Thank god you made it...... you've changed a lot of people's lives since then. I would most like not be a tree guy if it wasn't for your awesome videos.
Brother I just fell about 2 weeks ago. 34 foot free fall, didn't break anything thank goodness. Heat exhaustion and small mistakes all lead to one big accident. Learned a few lessons from that for sure. The fear is still with me...I just did a easy pine yesterday first time and could feel it. Much love brother, climb safe and safe climbs.
THANKS FOR SHARING THIS..what were the actual missteps that led to your fall? I flipped a crane 20 years ago and it still haunts me... glad you are still tree pumping.
August, I don't think about falling out of the tree so much that I am paranoid or have constant fear but, it's on my mind enough to keep me sharp with my work habits in the tree. I enjoyed seeing the interest of the home owner with your gear and then seeing him shake your hand after you were done, that really made me smile. Well done to you and the MonkeyBeaver crew! Keep yourselves safe! 😃👍❤🌲 Randy
The consistent humility and sincerity from this man is absolutely astounding. Especially in the world we live in and then even more so with our fellow arborists. Kudos sir, numbers 6:24-27
I used to think if teach one he will just take my work. Now I know it is just the natural progression of things. You aren't here forever and you aren't going to cut all the trees. You teach in order to better understand yourself and save others the hardships you have endured if they willing to listen.
Probably not the first or last time you accidentally wore your good hoodie. I love the customer's appreciation for your work. Thanks for the video August...
Glad the grand plan was for you to make it through that event and continue doing what you do. I believe you've probably touched quite a few people's lives in a positive way in your lifetime, mine included . In an odd TH-cam sort of way (🤷) I consider you a friend even though we've never met or spoken in person. Lastly, that saddle is SWEET!!
It's so exciting when a new August video pop's up !!! Last year I did a back drop in the parking lot off the top step of an 8' step ladder ( working on the boom of the bucket truck) broke some ribs on the backside, elbows got huge and so did the knot on the back of my head lol... Can't even imagine falling 40' .... I love the Sushi saddle and I can't even explain how much I LOVE my one off 2.0. It's SOOO easy to put on and take off and is Crazy comfortable in the tree... and just on the ground !!! Thank you so much August !!!!!
Love the slo-mo and the replays. When you dropped the last remaining stick, I liked how it showed the flex when it hit the ground Recently found a video of an arborist we hired to drop some trees around our house. The short video shows him dropping a huge poplar exactly where he said it would go. No topping out or cutting branches.
right on August, Your story about '95 has stayed with me since I first heard you tell it a while back. The other climbers you have imprinted with that story will be safer from now on. might be the only good thing that came from that really bad accident. On a light note... I am nearly a week into the poison ivy and chigger bites. The hornet stings went away in a couple days. Much better today. I hope you have a good evening there, George.
Some time around 95, my area got in the neighborhood of 4ft of snow, still the most we've ever seen and my genius 10-11 year old self decided to do a front flip into the snow from my dad's truck tailgate. My lower spine found the jack stand hidden in the snow and my back has been junk ever since, can't imagine what 40ft would do. Glad you're still here.
I only cut trees on the ground. Im just a land owner. But I some how was absolutely intrigued to watch you work in this video randomly. Great work man!
Shortage of good men these days. Don't think its the supply chain. Lol The old school work ethic is fading. That's why I watch this channel. Ahhhh.......the good ol days. Lol Much love, God bless 🙏
Great vid, and we loved the Sushi Mb2.0, Eldest Daughter saw it and Loved it, Can we get that one Dad, I want one like that........................Great..........Thanks August.............:), im sure you will have more than enough demand for one off's like that, could be making a rod for your own back in doing so, as much fun as it is now. As always, thanks for the time and effort you put into your vids, and good to hear from Hez too, all the best with the exams and stuff too. Climb high, fly safe.
That’s about the year I had my accident too but I’m a plumber and fell into a crawlspace hatch that the homeowner opened. Broke two ribs, bulged two disks and a bunch of nerve damage. I love your videos and you really seem like a great dude, all of you in fact! I listen when your talking and working. I’m still a plumber by trade but have property in upstate NY so I’ve taken down lots of trees. I always climbed every tree in sight for fun! I never used any gear at all. I would tie the rope to my belt loop, climb the tree even if it was a smooth birch with no limbs, then pull my saw up and cut my way down. I never get to comment because I watch probably almost all of your videos on Roku in my garage. I’m 49 years old now and finally bought all the gear because I’m feeling my age…. A little…. Today was the first time I used my new Weaver because Monkey Beaver was out of stock. I’m not happy with it! I didn’t know what else to buy being I’m a plumber by trade (Plumber always seems to be the first trade you mention when you talk about other trades lol) also I wasn’t really wanting to spend $600 or so on something I use like twice a year. I did spend just over $1,000 as it is for all decent stuff. I love doing it and hope I can take on small jobs. I doubt I can add arborist to my business insurance policy so I’ll have to do jobs where there’s no structures around or maybe I’ll sign a paper stating I’m fully responsive in case of any damage lol. I’ve always been very confident in every trade I do because there’s a lot and I wouldn’t take on anything stupid, that’s not me! Anyway im always watching and enjoy your videos so keep ‘em coming! You answered so many questions I had on little tricks. Im 5’10” @ 150lbs. Are there any beavers in stock? And I always wanted to hear the story on how you fell so im gonna watch it now. Thanks, Kenny from Long Island NY…
@@AugustHunicke I appreciate that but my problem is I’m going up to my place Columbus Day weekend and I need it that weekend. This one was delivered on the 1st and I didn’t use it till today. I’m doing some trees for a friend. It is a little rough on my testies.
