A non retrievable cambium saver is annoying, time consuming and can therefore cost you money!

Cambium Savers should be expected from all Arborists, when climbing a tree other than when felling the tree we should aim to prevent damaging the tree as much as possible. Cambium savers help achieve this goal. Arborists can reduce premature wear on climbing lines and prevent damage to tree limbs caused by the climbing line running over a branch.

Ensure the chosen spot is cleaned of all little stumps and twigs that could get in the way, ensure the side where the cambium saver will drop down removing all little stumps and possible twigs that it could catch on. Investing a short amount of time cleaning can save you allot of time retrieving your cambium saver!

The easiest way of retrieving the cambium saver is to tie a knot (half hitch) in the end of the rope.

Simulate savers retrieval; pull at the cambium saver in the direction it will be retrieved checking if it moves easily through crotch or if the pulley releases well, even if this means that you have to look for a different spot to place your cambium saver being able to retrieve your cambium saver safely is crucial for a smooth operation.

Also, ensure you come out of the tree in a relatively straight line so that you can flick your rope from the ground and hence manipulating the cambium saver out of the fork.

Climbing spikes are a simple and effective tool for Arborists. Being able to dig the spikes into a tree provides climbers with solid footing and flexibility when moving around the tree.

However, climbing spikes should only be used on trees that are being cut down or in parts that are being removed. The spikes penetrate the bark of a tree and dig into the living circulatory tissue beneath. Each hole punched into the tree disrupts nutrient circulation, traumatizing to the tree creating unnecessary damage. This is important as the holes also provide an opening for diseases and pests to get in.

Each time climbers spike up a tree each step puts 2-3 inch wounds in a tree, and climbers wearing spikes can potentially create 2 or 3 hundred of those wounds causing severer damage. Spike marks eventually kill the tree; damaging the trees vascular system right below the bark.

If climbers must use tree climbing spikes it is recommended to use them responsibly by cleaning the spikes with alcohol after each use to ensure no fungus or disease is transferred from a sick tree to a healthy one.

So why would climbers use spikes if they are harmful to the trees? There are a few exceptional situations where using spikes is appropriate, such as

• When the tree is being removed
• When branches are more than throwline distance apart and there is no other means of climbing the tree (for example: when there are no branches lower than 50 feet), with no access for an aerial lift device or crane.
• If the tree is to close to power line and cannot be accessed safely by other means, to reach and injured climber.

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