needed spikes for a removal that wasn't already dead or hazardous. If you're spiking a live tree, you're leaving permanent damage for the next guy. Who else thinks footlocking and proper rope work should be standard on live removals?

2 comments

2 Comments

ray3561d agoMost Upvoted

Man, I hear you. I watched a crew in Dallas last year spike a live pecan to take out one big limb and the trunk was just shredded. All those little holes are like open wounds for bugs and disease to get in. That tree probably won't make it five more years now. Ngl, it's lazy work and it gives the whole trade a bad name when people see that kind of thing.

laura_schmidt821d ago

Totally agree, it's like watching people take shortcuts that just make more work down the line. Seems like everywhere you look folks are picking the easy way instead of the right way, and trees just end up paying the price.