@@AugustHunicke Actually I would need it the weekend before so I can finish the trees in my friends yard before I go up because I am boxing this one up tomorrow and sending it back. I didn’t think that through before I said that. Sorry about that. I don’t wanna use this one again and try to send it back looking used
In April 2000 I miss connected and didn’t visually check the connection. 33 feet to my head and shoulders was the result. Consequently I am always looking at my connections. Physically and visually check your connections. Kevin Hamm living vicariously through the game of trees while vacationing with my wife who has my phone😂 Thank the Lord for iPads 😂 Great vid August we’re both in the took a fall club.
Top reminded me of Damien when the foreign guy visited... "I'll risk it all...I'll... I'll... Risk it all." Enjoyed that edit and Damien's fell that day.
Thankyou for your efforts! Learn a lot from them! Couple two to three year climber and faller and getting asked to remove some large oldish growth dead hemlocks and firs in the higher alpine WA mts and curious if there is any line you’ve decided on to know when to not go any higher and top n chunk.. Been going w squishy spur feeling as a stopping point.. If you have or energy to reply I’d be highly appreciative! God bless and Thankyou again! Jason
I've definitely come close to cutting my climbing line more than once. Always makes ya pucker a little. A guy forgets how dangerous climbing is sometimes. Always enjoy watching you work dude.
Enjoyed the video....as usual. That's sure a special saddle you created. Pretty neat. What can you come up with for an old fella? I run a Notch Sentinel and it seems to work OK. But, I could use a little more comfort. Hmmmm, saving my money.
Mr August I love your Videos and the Climbing skill The bring Memory from the Child time, as the Streamline still over Woodmast. The Electrician have great Crampon on the Foot, Your Mini! The to Cut Abies Old and Danger. The self make from the Climber Equipment intelligible You the greatest to know. Thanks for all Videos, always instructive to look. Greeting 🇦🇹
You more than made up for the one camera placement you thought was bad toward the end , awesome camera work . The sushi mb harness is on point, I think that would be a great option to add . Arborista Flair.
Thanks for sharing the story August. I was always curious. I've wrecked my body for employers, as well as for myself. I try to protect my employees from bad decisions, theirs or mine. I take care of my commitments when they shouldn't.
For new climbers: Never try to free cut limbs around structures for a straight fall without a super sharp chain. (Or panther combo I could say, but anything super sharp will do). Reg did a great vid with this concept included a few years back.
14:43sec in, i’ve been watching you for a long time sir and I’ve learned a lot from your videos taking a lot of your techniques but just a little critiquing because I can’t help myself and I love you but how do you made Your square hinge made with the face cut and your two side cuts parallel I think that top would’ve landed more flat than tip first… Not trying to tell you what to do but curious on your thoughts about that
Hey august I know you have done a video on how to use the speed line kit. But maybe you could do a “in depth” Version especially with the use of the rigging tool that comes with it and maybe explain better. Thanks again big bro. Love the saddle by the way. Sushiiiiiiii rocks
i'm a new climber and for me spikes are really a lot for me to overcome. climbing in a tree isn't really that bad for me and the heights are fine. when i'm spiked in though it's claustrophobic and the whole feel of it is unnatural and it's hard for me to control my nerves.
I ran off the end of my line in 1986. Fell 30-ish feet, chainsaw running in my hand. I was climbing again the next day, but I was 18 then. Minor bruising was the only result. Ironically, I fell about 18 feet at age 30. That stove me up for two weeks. Still have some lower back aches and pains from that one.
Great job August and crew once again amazing work and I either purchased this year the new monkey Beaver 2.0 to replace my old monkey beaver or the speedline kit I didn't have money for both I picked the 2.0 LOL God bless stay safe guys
Back when I was young, strong, and invincible (a.k.a. stupid) I had one job where my ground man put my rope through the chipper. I was concentrating on the new climber I was training and not the fact the the ground man had moved the chipper from the end of the drive ~20ft to under the tree. Since the tree was a large sprawling oak and the new climber was hugging the stems I was free climbing up to the to the outer edges of the branches. I free climbed DRT with the rope wrapped around my left hand no Blake hitch (did I mention stupid) anyway my rope got tangled in the brush and was sucked into the chipper, crushing my left hand braking the bone of my pinky and splitting the knuckle on my ring finger before my rope broke beneath me. I had to slide down the rope with my right hand until I came to where it snapped then free fall about 25ft to get out of the tree.
I was born in 95. In 2018 I fell 25 Feet from a bad Crane TIP (relatively new employer had a dedicated TIP that broke apart the first time I hung off their crane - I had been hanging for 2-3yrs no problem before) I have like 4 surgeries I still need to get. Can’t climb. That event kickstarted a very interesting chapter of my life. Your videos help people in more ways than you think. I’m glad you’re still climbing. Can’t say for sure if I ever will again, but these videos help. Oh - it was a Monkey Beaver belt that the EMTs had to cut. They only had to cut the rope bridge, I got to keep the belt.
Thanks you for sharing and I hope you fully recover and keep climbing, if that's what you want... I was confused... did the TIP on the crane fail.... like the shackle..... or the top of the tree? Brett from Colorado
@@DiamondTreeCompanyFortCollins the shackle. the tree was down to spar and one "arm" lateral (no brush) and I was limbwalking while tied into the shackle. The shackle was apparently faulty. My entire climbing system was in one piece when I fell, the entire loop came down with me. The lateral broke my fall. Thank you for your words! Climb safe.
Having them stiffer 16 strand or web bridges really makes a difference on my hips. Tried 11mm blaze and said nah. Although I was in a saddle a size to big. Tree Austria now, doesn't have as many options for attachments as yours.
