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eric_k
Nov 5, 2011, 10:21 PM
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I no longer live near any ice. Have any of you used you ice gear to climb trees, they seem to be the closest thing to ice without driving for 10 hours, and I would like to practice technique. I guess another question is, how do you train for ice when there is no ice.
Eric
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moose_droppings
Nov 5, 2011, 10:32 PM
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eric_k wrote: I no longer live near any ice. Have any of you used you ice gear to climb trees, they seem to be the closest thing to ice without driving for 10 hours, and I would like to practice technique. I guess another question is, how do you train for ice when there is no ice. Eric
Yes, trees will work. If your going to do it a lot, find a dead tree, once or twice to a good sized live one won't kill it. Telephone poles work well too.
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dr_feelgood
Nov 7, 2011, 10:36 PM
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eric_k wrote: I no longer live near any ice. Have any of you used you ice gear to climb trees, they seem to be the closest thing to ice without driving for 10 hours, and I would like to practice technique. I guess another question is, how do you train for ice when there is no ice. Eric
Gunkiemike has bolted several dead trees in his back 40. PM him.
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sherpa79
Nov 8, 2011, 12:23 AM
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Please don't use your tools in live trees. It definitely will damage them. You can also invite a whole host of insect, structural, and fungal issues into the tree which can kill it.
I guess if it's your tree, go for it, but if it isn't, it's an irresponsible, and quite likely illegal, thing to do.
I'm an arborist. Trees are my buisiness and I've got a lot of experience looking at the wounds and damage that can be caused by tree gaffs, which are like crampons, in a way, but only have one point per boot. I use them regularly on removals, but I NEVER use them on trees that I'm just pruning. A lot of tree service guys who don't know how to climb using ascenders use them to do pruning jobs. Later I'm trying to fix or removing what they did. They'll also tell you that it won't kill a tree. So, pretty please, don't use your tools to get up a live tree.
Also if you find a dead tree you want to climb up DO be sure to inspect it thoroughly for root root, sound wood, horizontal cracking, etc. Otherwise that could be quite dangerous especially if you don't know how to properly assess the hazard that the tree might present to you. It's just like assessing snow or ice. It's good to know what you're looking at.
Recreational tree climbing is something a lot of people get into. If you don't live near the ice or rock anymore but still want to climb, consider that. There are ways to climb any tree that will not damage it. These present thier own set of problem solving skills and techniques. Though it isn't ice climbing, you might enjoy it.
Feel free to PM me about climbing trees, dead or alive.
(This post was edited by sherpa79 on Nov 8, 2011, 12:30 AM)
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dan2see
Nov 8, 2011, 2:11 AM
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Climbing trees is fun. But you should learn to free-climb.
Aid is a totally different scene, so leave the tools at home.
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sandstone
Nov 8, 2011, 3:24 PM
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eric_k wrote: ...how do you train for ice when there is no ice
I built a small wall (4' wide by ~12ft tall) with slots in it to accept my picks, and small blocks of wood screwed on for my feet. This is good for general conditioning, because training with your tools puts your arms/hands in the same orientation they will be when on ice. Hook your tools in the slots, move up, do a few pullups on the tools, move over a step, match on one tool for a few pullups, etc -- just mix it up so you don't get too bored. I think the biggest benefit of this training is mental. It gives you the confidence of knowing how long you can hang on without losing balance and control.
A slotted wall will not help your swing. I've got a small short handled sledge hammer that I swing (very slowly), simulating an ice tool swing. That gives some specific muscle conditioning, but it doesn't mimic the fast dynamic motion and aiming of a real swing. About the best thing I've found for simulating that is driving nails into an overhead block of wood with a framing hammer. Concentrate on good form, keeping your elbow in. Try to make perfect centered hits on the nail with every swing, especially when you start to get tired. Working through that gives you the mental advantage of knowing you can get a decent aim/stick on ice, even when your arms start turning to jelly.
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gunkiemike
Nov 13, 2011, 12:48 AM
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Dead oak or elm just after the bark has fallen off = training nirvana.
Vertical frontpoints (and especially monos) work better than flat frontpoints.
As for tools, in two words: don't overswing.
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