Tree Climbing Spikes

Talking Trees with Lily and Jad . Welcome to Talking Trees , your guide into the dynamic world of arboriculture and tree climbing . In today's episode , we're focusing on tree climbing spurs . We'll explore a comprehensive overview from expert sources . We'll also examine discussions on the potential damage these spurs can inflict on trees .

Hey everyone , welcome back for another deep dive . You know we like to tackle the tough topics and I think we've got a good one today .

Oh yeah , this one gets people riled up for sure .

We're talking climbing spurs , and you know , as arborists , I think it's a thing we all deal with on a pretty regular basis . Yeah , so are they a necessary evil , or are they just evil ?

Right , or are they just bad ?

Yeah , and so we're going to dive into

Yeah , a lot of opinions out there .

Yeah , so let's just jump right into it . Yeah , the YouTube guy . He kind of breaks down the anatomy of spurs and you know , you've got all the different parts , you know the upper pads and the shank and the lower straps , but the real star of the show is the gaff .

That's the business end .

Yeah , that's the pokey part .

The pokey part . That's a very technical term .

Yeah , so , and he talks about all the different types of gaffs too , like there's the tree gaff , the pole gaff and then some sort of like hybrid in between .

Yeah , you don't see those hybrids as much anymore , but they're out there .

Yeah , and then , and then the materials too , like he talks about starting out with just basic steel and then moving up to aluminum , and it made me wonder , you know like do you think the material actually makes a difference in terms of impacting the tree ?

Yeah , that's a good question . Um , you know , I think a lot of people would assume layer material equals less damage with less force but I don't know if it's quite that simple . I think it probably has more to do with the sharpness and how it's actually used . Technique , yeah , yeah , exactly .

So then he has a whole section on boots , which I thought was kind of funny .

Oh yeah , the boot quest .

Yeah , like it was like a whole like you know side quest to find the perfect boot and he uses Lyman boots for winter . He had a whole funny story about almost getting his foot run over by a chip truck but he does make a good point about the stiffness of the boot .

You know , and I think anyone who's climbed in spurs for a while can attest to that . Oh yeah , your feet will tell you

Oh yeah , big time . So then he does this , this goffing out demonstration , and I have to admit I was a little nervous watching this , like I thought it was going to be way more dramatic .

You were expecting a big fall .

Yeah , I was expecting , like you know , some crazy stuff , and it wasn't really that bad .

Yeah , well , he's a pro .

Yeah , but he does say you know , gaffing out is something that every climber should expect to happen at some point . Yeah , it's going to , it's not a matter of Exactly . And he does mention , you know , like three scenarios that make gaffing out like extra dangerous .

Oh , like what .

So being near branches that you could hit on the way down , also not having secure footing , if you're like using a chainsaw- oh yeah , you don't want to be off balance with a chainsaw . No , no , no . And then like climbing those really like skinny slick trunks where you could just slide all the way down .

Oof . Yeah , that's a long way down .

Yeah . So let's get into the big debate here , the spurs and tree health thing , because the forums were just like blowing up about that .

Oh yeah , that's a hot topic .

Yeah . So you know , there's the common argument , right ? Yeah , spikes equals damage to the cambium , which then leads to disease , and you know , ultimately dead trees , right ? That's kind of the the simplified version , yeah .

Really .

Yeah , and there were others saying similar things . You know , like they've been climbing the same trees for years with no noticeable damage .

Hmm , Well ,

Right , Like what are they actually noticing ?

Exactly , and it makes you wonder too , like what species are we talking about here ?

You know Right , are they all oaks or are they ? You know something more sensitive ?

Yeah , and how often are they actually climbing these trees too ? That's true , you know , once a year is a lot different than every other week .

Yeah for sure . And then you've got this guy WHW . He says he's been climbing for 45 years using spurs and he's only seen one questionable death that he thinks could be linked to spurs . He even mentions this property with all these oaks that have been repeatedly climbed with spurs over the years and they're all still thriving , producing acorns like crazy .

Interesting .

Yeah , and then a bunch of people were bringing up the point that pruning cuts are actually bigger than spur holes .

Oh yeah , you hear that a lot .

Yeah , and trees generally recover from those , just fine .

That's true .

So what's the deal with that ?