Man, if I didn't just get my V1.0 a year and a half ago, I'd be all over that Sushi kit!! Looks great August!! Is that something that can be requested? Custom kits?
I also used to descend with one hand and cut with the other. As fun and fast as that is, it's much smarter to tie in twice and use two hands for each task.
@Lightning McQueen Yes. Sometimes we climb and cut easier branches on the way up, set a high tie, then go back down to rig the tricky limbs. The high tie-in also helps with work position.
August you're still hilarious. Nice job on the tree. Wish I could spike more. I've been getting pruning calls for the last 2 years. Sushi? If you have a fish tank in your house I bet it's empty. Stay safe out there.
Just spent the day climbing and now in my free time Im watching more climbing. I keep feeling like sinking through my seat, got that phantom harness going on haha
Great job just asking you get paid by the hour or the day or the job I've have been climbing for 38 year's I don't have all those gadgets I can still burn trees up today my job ends when I get the last tree down if it takes me 40 minutes or 2 hours or 3 hours I'm done most time we started 10 and I'm done by 12:30 every minute count on my payday
Seems like being tied in twice while you make a cut wouldn't have been enough to help in the situation you describe at 5:15 where you unknowingly cut your climb line below your descender. By the time you discovered it was cut, you'd have already unclipped your lanyard for the descent. It's still a good idea to double tie-in when possible, but just sayin'...
@@AugustHunicke I think I understand what you were doing when you cut your climb line. I can envision doing exactly that with a bunch of relatively small branches at the trunk. I just don't see how slowing down to double tie in before each cut (instead doing of what you actually did) would have made any difference as far as avoiding the fall in that scenario since you didn't even know you had cut it until you would still have unclipped the lanyard tie-in and continued your descent. Anyway, glad you're still here to tell the story. Really enjoy your videos. Wish I could come hang with y'all for a week or two but Oregon's a long way from Georgia.
@@davidhall6712 it’s all about focus and pace. Also when I rappel with two hands I have one hand on the hitch and the other on the rope down by my hip. I would have noticed during the process of unclipping or shortly after.
Yeppers Brother 🪓 I been since 1987 and I was running up a very large Sugar Maple 🍁 and reached for a limb above my head 🗣️ and it was dead and it snapped and I fell straight to the ground, 30 feet , I broke 2 ribs was off for a couple months, but I felt the Angel's cushn me , thank God, I should've been dead, the tree had mounsterous roots out all over the ground from this tree, praise God
hey August what kind of rope is that your climbing with or what's your favorite rope man I'm really really dying to know thank man love your work bad ass
Wow, that's a scary story. I get a feeling that the common mistakes happen about 5 years in a guy's career, after he gains confidence and works on speed.
Aw man I should have waited to buy another saddle. Sushi would have been extra cool in Hawaii. Sorry can't watch all your videos. Last thing I want to hear at the end of the day is another saw. Never rush. Almost got crushed to death last year rushing. Cut a small albezia whose tips were just barely touching a mountain apple up a steep slope that had suffered a reservoir overflow which loosened the soil. Both trees were small so I took it for granted. Next thing I know that mountain apple which is incredibly heavy has me pinned to the ground face down hips up. Couldn't believe that protos never broke. Guarantee a Kask would break. Anyhow coworker saw the whole thing and screaming like I was dead. I calmed him down and told him to get it off of me. He didn't know where to cut and put more and more pressure on me like a vise. Protos was digging into my eye and chinstrap Cut off my breathing. Both arms pinned couldn't reach the clip or tell him to. Thankfully another worker showed up just then and grabbed the saw and cut the right spot.
hi. august I've been climbing for over a decade and I'm still having some trouble with my removal technique on big Leland Cypress trees. I wanted to know if you had any insight on them or a better method for removal. besides a crane or crane truck thnx in advance Matt
I tie in twice, because I fell once. I tie in thrice because I fell twice. Ya really don't need to worry bout it anymore after that one. Just accept it.. LOL Love the Rig /harness at the end.
I'm 53 and have only been climbing 2 years. I never was a ground guy, I went straight to climbing. My first trip to as tree I only had a oil field Derek belt and a 3/4 in rope and used only that for almost a year. It really bothered me having to unclip and go around a branch. I gaffed out on my first pine and my rope I used as a flip line didn't stop me. I landed on my feet and bent one of my spurs. I feel 30 ft. I had the home owner starring at me I really needed this job, so I tossed my rope back up and took a few steps, somehow I was able to make it high enough to top it. I mainly climb oaks but last week I got to climb 3 more pines. Still got the same equipment but also use mrs to help me stay safe. I am love climbing though
Lol thats exactly like my story, im barely starting and its been just a few months since i bought a generic harness and been working with some random ropes. Using mrs system with blakes hitch. Last year i didnt even have a harness at all just freestyled it with no equipment at all just my good ol ms170
The best way to learn if your a new climber is to take a little from everyone you learn from and then develop your own techniques. That's most all climbing is is technique. Once you learn technique it takes alot of the physical part out of it. Not all but alot. I've never met two climbers that climb the same so don't let any climber out there tell you because your not climbing the way they do that your wrong because there's alot of them that will do that. Remember your the one up there not them and what may work for them may not work for you. Safety first always and you will develop speed with time. Rushing will get you killed but speed comes with developing techniques with time
Hey August, if you put a compressor on your audio files before you upload, your audio will be more levelled out. Making the loud noises lower and quiet noises louder. It'd be great for people watching using headphones!
