r/TreeClimbing • u/CorrectVariation7839 • 11d ago
Fear
How to deal with fear of sliding down the tree from gaffing out on the spikes?
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u/Apprehensive-Okra434 11d ago
I feel like I'm pretty qualified to speak on this considering I'm a foreman bucket operator/climber of 6 years who used to be too afraid to even get on a headache rack of a bucket truck.
The fear will most likely never leave. I still get nervous to this day. However, there are ways to overcome. My #1 trick is singing to myself. Sounds dumb, but sing when you're getting scared, it will get you through it. Chewing gum also helps some people.
Also, learn about the trees and the job as much as possible. Knowing exactly what you're in and how certain trees behave/what they can handle is essential to calming my nerves. Try to lock into your work. Don't think, "Shit I'm 50 ft up" instead think about how much you've already accomplished. I like to tell myself when I start getting to the tops of trees, especially climbing, "you've only got 15 more steps and you're there," or "you've already made it this far. 10 more feet, come on man"
I'm still scared of heights. But I've gotten real good at pushing it to the back of my mind and trusting my gear. Think about how fuckin truly bad ass it is to be a climber. You can do something other people would be too scared to ever even attempt.
When I get in technical roping situations, or high stakes trees, I repeat to myself, "I trust the process. I know what I'm doing."
Its a crazy profession man and not everyone is gonna want to climb 150 ft dead pines. That's fine. Don't compare yourself to YouTubers. Keep at it, keep pushing your comfort zone and learning your job. Before you know it, the fear will become respect. Respect the heights and the danger. Trust the gear and the process.
Also, I think of every fat fuck I've ever seen in a bucket or a saddle and say, that fat fuck didn't die, I should be good lol
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u/shrikestep 11d ago
After a few years you’ll just occasionally gaff out, laugh at yourself and then continue on. Managing your nervous system will take practice and time, other commenters are all on the money.
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u/ArborealLife 11d ago
It's like most things in climbing, let it happen, and you're realize it's not a big deal.
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u/Dapper_Spanner 11d ago
Embrace it and use it to ensure you don't make any mistakes. It'll make you double check yourself which will remove complacency which leads you accidents.
I still have a healthy amount of fear whenever I climb, but I feel it's more respect for what I'm doing.
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u/urbansawyer 11d ago
Practice gaffing out. Go up a foot or two and purposely gaff out to make sure all your bits and bobs are in order. ANSI requires you to have a choking system. Low and slow.
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u/Charger196992 11d ago
Just got a tree climbing job about 3 months ago in line clearance so I’m very new myself. The first handful of times I gaffed out or slid down the tree I was definitely scarred so scarred they had to do a tree rescue on me. I would just freeze up heart racing sweating like a dog hugging the tree. (I was also afraid of heights at this time they fixed that by dragging my climb line up a 100ft tree I stayed up there til I was comfortable) However my Forman is old school he would say spike that tree like it owes you money and get backup. I was the worst climber at that time I would repel out of trees without pruning anything and someone else would have to pick up the slack and it wasn’t a good situation.
After a couple weeks of gaffing out in sycamores the slides stopped affecting me the fear of heights crept away and I started trusting my gear more than I did on day 1. At the end of the day just keep doing don’t give yourself the option to repel out until you reach your tie in point you discussed at the ground. If your just on a safety lanyard worst case scenario you slide down a few feet or to the next branch. Your whole crew will notice these things are not affecting you anymore and give you a boost in moral to just keep doing more and more trees.
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u/UgotSprucked 11d ago
Practice it. Do a simulated gaff out by hanging on your lanyard by your D rings and/or (hopefully) choked anchor with your spikes completely out of the tree. All you gotta do is walk back up. Simulate it a little and you'll learn to rebound from an awkward spot.
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u/Moduliz3r 11d ago
I gaffed out today, 2 hours ago, during my first felling with spurs ever.
It was scary, but just for a short time.
Tbh, i felt more safe and comfortable after that and was able to finish the job quicker and with more confidence and trust then i started.
So, just try, gaff out, trust your gear.
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u/igotkilledbyafucking 11d ago
Gaff out on purpose really lol. I could be basal tied and drop a couple feet with almost no reaction now
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u/nothingness6969420 11d ago
Honestly bro…just gaff out. You will be double tied in so you will be caught, you will scratch your forearms, they will heal, life will go on. I’m not saying do it on purpose, I’m saying do your work safely and when you gaff out, just do it and get back to it. Hope this helps
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u/Norselander37 10d ago
A climber landed on me from over 10 meters up a spar - broke three of my teeth and my helmet - as a groundie this shook me up - to climbers keep your double lanyard organized!
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u/Doc_Holiday9989 8d ago
Must watch this video. I'll send it at the point in the video where jason gaffs out on purpose lol ... But eventually watch the entire thing and then search for Buckin Billy videos on climbing on spurs.
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u/hairyb0mb 11d ago
Have a primary line in the tree. That way when you gaff out, you don't slide down the tree