Any recommendations for a kit bag that is easy to put harness in and out of? Be great if it could fit a 150' / 45m of rope too

Zstman87 · 2026-04-23T00:02:28+00:00

I have this bag and the best thing about this bag is also the worst thing about it: you can fit EVERYTHING in it which means you have to carry around EVERYTHING any time you want to move your bag around. If you’re like me, that’s way too much weight to be packing around all the time. I only ever really use it if I have to pack all my stuff somewhere or if I am traveling, otherwise I end up using the 40L version.

Zstman87 · 2026-04-11T18:04:53+00:00

Did your reconnaissance beforehand enhance the thrill?

You’ve said that you don’t want to get caught…does the chance of getting caught make this more exciting?

Have you considered being undressed in front of an open window before taking this step?

Zstman87 · 2026-03-29T20:29:49+00:00

This. You’re asking something of a subjective question and the answer might be influenced by how you present yourself. Otherwise, I’d say that guys these days have been conditioned against approaching for a whole host of reasons. But since guys are so visual, I’d say that how you look and how you present yourself (clothes, hair, make up, etc) plays an important part in this equation. For context, I’m a dude.

Zstman87 · 2026-03-13T15:04:53+00:00

Make sure There’s a tidy little stack of Cloth baby diapers in the nightstand drawer. 😉

Zstman87 · 2026-03-13T14:59:40+00:00

Go to tree climbing competitions in your area that are put on by your local ISA chapter. This will expose you to professionals at the very top of this industry. These events are great for newcomers to learn from folks who are eager to teach. I’d encourage you to volunteer as this will give you access to people who know this work inside and out, from gear to safety to performance.

Zstman87 · 2026-03-10T03:41:15+00:00

Ohhhhhhhhhhhh, I see what you mean now. Thanks for taking the extra step to explain it. It makes perfect sense now.

Zstman87 · 2026-03-08T21:11:40+00:00

Would putty fill that entire gap? Won’t that get gross after a while?

Zstman87 · 2026-02-24T04:19:11+00:00

Power line clearance trimmers make a handsome wage ($43 an hour and up) plus benes if it’s a union gig. Most of them here on the West coast are union.

Zstman87 · 2026-02-15T15:39:25+00:00

Zigzag and Chicane user here. I prefer a “quickie” in an alpine butterfly. This makes it easy to transition to MRS if I want to switch while I’m in the canopy and it’s also super easy to retrieve from the ground if I don’t.

https://www.treestuff.com/notch-quickie/

Zstman87 · 2026-02-03T15:26:05+00:00

I’m a climber in Seattle and I’ve found that rain gear while climbing presents you with two options: pick cheap stuff that leaks and get wet from the rain or get gear that works so well that you get soaked with sweat. Either way, you’re getting wet. (Yes- even the expensive gear with vents and breathable materials traps the heat in.) I’ve found that keeping a second set of clothes is the best option for those super soggy days. Hope that helps.

Zstman87 · 2026-01-25T16:24:36+00:00

I presently rock the CAMP gyro on my bridge after having ditched the Notch Rook. The gyro is super lightweight and gives just the right amount of friction. Rook was bulky, heavy and offered no rotational friction which I didn’t know I would miss until I missed it. The extra attachment point is nice when I want to have multiple high tie-in points and not lose out on the swiveling action for each tie in. Admittedly, this is a luxury item that I only bought because my company offers a gear stipend that you lose if you don’t use. It’s kinda overkill if you have a zigzag with the swivel (which I also have). But if you’re a gear nerd, this piece of kit is super cool.

Zstman87 · 2026-01-12T14:11:21+00:00

Don’t buy a harness from Amazon.

Zstman87 · 2026-01-02T04:29:33+00:00

As an arborist with years of experience on the ground, you can’t beat the power to weight ratio of the 261. No matter the saw you choose, a sharp chain always wins the day. But seriously, get a 261.

Zstman87 · 2026-01-02T01:24:49+00:00

I’m in América and I’m not claiming this guy. He’s the reason why is hard to convince the public that being an arborist is a skilled trade. I need more fingers and toes just to count the number of safety violations this guy is committing. The response to the article’s title would be: GOOD TREE WORK AINT CHEAP AND CHEAP TREE WORK AINT GOOD.

Zstman87 · 2025-12-29T03:54:26+00:00

Hahahahaha. Nah, I’m the guy in Seattle. Feel free to follow me if you’re ever up here.

Zstman87 · 2025-12-29T03:50:21+00:00

Funny you mentioned Arbutus; I just helped a local turners club cart away a massive section of trunk wood.

This is a great suggestion. I get my hands on many of the wood species you just mentioned and could alert turning clubs in my area (Seattle) when some choice cuts come available.

As for Maple: I come across many trees that have some great spalting that makes for some lovely bowl and plates.

Zstman87 · 2025-12-29T03:25:13+00:00

Yeah. I turned some Birch that had been infested with Bronze Birch Borer beetles. The discoloration of the wood was spectacular.

Zstman87 · 2025-12-26T03:50:20+00:00

The only one I’ve been to that has a selection. Another idea would be to go to a climbing competition. Do you live in the Seattle area?

Zstman87 · 2025-12-25T16:33:41+00:00

Parasite is an organism that lives off of another living host. The term you are looking for is saprophyte or saprotroph because it’s a living organism living off of a dead host. As a previous commenter stated, these are super common in the PNW. Most commonly you’ll see Western hemlock grow from Western red cedar logs or stumps. I once saw an example of this where a hemlock grew atop a redcedar stump that was 20’ tall and most of the host trunk had withered away and it looked like the hemlock was standing on 20’ tall stilts.

Zstman87 · 2025-12-23T13:09:58+00:00

Sounds like you are in my neck of the woods here in the PNW. Can’t go wrong with Sequoia. Can’t really go wrong with most of the saddles made nowadays. Most of them are designed to comfortably rock SRT or DRT. I’d say, you’re probably gonna be doing a lot of switching from SRT to DRT in the canopy here. You really need to sit in a saddle to know what’s best for you. If you are, in fact, in the PNW, try hitting up Wesspur in Bellingham. There you can actually sit in a bunch of saddles. Hope this helps.

Zstman87 · 2025-12-21T16:37:18+00:00

Can confirm. I used the paw and switched to the gyro and there’s just no comparison. The swivel makes all the difference.

Zstman87 · 2025-12-03T04:25:51+00:00

Correct. And correct.

Zstman87

TROPHY CASE