Widow maker!

Noticed this following a number of wind storms we've had

The base of the branch is hanging down, with the smaller branches hung up in the canopy.

Dead center

From the other side.


It's hanging over a high traffic area with compost bins and wood yard the main attractions

In guessing it's about 30ft up from the ground, and another 6-7 ft to the canopy. The butt is about the thickness of a 12oz can

I'm a-gonna need some pondering time with this one, and hope it falls on it's own, overnight, some time.

 

Doesn't look like its hanging on by much. I think it will fall on its own pretty soon.

 

if you can get one of those ropes that tree cutters use with a bag on the end and throw it over that branch. Then pull it down. That is what I would try and do.

 

Precisely my thought if it can be done....a line around that, not even tightly, enough to give it a bit of a swing....got one of those im heading to werk to get today....tree bent but not broken in half....top resting on the ground. Might not cut it today if its looking risky.

 

Being mostly vertical, I'd think it would be difficult to rope it.

Trying to rope higher, in the canopy, doesn't make sense to me. I'd be yanking on live branches that are fairly thick.

Good solution for a different problem.... I think

 

Or a bow fishing arrow if you have the equipment and can't throw a bag and line that far.
A string attached to a (full) water bottle will work in a pinch depending on how far you can throw a water bottle.

 

I lost a friend several years ago who was 57 in prime of life and was mowing his yard on riding mower. A limb fell and he likely never even knew it; hit him in the head and killed him. Now, that is bad luck but a lesson about rotten or broken stuff in trees. But I don't think he even knew it existed. I guess the edge I have is I am constantly looking up and into my trees. For various reasons, lol. RIP, Randy.

 

I see one small branch that if you threw above it then it could catch on it.

 

I’d put a throw line on it.

 

I have used a lead weight on a fishing pole and cast the line over it, pull light rope or twine and move up again in size of rope until you feel it is the one, then loop, slide end through loop, pull tight and hopefully it comes down as you want. I am better at casting and can cast higher than I can throw.

 

Throw line over it. Run up a rope, tie a running bowline and yank it down

 

Turkey load out of a shotgun!
You are welcome!

Gary

 

I was gonna say the same thing! I’ve actually done it. It works like a charm!

 

If you had the wind we had last night and it's still there, cut the tree down.

 

wrong kind of widowmaker?
Not to be off topic completely, I had a limb drop on me driving down the road. Scared the crap out of me,
Little t100 toyota truck and it smacked the cab roof hard! Beautful sunny day too, not a breeze out at all.
timing was impeccable!

 

Did you get more wind today MikeInMa ? It really picked up here in N.E. Ma this afternoon.

I hope it drops soon.

 

I made a throw rope from 100' of slippery cheapo poly cord from a discount store and an old chain grab hook from out of the barn. I put black electrical tape over it so it doesn't get hung up in the twigs. It's not pretty but it's worked well for me for several years now. Down and dirty cheapo way to get the bull rope up where it needs to be without emptying my wallet... Firewood is a budget thing for me... (cept for a couple saws... LOL)

 

X2. Looks like not much is holding it up.

 

You can go buy a baseball or a softball drill hole and tie a nylon string line through it and toss it up.
I use them to catch a limb and then pull larger bull ropes for falling the odd leaner or where I know the top will get hung.

 

A bit of a breeze today. No big deal.