Aside from the logger doing the tree work, the camera work was just as awesome. I know the video took only 5 mins but the whole process just made me tired sitting here Cool video Scotty
This is the original film,plus 3:37 added footage at the beginning. Cutting a tail spar........ When men were men..... World champion all around logger & tree topper Harold "Hap" Johnson was 62 or 63 when this was filmed.In the mid 50's when he was in his prime,there was no one better.
Harold "Hap" Johnson, of Castle Rock WA, was tree topping champion for 16 years, all around best logger for four years,axe throwing champion for three years,in addition to being a world champion speed climber. He was actor John Wayne's stand-in for climbing action scenes in the movie "North to Alaska," and demonstrated his skills on several national television programs.In the 1950's to the late 1960's there was no one better. He was 62 or 63 years old when this was filmed.
watching these legendary veterans then that staged crap by those clowns on Ax Men really puts things in perspective....I'd like to see that whiny lardazz Gabe Rygaard shinny up one of those poles...
Here's a pic of Hap Johnson back in the 50's or early 60's......always liked this one. All I can say is "boss"......
So Scott... what do you do if one of your spikes breaks a section of bark/tree away and you find yourself going south fast... are you able to choke your rope around the tree enough to stop? It appears that rope loop has a lot of slack to help get up the tree.
Those boys knew their knots and we're constantly adjusting that lanyard on the fly. And the knots they tied had little chance of slippage. Broken spike? Boy I can't answer that one. But I will say those spikes (even back in the day) were tempered steel and I'm sure the climbers inspected them daily. I always check my spikes and I can tell when they are getting dull (they slip out of the bark easily), but honestly these old timers had steel balls. I watch old footage of them literally RUNNING up and down those trees like nothing at all.
"literally RUNNING up and down those trees like nothing at all." ... with a saw and axe hanging off em no less. Don't know how you do it.
I don't do it, I take my time.....lol. But I've seen guys RUNNING up those trees.....SMH.....yes with a saw and axe hanging off their back.
I was taught to keep on knee locked straight when climbing poles. Increases your chances of cutting back in. Our hooks are short and not like tree hooks. You can definitely tell when they are getting dull. Climbing at night can be a pain....can't see cracks, holes, nails or washers as good. We have to use a bucksqueeze these days. Supposed to make it "impossible" to fall but I've seen 1 guy fall 20' and another about 6' and mess his back up.
Gotta pic of a bucksqueeze? Never heard that. You got what I was askin too. Is it even possible to choke up that rope, fast enough, around the tree or pole to stop a bad slide before bottom? Wasn't really thinkin about the spikes themselves or the knots... more like, just the way chit happens... fast. And, on a power pole I spose the dammed 12" long splinters would slow you down a little...
Heres a good video Im pretty sure this is what jetjr is talking about. http://www.buckinghammfg.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.display&page_id=33
Good vid on that Matt. That's exactly what I was getting at too. Would seem to be a good idea but, just like a lotta safety stuff, hafta get used to the extra gear. After looking at how they rigged it, why couldn't a rope loop going around a tree be tied up to bind like that if a guy slips? Maybe they already do... dunno.