I’ve tried using compressor on videos as well and it doesn’t seem to want to work out for some reason. I use Final Cut Pro . I’m sure it’s operator error of course
@@TreeClimbersSWMI yeah, learning to use the compressors appropriately for the audio file you want to edit takes awhile to get the techniques down. Also not every compressor is the same so if you're not having good results with one try using another one or you can also double up compressors
Yes life changing for sure. My fall was due to heat exhaustion and then setting my life line when I was already heat exhausted....didn't notice my rope wasn't on the ground. I saw my retrieval leg at about 5 foot off the ground and thought that was my life support tail. I was on the wrong rope to begin with, the rope I was on was for bucket truck truck emergency bail out and is only 100 foot. I thought I was on my 200f so I didn't really check my other side because I knew there had to be enough rope....had I been on my 200f I would have been correct too. Turns out my rope end was 34 foot off the ground and I came bombing out from 80....30f down my RR was already hot, which is fine since I rotate my bollards. This time I didn't have enough rope though lol. I tail my line with my right and control with my left. As soon as the end shot thru my right had I said OH and had time to see my tail run thru my rope runner...by the time I said SHIT I was already in free fall trying to right myself. I let go of the RR in my left hand and focused on spreading my feet, buckling my knees and hip a bit. I was wearing Gecko CF's with tree gaffs....not fun and at the same time I think saved my ankles from shattering along with my scafell lights. I did mess up my right ankle quite a bit cartilage wise and also hyper extended my achilles tendon. I ended up landing like a cat right between a branch union of the only big branch left laying on the ground....had there been a pile I'd probably be broken up pretty badly. Mistakes like to irregular gear checks, ego tripping, time crunching plus heat exhaustion....bad mix. I could feel what you said brother....how long until you where back to that healthy fear lvl? My brain is messing with me bad...sweaty palms and that fuggin tingling feeling in your hands like you're slipping...like little shocks...kinda. It's kinda the same feeling as when the rope went thru my hands just not as numbing and intense....kinda. my bad for rambling...much love brother
All good 🙂 Great advice as always. 1-pull in tree starting from my 2511’s made me leave my heavier Stihls in the truck. Stay safe August. Paul Bunyan Show Oct. 7, 8, 9.
So your saying your giving up on 10.5 cc more n 500 more rpm over 2.5 lbs less weight n using something made in China over USA made um dont see the benefit
@@HiLineTree well I'll take your 40 years n raise you 12 years started in 1970 when t saws weighs were 17 to 20 lbs probably forgot more then you will ever know sunny
@@tgtreeservicesllc3694 Virginia Beach, 201t 2511t ECHO brand is owned by Yamabiko Corporation of Japan assembly in Lake Zurich, Illinois and are distributed globally Stihl started in Their headquarters are in Waiblingen, Baden-Württemberg, near Stuttgart, Germany. Stihl was founded in 1926 by Andreas Stihl, an important innovator in early chain saw production Then after ww2 West Germany Now they have plants in Austria, Brazil, China, Germany, Switzerland, and the United States. Husqvarna chainsaws come from many countries even though the label says made in “Sweden” or “USA”. The company has facilities and subsidiaries in Sweden, France, Germany, the United States, China, and Brazil.
Man if I could afford it right now I would buy that harness my next saddle is Def gonna be one of yours august with all the bells and whistles my petzl really puts pressure were ya don't want it and it's always riding down when trying to use a big saw in a tree
My son is 6 years old and he loves watching your videos. He goes out side and climbs trees and picks up sticks pretending to be a tree surgeon
He’ll make a great arborist one day 👍
As a newer climber it’s hard for me to imagine you giving your time to teach….. so valuable to hear your thought process on everything
August is literally a lifesaver
Thank god you made it...... you've changed a lot of people's lives since then. I would most like not be a tree guy if it wasn't for your awesome videos.
Brother I just fell about 2 weeks ago. 34 foot free fall, didn't break anything thank goodness. Heat exhaustion and small mistakes all lead to one big accident. Learned a few lessons from that for sure. The fear is still with me...I just did a easy pine yesterday first time and could feel it. Much love brother, climb safe and safe climbs.
Godbless brother
THANKS FOR SHARING THIS..what were the actual missteps that led to your fall? I flipped a crane 20 years ago and it still haunts me... glad you are still tree pumping.
@Snowfreak2507 heat exhausted and pushing on against my better judgment. Closer interval of gear checks, I was on the wrong rope.
August, I don't think about falling out of the tree so much that
I am paranoid or have constant fear but, it's on my mind enough
to keep me sharp with my work habits in the tree. I enjoyed seeing
the interest of the home owner with your gear and then seeing him
shake your hand after you were done, that really made me smile.
Well done to you and the MonkeyBeaver crew!
Keep yourselves safe! 😃👍❤🌲
Randy
The consistent humility and sincerity from this man is absolutely astounding. Especially in the world we live in and then even more so with our fellow arborists. Kudos sir, numbers 6:24-27
Agreed!.... Glory to God. August is a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. "But wisdom is proved right by all her children" Luke 7:35
I used to think if teach one he will just take my work. Now I know it is just the natural progression of things. You aren't here forever and you aren't going to cut all the trees. You teach in order to better understand yourself and save others the hardships you have endured if they willing to listen.
Probably not the first or last time you accidentally wore your good hoodie. I love the customer's appreciation for your work. Thanks for the video August...
It's so satisfying to me to watch Someone who knows what they are doing doing tree work, awesome video,GOD BLESS
Thank you for sharing August..glad you made it through that.
Awesome sewing skills. That harness is a collector item.
Glad the grand plan was for you to make it through that event and continue doing what you do. I believe you've probably touched quite a few people's lives in a positive way in your lifetime, mine included . In an odd TH-cam sort of way (🤷) I consider you a friend even though we've never met or spoken in person. Lastly, that saddle is SWEET!!
