Tree Climbing Spurs

Among the many skills of John Andrew Hancock was his finely developed skill to take out large trees next to a home without injury or property damage. For some of the time, while we lived outside of Roosevelt Utah, Dad worked for Moon Lake Electric; a power company in the North Eastern Utah and western Colorado. His work for this utility company was primarily clearing power lines. While living near Roosevelt,to provide added income for the family, he also did independent contract work, including tree removal. Dale was working with dad once when the job was to remove a customer’s large tree that had grown up close to their home. Cutting this tree down was very challenging and dangerous because of its size and position next to the house. The strength of the rope being used to secure and keep the falling tree in check was questionable as to its being strong enough for the task at hand. Although dad was very skilled at falling a tree right where he wanted it; this job was more difficult than usual. Dale remembers a lesson he learned during this particular job. While Dale was in the process of working in preparation for this removal, he found himself alone and wondered where Dad was. In looking about, Dale walked around the corner of the house found Dad kneeling in prayer. Dale then backed away and waited. After praying about the task, and a great deal of work, the tree was successfully removed without loss or harm and Dale was given an example of praying about one’s work. He knew of Dad’s faith, and this moment affirmed dads faith in God’s ability and willingness to help when we are in need. Tree trimming and removal is bursting with risk. Not only is the likelihood of personal harm to be anticipated and avoided, but everything under and around the tree is vulnerable to damage. Included are potential hazards while cutting up, loading, transporting and disposing; which all add to the liabilities. Having been onsite as a youth for an abundance of tree removal projects working with my brothers and father, and having some scars and frightful learning experiences, I felt qualified to do the same and have been quite successful on numerous projects. As a handyman I have long included tree removal as one of my services. Many years ago, at a yard sale, I found a set of utility lineman’s pole climbing spurs and belts which I was delighted to find as it added to my ability to ascend tall trees for cutting and trimming. The set was well used and old when I found them, and that must have been close to 40 years ago. I have used the set, mostly on pine trees, for many years on various projects at home and abroad. I recall once when my parents were visiting, Dad saw the climbing equipment and commented that those spurs were two short for tree work, pointing out that they were meant for climbing poles. I agreed they were definitely pole spurs and mentally I reasoned they were certainly not right for trees with thick tree bark like the cottonwoods which I had often seen him work in, but, I rationalized, the spurs should be fine in climbing trees with a thin bark like pine trees. I never did upgrade to real tree climbing spurs which have spikes an inch or so longer. I also never replaced either of the two belts which came with the spurs. This might also be a good time to admit that Janet does not approve of my off the ground ventures and she did not know what job I was going to on Tuesday, May 31st. In recent years, she has repeatedly expressed her disapproval of my working in trees or on roofs. This is not the first time heeding her counsel, or my fathers, would have been a better course of action. I am reminded of the direction of church authorities regarding councils, which includes the direction for all to be heard from and a unity should be sought for the decisions made. I went to the home of a friend, David Lewis in Colorado Springs, where he had a large willow tree which had dying branches and was a threat to anything under it, as large branches were regularly breaking off. My task was to take out the tree before it caused any damage. I climbed up above the end of the long extension ladder I had and started cutting about 38’ up on a large branch hanging over the neighbor’s yard. I was taking this tree down incrementally to reduce chances of damage and had Ben Lewis and Eric Stegman, on the ground, lowering branches by a rope I tied to each piece before cutting. We were making good progress on the largest branch, which hung over a neighboring property, when one of my spurs cut through the soft bark of the willow and my foot slipped sideways and downward. The sideway shift caused the second spur to slip and both feet were sliding down the trunk of the large branch. The old safety strap, which had been around the tree, snagged the stub of a cut off limb and tore through, sending me out of the tree backwards. From the point of the strap breaking, it is estimated I fell about 15’. I landed on the back of my shoulders and neck and I have a large bruise on my right hip and a small cut on my scalp. The fall alarmed the young men there and I heard “Call 911, call 911”. Dave Lewis came out quickly and rendered a bit of triage and helped me to my feet as I refused to lay still. Dave then took me home and gave me a blessing. Janet drove me to the Hospital Emergency Room where I received a neck brace, some staples in my scalp, some pain prescriptions, a couple of CT scans and a diagnosis of a fractured C5 vertebrae. I pray for, and expect a full, although, not likely to be a quick recovery.