The Working Climber video series aims to teach safety and proficiency in the procedures of climbing and working in trees.

Understand… every aspect of practical tree work has a long list of risks and hazards associated with it, and through this series I point out literally thousands of things one needs to know to minimize the risks and maximize their proficiency. Mistakes are costly and unforgiving in this work. So when it comes to safety listen up! Work smart, work safe, and leave nothing to chance!

The Working Climber video series is essentially the Fundamentals of General Tree Work in video format, and think about it… you get to listen to me lecture for over 20 hours.

It’s a lot of video to sit though, and to ensure you dont miss anything you need to watch it several times over and listen real carefully, because it is impossible for most people to take in all that’s covered in this series through the course of a single sitting. I talk almost steady through through these videos, and I do not repeat much of what I say. So again, it is important to watch and listen carefully, and take notes while you’re at it. Just so you don’t miss a thing.

As content goes there’s a lot of early helmet-cam video from 2003 to 2007. Recorded in DV format, 500 line resolution and mastered to DVD, which looks pretty funky on big screen TVs today. But the quality of the video isn’t so important, it’s what I’m saying while the video is rolling that is. Take my word thousands of hours of field work went into making this 20 hour video set.

Click on any title in the series to learn more about about what’s covered, and watch the trailer videos for Series One and Two.

Again, the combined length of this video set is over 20 hours! Yeow!

Also now available on USB

Sample videos from Series 2 Cutting and Rigging in the Tree

ACCESS AND MOVEMENT THROUGH THE TREE

4 hours and 7 minutes

Disc One: The Throwline 60 minutes

In preparation to enter a tree the modern arborist will set a rope in it first. This title shows and tells of the different ways and means to accomplish this most important first step.

Disc Two: Entering The Tree 1 hour and 42 minutes

After a line is set in the tree the next step is to enter it. This title shows the most approved methods used by the modern arborist to enter a tree today.

Disc Three: Using The Climbline 1 hour and 25 minutes

The climbline is the Arborists most valuable tool. With it they can access the far reaches of a tree and work safely within the fragile nature of its limbs and tops. The use of the climbline for movement through a tree is more in-depth than the the layman can imagine.

WORKING CLIMBER SERIES Two

Cutting and Rigging in the Tree

CUTTING AND RIGGING IN THE TREE

6 Hours and 32 minutes

Disc One: CUTTING TOOLS 1 Hour 50 Minutes

HAND SAW — 12:08, POLE SAW — 10:42, CHAINSAW — 36:57, THE CUTS — 50:35

3 titles describing how to safely use cutting tools. ‘The Cuts’ examines theories and mechanics of the different cuts used in the dismantling of a tree from aloft.

Disc Two: PRACTICAL ASPECTS 2 hours 31 minutes

LIMB IT UP — 56:39, TOP IT OUT — 60:37, CHUNK IT DOWN — 37:14

3 titles on this disc present the scope, procedure, and hazards associated with cutting limbs, tops and trunk sections of a tree.

Disc Three: RIGGING IN THE TREE 2 Hours 8 minutes

This single title looks at the tools, the theories and the forces involved during rigging procedures in the tree. Extensive

WORKING CLIMBER SERIES Three Part 1

Cutting and Rigging in the Tree

Examining the Tree – 42 minutes, Considering the work Environment – 61 minutes, Understanding Wood Fiber – 11 minutes.

Trees are highly variable and hold many natural defects, which a sawyer must recognize before taking any steps to fall them. Hazards abound in our work environment and to be truly safe in it a sawyer must be aware of everything around them. Insights to how wood fiber works– to hold a tree to the stump, while guiding it to fall to a lay.

Disc Two: THE MECHANICS OF THE FELLING CUT 2 hours and 18 minutes

3 titles: Undercut – 33 minutes, Diagonal Cut – 38 minutes, Back Cut – 65 minutes.

The mechanics of tree felling as practiced in the Pacific Northwest forests. The theory of how the felling cut is applied to fall a fair standing tree is discussed in broad detail in this title. With the notion that if a beginner can grasp the basics first the more advance theories and techniques will come easier. It all starts with the basics.

Disc Three: PROMPTING THE TREE 1 hour and 40 minutes

3 titles: Wedging the Tree — 45 minutes, Jacking the Tree — 22 minutes, Pulling the Tree — 32 minutes

The wedge is an essential tool of the modern tree worker. Tips and techniques on using the felling wedge to prompt a tree to the lay are presented. The modern hydraulic tree jack is powerful and has far greater lifting range over the wedge. But despite the fact the tree jack carries certain risks if used unwisely. Pulling is the most sure means of getting any tree to a lay. Yet is is not a fool proof method. A sawyer must appreciate the importance that line angles play to gain leverage on a tree and lead it to the lay.

WORKING CLIMBER SERIES Three Part 2

Limbing and Bucking the Tree

3 hours and 50 minutes

Disc Four: LIMBING THE TREE – 1 hour and 17 minutes

Limbing and bucking procedure has little in common with felling procedure. Each involves a completely different school of thought, method and technique. Keeping safe here requires a sawyer to follow a whole new set of rules, and look at trees and each situation in a whole new sense.

This title begins with a close look at the requirement put on a sawyer to buck trees into preferred log lengths, and the many risks they are sure to come up against to meet this requirement.

Many of the risks inherent to limbing and bucking procedure are common in most scenarios we find ourselves in. So awareness of these common risks is the focus of this title.

Disc Five: BUCKING THE TREE – 1 hour 6 minutes

Keeping safe during the bucking procedure requires a keen understanding of how gravity, and the forces of tension and pressure, bear on the stems of a tree – to create binds. Model demonstrations are use in this title to show how binds are directed in different scenarios, and in each one, which sides of the stem bear the forces of tension and pressure.

Practical examples follow to illustrate the risks a sawyer is up against when stepping into a particular bind scenario. Emphasis is put on recognizing the risks, making correct decisions, and using approved methods.

Disc Six: SUPPLEMENTAL APPLICATIONS 1 hour 26 minutes

The Snipe, Block Out Face, Side Lean, Co-dominant scenarios, Wind Falls, Goose Pen, Folding Tree, The Dutchman, Lopping, and The Coos Bay Cut

This disc contains 9 short videos demonstrating alternative methods a sawyer might consider using to put additional control on a tree, and for solving some of the practical problems they are sure to come up against in the field.

WORKING CLIMBER VIDEO SERIES  on USB 2.0

Plays on laptops, desktops, and most portable devices with USB ports. Compatible with USB 3.0 Content and descriptions are the same as the DVD Series. Popular MP4 video format. No skipping, stuttering or freezing issues common to DVD playback devices.

Over 20 hours of smooth playing MP4 video on compact USB.  $60 each Series

$60.00 per unit

USB available NOW
DVDs still available above