It's so exciting when a new August video pop's up !!! Last year I did a back drop in the parking lot off the top step of an 8' step ladder ( working on the boom of the bucket truck) broke some ribs on the backside, elbows got huge and so did the knot on the back of my head lol... Can't even imagine falling 40' .... I love the Sushi saddle and I can't even explain how much I LOVE my one off 2.0. It's SOOO easy to put on and take off and is Crazy comfortable in the tree... and just on the ground !!! Thank you so much August !!!!!
Love the slo-mo and the replays. When you dropped the last remaining stick, I liked how it showed the flex when it hit the ground Recently found a video of an arborist we hired to drop some trees around our house. The short video shows him dropping a huge poplar exactly where he said it would go. No topping out or cutting branches.
The slow mo & explanation why you do it is outstanding. The harness build and ins are cool too.
That one handed stihl is the bees knees ! They are pricey but seem well worth it. Have you tried the Stihl battery saws?
right on August, Your story about '95 has stayed with me since I first heard you tell it a while back. The other climbers you have imprinted with that story will be safer from now on. might be the only good thing that came from that really bad accident. On a light note... I am nearly a week into the poison ivy and chigger bites. The hornet stings went away in a couple days. Much better today. I hope you have a good evening there, George.
Some time around 95, my area got in the neighborhood of 4ft of snow, still the most we've ever seen and my genius 10-11 year old self decided to do a front flip into the snow from my dad's truck tailgate. My lower spine found the jack stand hidden in the snow and my back has been junk ever since, can't imagine what 40ft would do. Glad you're still here.
4 feet isn’t all that much. 7 or 8 feet, that’s a lot of snow.
Sorry to hear of your accident and connecting to a jack stand.
Ouch
Glad you are still hear, too!
Take care ❤️🌲
@@mikeznel6048 whaaaaaat?
Thats a bad deal for a young boy ,shit like that has been happening me also not so much as i got older thankfully.
That is rough.. some are born lucky some aren’t ..
I only cut trees on the ground. Im just a land owner. But I some how was absolutely intrigued to watch you work in this video randomly. Great work man!
Thank u for the sobering message. I appreciate your approach to safety and actually getting things done quick and efficiently.
Shortage of good men these days.
Don't think its the supply chain. Lol
The old school work ethic is fading.
That's why I watch this channel. Ahhhh.......the good ol days. Lol
Much love, God bless 🙏
Great vid, and we loved the Sushi Mb2.0, Eldest Daughter saw it and Loved it, Can we get that one Dad, I want one like that........................Great..........Thanks August.............:), im sure you will have more than enough demand for one off's like that, could be making a rod for your own back in doing so, as much fun as it is now. As always, thanks for the time and effort you put into your vids, and good to hear from Hez too, all the best with the exams and stuff too. Climb high, fly safe.
That’s about the year I had my accident too but I’m a plumber and fell into a crawlspace hatch that the homeowner opened. Broke two ribs, bulged two disks and a bunch of nerve damage. I love your videos and you really seem like a great dude, all of you in fact! I listen when your talking and working. I’m still a plumber by trade but have property in upstate NY so I’ve taken down lots of trees. I always climbed every tree in sight for fun! I never used any gear at all. I would tie the rope to my belt loop, climb the tree even if it was a smooth birch with no limbs, then pull my saw up and cut my way down. I never get to comment because I watch probably almost all of your videos on Roku in my garage. I’m 49 years old now and finally bought all the gear because I’m feeling my age…. A little…. Today was the first time I used my new Weaver because Monkey Beaver was out of stock. I’m not happy with it! I didn’t know what else to buy being I’m a plumber by trade (Plumber always seems to be the first trade you mention when you talk about other trades lol) also I wasn’t really wanting to spend $600 or so on something I use like twice a year. I did spend just over $1,000 as it is for all decent stuff. I love doing it and hope I can take on small jobs. I doubt I can add arborist to my business insurance policy so I’ll have to do jobs where there’s no structures around or maybe I’ll sign a paper stating I’m fully responsive in case of any damage lol. I’ve always been very confident in every trade I do because there’s a lot and I wouldn’t take on anything stupid, that’s not me! Anyway im always watching and enjoy your videos so keep ‘em coming! You answered so many questions I had on little tricks. Im 5’10” @ 150lbs. Are there any beavers in stock? And I always wanted to hear the story on how you fell so im gonna watch it now. Thanks, Kenny from Long Island NY…
BTW I already had old school spurs I inherited from my uncle just like the ones you have
I’ll make you one personally if you want to buy one. 🤷🏼♂️
@@AugustHunicke I appreciate that but my problem is I’m going up to my place Columbus Day weekend and I need it that weekend. This one was delivered on the 1st and I didn’t use it till today. I’m doing some trees for a friend. It is a little rough on my testies.
@@kennyrmurray I can meet that schedule easy
@@AugustHunicke Actually I would need it the weekend before so I can finish the trees in my friends yard before I go up because I am boxing this one up tomorrow and sending it back. I didn’t think that through before I said that. Sorry about that. I don’t wanna use this one again and try to send it back looking used
In April 2000 I miss connected and didn’t visually check the connection. 33 feet to my head and shoulders was the result. Consequently I am always looking at my connections. Physically and visually check your connections. Kevin Hamm living vicariously through the game of trees while vacationing with my wife who has my phone😂 Thank the Lord for iPads 😂 Great vid August we’re both in the took a fall club.
Can you make a tube salad harness for Treeson? I want that to be a thing in the universe.
You all made that look very pro and easy! Well done😊
Top reminded me of Damien when the foreign guy visited...
"I'll risk it all...I'll... I'll... Risk it all."
Enjoyed that edit and Damien's fell that day.