Oh , I think it's important to remember that a pruning cut is made with a sharp tool , right At a specific location and in a way that's designed to help the tree heal .

So it's not just about the size of the wound .

Exactly .

It's about the type of wound and how it's made . So are you saying that like a pruning cut might seem bigger on the surface , but it's actually less damaging in the long run ?

Yeah , that's what the research suggests .

Wow , this is complicated .

It is . It's a lot more nuanced than people think , and it's not just about you know one single wound either . It's about the cumulative effect .

Over time , yeah .

Yeah , like a death by a thousand cuts .

Oh , that's a good one .

Right . Each individual wound might not be a big deal , but over time all those little injuries can add up .

Especially if the tree's already stressed .

Right , exactly , you know drought , soil compaction pests .

Yeah , all that stuff .

It can all make a tree more susceptible to problems , and that's where , you know , minimizing spur use , even on those thicker bark species , comes in Right . I mean , a mature oak might be able to handle a few spur holes , but why risk it if there's a safer way to get up there ?

Yeah , good point , and our YouTube guy . He talks about , you know , placing the spurs between the furrows of the bark .

Oh yeah , that's a good technique .

Yeah , where it's less likely to penetrate the cambium .

It's all about minimizing that damage , you know yeah being intentional , exactly damage , you know being intentional exactly .

He also says sharper spurs are less likely to cause gaff outs . Oh , that makes sense .

Yeah , sharper gaff bites into the wood more cleanly holds , more securely yeah , and that's why keeping your spurs sharp is so important oh yeah , maintenance yeah , dull spurs are more likely to slip and that it can damage the tree , and it's dangerous for the climber too .

Oh , yeah , you don't be slipping around up there no , no , you don't . He had a whole thing about not walking on pavement with your spurs on , especially the lighter materials like the carbon fiber .

Oh yeah , those can get dinged up pretty easily .

Yeah , and then that affects their performance in the tree .

Yeah , exactly .

Makes sense . And then gaff guards too .

Oh yeah , those are a good idea .

Yeah , those are a good idea . Yeah , protect your spurs and protect everything else that you might bump into .

Oh right , your truck , your shins .

Yeah , exactly , safety first .

Always

You know , going through all this stuff , it really makes you think about how important it is to stay up to date on best practices . Yeah , we need to move beyond the anecdotes and the gut feelings .

Right and really look at the science .

Yeah , and , you know , maybe even have some tough conversations with clients who are like no , I want you to use spurs .

Yeah , sometimes you got to educate the client .

Yeah , because , at the end of the day , our reputation as arborists depends on our ability to balance , you know , efficiency with tree health .

Absolutely . We can't sacrifice one for the other .

And I think that's one thing that really came out of those forum discussions was that tension between you know the old school guys who've been using spurs forever , and then you know the newer generation that's more focused on tree preservation .

Yeah , there's definitely some pushback against this idea that spurs are inherently bad .

Yeah , and to be fair , you know there are skilled climbers who've been using spurs for decades without you know seeing massive tree die off .

Right , but that doesn't mean there isn't an impact .

It's that whole correlation versus causation thing .

Exactly .

You know , we can't say for sure that spurs are killing trees , but we also can't ignore the potential for harm .

Right , and that's where the idea of cumulative stress comes back in . Yeah , one spur hole might not be a problem for a healthy tree , but if that tree is already

Right , it could be the tipping point .

Yeah , exactly , it's like the straw that breaks the camel's back .

So we really need to consider the big picture , you know the whole tree the whole site the whole lifespan of the tree . Yeah , and make decisions based on all of that information .

Not just on . You know whether or not we want to get up there quickly .

Right Efficiency isn't everything .

You know , don't be afraid to challenge the status quo .

Right , keep learning , keep asking questions .

Exactly and be willing to change your practices as new information emerges .

Because , at the end of the day , it's all about doing what's best for the tree .

Absolutely . That's our job as arborists to be advocates for the trees .

And I think that's a great place to wrap things up .

Yeah , thanks for joining us on the Deep Dive .

And keep climbing .

Thank you for joining us on this episode of Talking Trees . Today we unraveled the essentials of tree climbing spurs , from understanding what they are and how to choose the right ones , to mastering safe techniques and navigating potential tree damage .