Thankyou for your efforts! Learn a lot from them! Couple two to three year climber and faller and getting asked to remove some large oldish growth dead hemlocks and firs in the higher alpine WA mts and curious if there is any line you’ve decided on to know when to not go any higher and top n chunk.. Been going w squishy spur feeling as a stopping point.. If you have or energy to reply I’d be highly appreciative! God bless and Thankyou again! Jason
I can never really answer these questions because it’s always case by case on site.
I've definitely come close to cutting my climbing line more than once. Always makes ya pucker a little. A guy forgets how dangerous climbing is sometimes. Always enjoy watching you work dude.
Enjoyed the video....as usual. That's sure a special saddle you created. Pretty neat. What can you come up with for an old fella? I run a Notch Sentinel and it seems to work OK. But, I could use a little more comfort. Hmmmm, saving my money.
Mr August I love your Videos and the Climbing skill
The bring Memory from the Child time, as the Streamline still over Woodmast. The Electrician have great Crampon on the Foot, Your
Mini! The to Cut Abies Old and Danger. The self make from the Climber Equipment intelligible You the greatest to know. Thanks for all Videos, always instructive to look. Greeting 🇦🇹
Great video August
You more than made up for the one camera placement you thought was bad toward the end , awesome camera work . The sushi mb harness is on point, I think that would be a great option to add . Arborista Flair.
Thanks for sharing the story August. I was always curious.
I've wrecked my body for employers, as well as for myself. I try to protect my employees from bad decisions, theirs or mine. I take care of my commitments when they shouldn't.
That sushi kit is kinda fishy, August!
I'm no arborist by anymeans but I like climbing trees! Love your content!
Hi August, every job you do is a tree climbing lesson. Hello from Piero from Italy
For new climbers:
Never try to free cut limbs around structures for a straight fall without a super sharp chain. (Or panther combo I could say, but anything super sharp will do). Reg did a great vid with this concept included a few years back.
14:43sec in, i’ve been watching you for a long time sir and I’ve learned a lot from your videos taking a lot of your techniques but just a little critiquing because I can’t help myself and I love you but how do you made Your square hinge made with the face cut and your two side cuts parallel I think that top would’ve landed more flat than tip first… Not trying to tell you what to do but curious on your thoughts about that
I like you Hunicke. Even when you are at "the end of your rope" - you never give up and just keep on going!
Hey august I know you have done a video on how to use the speed line kit. But maybe you could do a “in depth” Version especially with the use of the rigging tool that comes with it and maybe explain better. Thanks again big bro. Love the saddle by the way. Sushiiiiiiii rocks
The sushi harness is pretty cool man
Man
40 feet!
On a lighter note. Yes very specific harness for THAT one person. Probably already sold.
Great segment.
Stay safe
i'm a new climber and for me spikes are really a lot for me to overcome. climbing in a tree isn't really that bad for me and the heights are fine. when i'm spiked in though it's claustrophobic and the whole feel of it is unnatural and it's hard for me to control my nerves.
I ran off the end of my line in 1986. Fell 30-ish feet, chainsaw running in my hand. I was climbing again the next day, but I was 18 then. Minor bruising was the only result. Ironically, I fell about 18 feet at age 30. That stove me up for two weeks. Still have some lower back aches and pains from that one.
Great job August and crew once again amazing work and I either purchased this year the new monkey Beaver 2.0 to replace my old monkey beaver or the speedline kit I didn't have money for both I picked the 2.0 LOL God bless stay safe guys
Back when I was young, strong, and invincible (a.k.a. stupid) I had one job where my ground man put my rope through the chipper. I was concentrating on the new climber I was training and not the fact the the ground man had moved the chipper from the end of the drive ~20ft to under the tree. Since the tree was a large sprawling oak and the new climber was hugging the stems I was free climbing up to the to the outer edges of the branches. I free climbed DRT with the rope wrapped around my left hand no Blake hitch (did I mention stupid) anyway my rope got tangled in the brush and was sucked into the chipper, crushing my left hand braking the bone of my pinky and splitting the knuckle on my ring finger before my rope broke beneath me. I had to slide down the rope with my right hand until I came to where it snapped then free fall about 25ft to get out of the tree.
You are lucky. Have you heard the news about guy out in LA?
Fellow busted ring finger here. How's the hand?
Pretty cool August... Thanks for the vid...
I was born in 95. In 2018 I fell 25 Feet from a bad Crane TIP (relatively new employer had a dedicated TIP that broke apart the first time I hung off their crane - I had been hanging for 2-3yrs no problem before)
I have like 4 surgeries I still need to get. Can’t climb. That event kickstarted a very interesting chapter of my life.
Your videos help people in more ways than you think. I’m glad you’re still climbing.
Can’t say for sure if I ever will again, but these videos help.
Oh - it was a Monkey Beaver belt that the EMTs had to cut. They only had to cut the rope bridge, I got to keep the belt.
Sorry to here that. Thanks for the support. Hope you get the help that’s best for you 👊🏼
Thanks you for sharing and I hope you fully recover and keep climbing, if that's what you want... I was confused... did the TIP on the crane fail.... like the shackle..... or the top of the tree? Brett from Colorado
@@DiamondTreeCompanyFortCollins the shackle. the tree was down to spar and one "arm" lateral (no brush) and I was limbwalking while tied into the shackle. The shackle was apparently faulty. My entire climbing system was in one piece when I fell, the entire loop came down with me. The lateral broke my fall. Thank you for your words! Climb safe.
Having them stiffer 16 strand or web bridges really makes a difference on my hips. Tried 11mm blaze and said nah. Although I was in a saddle a size to big. Tree Austria now, doesn't have as many options for attachments as yours.
Great job. Shredding it!
I did a job just the other day for a guy who used to climb power poles it was cool to hear his stories
Awesome video 😮❤
Man that’s a dandy harness.
Man, if I didn't just get my V1.0 a year and a half ago, I'd be all over that Sushi kit!! Looks great August!! Is that something that can be requested? Custom kits?
I also used to descend with one hand and cut with the other. As fun and fast as that is, it's much smarter to tie in twice and use two hands for each task.
He had to climb to the top through all those limbs to set his climb line right?
@Lightning McQueen Yes. Sometimes we climb and cut easier branches on the way up, set a high tie, then go back down to rig the tricky limbs. The high tie-in also helps with work position.
@@TimberTrainer nice
Great episode! 👍😀
Thanks heaps for sharing
August you're still hilarious.
Nice job on the tree. Wish I could spike more. I've been getting pruning calls for the last 2 years.
Sushi? If you have a fish tank in your house I bet it's empty.
Stay safe out there.
I love it when you back bar. 😆
Just spent the day climbing and now in my free time Im watching more climbing.
I keep feeling like sinking through my seat, got that phantom harness going on haha
Great job just asking you get paid by the hour or the day or the job I've have been climbing for 38 year's I don't have all those gadgets I can still burn trees up today my job ends when I get the last tree down if it takes me 40 minutes or 2 hours or 3 hours I'm done most time we started 10 and I'm done by 12:30 every minute count on my payday
Seems like being tied in twice while you make a cut wouldn't have been enough to help in the situation you describe at 5:15 where you unknowingly cut your climb line below your descender. By the time you discovered it was cut, you'd have already unclipped your lanyard for the descent. It's still a good idea to double tie-in when possible, but just sayin'...
No, you’re not quite understanding the pace I was going. It is possible to cut and rappel simultaneously. Think strafing.
@@AugustHunicke I think I understand what you were doing when you cut your climb line. I can envision doing exactly that with a bunch of relatively small branches at the trunk. I just don't see how slowing down to double tie in before each cut (instead doing of what you actually did) would have made any difference as far as avoiding the fall in that scenario since you didn't even know you had cut it until you would still have unclipped the lanyard tie-in and continued your descent. Anyway, glad you're still here to tell the story. Really enjoy your videos. Wish I could come hang with y'all for a week or two but Oregon's a long way from Georgia.
@@davidhall6712 it’s all about focus and pace. Also when I rappel with two hands I have one hand on the hitch and the other on the rope down by my hip.
I would have noticed during the process of unclipping or shortly after.
Nicely done. Sir
make me one with donuts and ill buy the heck out of it
Yeppers Brother 🪓 I been since 1987 and I was running up a very large Sugar Maple 🍁 and reached for a limb above my head 🗣️ and it was dead and it snapped and I fell straight to the ground, 30 feet , I broke 2 ribs was off for a couple months, but I felt the Angel's cushn me , thank God, I should've been dead, the tree had mounsterous roots out all over the ground from this tree, praise God
How do find time you manage your business and still work on the job site, while also making time for your rather large family?
I love it when you make the logs jump back up like at 15:53. I don't know why you cut the stump so high though, I'm sure there was a good reason.
I think it was to eliminate the lean the initial bit was going in
hey August what kind of rope is that your climbing with or what's your favorite rope man I'm really really dying to know thank man love your work bad ass
This harness is super cool.
16:26 watching that log bend around was real cool.
That sushi rig is hella cool!
Wow, that's a scary story. I get a feeling that the common mistakes happen about 5 years in a guy's career, after he gains confidence and works on speed.
Gota be carefull up there bro. Looks so easy.
Aw man I should have waited to buy another saddle. Sushi would have been extra cool in Hawaii. Sorry can't watch all your videos. Last thing I want to hear at the end of the day is another saw. Never rush. Almost got crushed to death last year rushing. Cut a small albezia whose tips were just barely touching a mountain apple up a steep slope that had suffered a reservoir overflow which loosened the soil. Both trees were small so I took it for granted. Next thing I know that mountain apple which is incredibly heavy has me pinned to the ground face down hips up. Couldn't believe that protos never broke. Guarantee a Kask would break. Anyhow coworker saw the whole thing and screaming like I was dead. I calmed him down and told him to get it off of me. He didn't know where to cut and put more and more pressure on me like a vise. Protos was digging into my eye and chinstrap Cut off my breathing. Both arms pinned couldn't reach the clip or tell him to. Thankfully another worker showed up just then and grabbed the saw and cut the right spot.
Oh the Chin strap everyone is always harping on me to fasten ..
Exciting story 💪🏼
Another great video! How are you liking the 201t ?
Haven't seen much of the electric saws lately. Have you gone away from them?
hi. august I've been climbing for over a decade and I'm still having some trouble with my removal technique on big Leland Cypress trees.
I wanted to know if you had any insight on them or a better method for removal. besides a crane or crane truck thnx in advance Matt
I tie in twice, because I fell once.
I tie in thrice because I fell twice.
Ya really don't need to worry bout it anymore after that one. Just accept it.. LOL
Love the Rig /harness at the end.
My father had a climber fall from only a few metres in 94 he passed away on the way to the hospital rip
I'm glad I'm not the only one who has cut a climb line without noticing.
I'm 53 and have only been climbing 2 years. I never was a ground guy, I went straight to climbing. My first trip to as tree I only had a oil field Derek belt and a 3/4 in rope and used only that for almost a year. It really bothered me having to unclip and go around a branch. I gaffed out on my first pine and my rope I used as a flip line didn't stop me. I landed on my feet and bent one of my spurs. I feel 30 ft. I had the home owner starring at me I really needed this job, so I tossed my rope back up and took a few steps, somehow I was able to make it high enough to top it. I mainly climb oaks but last week I got to climb 3 more pines. Still got the same equipment but also use mrs to help me stay safe. I am love climbing though
Lol thats exactly like my story, im barely starting and its been just a few months since i bought a generic harness and been working with some random ropes. Using mrs system with blakes hitch.
Last year i didnt even have a harness at all just freestyled it with no equipment at all just my good ol ms170
That is different but different works 👊
So Custom, so cool!
Love the sushi motif.
The best way to learn if your a new climber is to take a little from everyone you learn from and then develop your own techniques. That's most all climbing is is technique. Once you learn technique it takes alot of the physical part out of it. Not all but alot. I've never met two climbers that climb the same so don't let any climber out there tell you because your not climbing the way they do that your wrong because there's alot of them that will do that. Remember your the one up there not them and what may work for them may not work for you. Safety first always and you will develop speed with time. Rushing will get you killed but speed comes with developing techniques with time
Speed lining is good for everyone
If you use jump cuts you can get them to fall flat to the ground
🤘
Man I’d love to work for that company.
Stay safe and close to the family 👪 🙏.
🤘😎✌️🦅
Sushi? Very specific. Is that a holder for H2O or Bud Light?
Hey August, if you put a compressor on your audio files before you upload, your audio will be more levelled out. Making the loud noises lower and quiet noises louder. It'd be great for people watching using headphones!
I’ve tried using compressor on videos as well and it doesn’t seem to want to work out for some reason. I use Final Cut Pro . I’m sure it’s operator error of course
@@TreeClimbersSWMI yeah, learning to use the compressors appropriately for the audio file you want to edit takes awhile to get the techniques down. Also not every compressor is the same so if you're not having good results with one try using another one or you can also double up compressors
Yes life changing for sure. My fall was due to heat exhaustion and then setting my life line when I was already heat exhausted....didn't notice my rope wasn't on the ground. I saw my retrieval leg at about 5 foot off the ground and thought that was my life support tail. I was on the wrong rope to begin with, the rope I was on was for bucket truck truck emergency bail out and is only 100 foot. I thought I was on my 200f so I didn't really check my other side because I knew there had to be enough rope....had I been on my 200f I would have been correct too. Turns out my rope end was 34 foot off the ground and I came bombing out from 80....30f down my RR was already hot, which is fine since I rotate my bollards. This time I didn't have enough rope though lol. I tail my line with my right and control with my left. As soon as the end shot thru my right had I said OH and had time to see my tail run thru my rope runner...by the time I said SHIT I was already in free fall trying to right myself. I let go of the RR in my left hand and focused on spreading my feet, buckling my knees and hip a bit. I was wearing Gecko CF's with tree gaffs....not fun and at the same time I think saved my ankles from shattering along with my scafell lights. I did mess up my right ankle quite a bit cartilage wise and also hyper extended my achilles tendon. I ended up landing like a cat right between a branch union of the only big branch left laying on the ground....had there been a pile I'd probably be broken up pretty badly. Mistakes like to irregular gear checks, ego tripping, time crunching plus heat exhaustion....bad mix. I could feel what you said brother....how long until you where back to that healthy fear lvl? My brain is messing with me bad...sweaty palms and that fuggin tingling feeling in your hands like you're slipping...like little shocks...kinda. It's kinda the same feeling as when the rope went thru my hands just not as numbing and intense....kinda. my bad for rambling...much love brother
....had my MB on too.....switched from a sentinel to MB about two years ago.
A lot of similarities to mine. I’ll bring it up later maybe
Heck yeah man! Sushi saddle for the win!
That top was to smooth 🫡
All good 🙂 Great advice as always. 1-pull in tree starting from my 2511’s made me leave my heavier Stihls in the truck. Stay safe August. Paul Bunyan Show Oct. 7, 8, 9.
So your saying your giving up on 10.5 cc more n 500 more rpm over 2.5 lbs less weight n using something made in China over USA made um dont see the benefit
@@jcc3999 🙄what I am saying is that I’ve learned how to avoid frustration after 40 years of this and someday you may also.
@@jcc3999 not trying to start anything are 201ts made in us I thought Germany and echos are made in US in Illinois or at least they were
@@HiLineTree well I'll take your 40 years n raise you 12 years started in 1970 when t saws weighs were 17 to 20 lbs probably forgot more then you will ever know sunny
@@tgtreeservicesllc3694 Virginia Beach, 201t
2511t ECHO brand is owned by Yamabiko Corporation of Japan assembly in Lake Zurich, Illinois and are distributed globally
Stihl started in Their headquarters are in Waiblingen, Baden-Württemberg, near Stuttgart, Germany. Stihl was founded in 1926 by Andreas Stihl, an important innovator in early chain saw production
Then after ww2 West Germany
Now they have plants in
Austria, Brazil, China, Germany, Switzerland, and the United States.
Husqvarna chainsaws come from many countries even though the label says made in “Sweden” or “USA”. The company has facilities and subsidiaries in Sweden, France, Germany, the United States, China, and Brazil.
I seen many tree people cut there climb line do to hurry ness but were still doing what we love to do living life in the only way we know how .
I don’t know why I want that saddle but I do pretty bad
Would you be able to make one for me that has flaming skulls on it that’s green??
Man if I could afford it right now I would buy that harness my next saddle is Def gonna be one of yours august with all the bells and whistles my petzl really puts pressure were ya don't want it and it's always riding down when trying to use a big saw in a tree
Buy my suspenders for the petzl harness
@@AugustHunicke thank you and man i wish trees here in missouri were as tall as the ones out by you im the only climber in my area