Damian, you are a patient teacher and gave Jake confidence with your good instructions. You probably wanted to do the cutting for Jake but you gave him a few minutes to figure out what he was doing. Jake, you have the basic instincts to be a great climber. Thanks to you guys for making a very interesting video. Blessings to all of you.
I gotta disagree fellas. A mans basic instinct to live (survive) in any situation takes president. Guy was hanging on a tree. You were clowning from a fucking backet. Teach him to tie knots...leave him alone. More.
@@davidtur5199 gotta agree with you dude, my foreman and my dad used to let me make mistakes when I was learning. and when I'd get stuck or realize that I fkked up, I'd ask them if ________ is what I did wrong, and they would let me struggle n get mad tryi g to figure it out on my own, THEN they would explain what exactly I did wrong and they would then have me ask what I THINK I should do, then they would tell me the correct thing to do. when u let a guy make small mistakes, like working harder not smarter, a guy tends to learn faster that way. at least in my experience 🤷🏻♂️ I'm glad I didn't get baby'd like him, they're actually hurting his learning process. dude was cutting SO CLOSE to his climbing system multiple times. bro that is NOT a mistake that u let a new guy make, it can turn into a habit real quick and That's a dangerous habit .
Dude....Jake looked super comfortable the entire time. He absolutely trusted his gear & and instructor! Nice job, Damian, very good job. That's an amazing story from both sides. First, the kid from the coffee shack to the tree crew who welcomed him in and felt he had earned a chance to climb. It's just another example of how August wants the tree life to benefit everyone. Tree life is a shared environment and community. August Hunicke. Your connection to your viewers is clearly on your mind every day. If there's one thing I love the most about you, AUGUST it is your desire to stay in touch with all of us. I love that mindset and commentment. 🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜
I was smiling the whole time. You guys are great. Now Jake has this forever. The way you film and edit videos is wholesome fun and entertaining. A relaxing way to spend time. Time to head to work now. My wife asks how can you watch tree videos after working in them all day. I said fine I’ll watch them before I go to work. 😂
I have never seen someone not wuss out before halfway up the very first time on hooks so I say may not be the absolute truth and not the first gaff out or slip come on with the games
Damien was so patient and clear all the way and Jake had both ears open following and understanding , I think I remember August going through the Dutch Bros. drive through and that first conversation with Jake with the "would you like to try ? " while the boys were getting their caffeine fix that day . At least a year ago , probably more . Regardless , well done , this may well be an instructional video of mention for future reference . Jake wants to learn , he'll do well and be an asset to any company . Kudos Damien , Some people know but cannot teach , you can , respect man .
I remember that offer to come out and work and was thinking cool is that the same kid? Just goes to show when you have an open mind you never know what doors will open. Jake looks like a great fit to an awesome crew!!! Good on ya!!!
I recall that drive through conversation as well! Been noticing Jake in recent videos doing ground work and crane/blower 360's lol. Very cool to see Jake make his way over, learn, progress, climb and even top a tree. Well done!
Top marks for Jake for his first time, you could tell he had total faith in the equipment and looked comfortable in the tree. A really nice touch for Damian to be beside him in the bucket.
It was so wonderful to see a first climb, and the dynamics of a good teacher and eager learner. So many smiles! I love this type of content, thank you August
Great job teaching, coaching and filming Damien. Great job Jake!!! Wearing August’s old orange had to help a little bit too. It’s great waking up at 300am to a new August video. I hope your back feels better soon August.
What a fantastic training class. Damien you were a really patient and informative instructor. I hope that this is the start of a training programme especially for the younger people who are interested in being future arborists. Learning all that it entails correctly and safely. Well done guys.
He's got it.... That was honestly one of the best 1st tries I've ever seen. His ability to relax, absorb info, & execute is really good. I really like the ability to teach with the bucket right there... It has to give a sense of comfort to the climber, that they have an instant exit if ever needed. Plus the vantage point is perfect for explaining specifics.
@@AugustHunicke I've been following your channel for a couple of years now. I've been in the tree care industry for just shy of 8 years. I have learned more from you and Damian in the last couple of years than I have fron the various companies I've worked for. Thank you for helping to educate, train and inspire
I don’t know anything about cutting trees but this seemed like the perfect learning/teaching setup to me too. Plus, those guys couldn’t ask for a better boss in August. Seems like a great little company to work for with quality people throughout. That’s tough to find in my experience.
Thanks for showing us non-climbers that it's really not as easy as you pros make it look like. Kudos to all new climbers on their first ascent and getting through it. It's gotta be a thrill!
It is , IS 😂 ... I'm new at it myself and two years into it and still haven't dropped a top yet ! I bought gear online and was inspired by August , BBR and Reg Coates . I have 5 acres of mixed hard woods and dying white ash , so I've got plenty of trees to learn on .
The boy has balls of steel and that's a thing. Jake you will have a great future in the tree climbing business, you did great on your first climbing. Damien your a great teacher and you could tell that Jake was depending on every word you told him. Good job men and be safe out there.
So great, really good,, he did great for the very first time awesome .. he got very good instructors 😊 ..I love professional workers ..safety .. qalm and quit ,,without ..bla bla .. congratulations 🎉🥳🥳🥳 beautiful video. Have a good one .. TC regards greetings from Germany ....💪 21:33 watching you. Nizzze on point
This is an incredible video. I understand as a tree worker that you are busy and training new guys takes time but you absolutely get out what you put in to guys that are driven like this. Mad props on the team for being patient instructors.
This is the best video ever put on UA-cam. Jake truly has Massive Balls and their size was augmented by Damian’s confidence and calm demeanor. Every time he had a small gaff out my A-hole puckered WAY more than Jakes seemed to. Absolutely incredible.
Excellent instruction. Decades ago, I was instructed by an wonderful gentleman who had taught many foresters climbing techniques in the forest service. I had done a little rope climbing, but new to spikes. What may not have been mentioned here is that climbing with spikes is a completely unnatural feeling at first. Feels like your legs might snap and new to certain muscles. Of course, second nature after a couple of climbs. Pine tree. Not removing, just vines and dead limbs. I know, not a recommended procedure, but this was way before more efficient single line techniques had come along. Speed saw. Probably a pole belt. "Keep the gaffs pointed to the center of the tree." Stomp stomp flip, stomp stomp flip. No double tying in back then. These days, always on rope or another flip line. I keep going up, whole body is tensed up -- this does not feel right. Cut dead limbs, cut vines. To climb around limbs, grab the trunk and unhook pole belt and flip around and re-hook. Back in those days, guys who did utility trimming weren't allowed flip lines and would climb with just their spurs and hands to a tie-in point, and trimmed limbs as they descended(!) If a climber brought a flip line to a job, a superintendent might cut it to pieces if he saw it. Production mode, evidently. And now unheard of. But I've seen old guys do it -- spikes and two middle fingers with each hand and up they went. I get very high in the tree. Seems to be about 4 inches in diameter. "Don't go any higher!" "Don't worry about that!" "Alright, now put your hands behind your head and lean back and relax!" "OK." I do as instructed. "Are you relaxed?!" "I'm relaxed as hell! Can I come down now?!!"
On a tree like this I prefer not to remove the carabiner from the second line all the time. I just release som tension and scooch it up and re-tighten. I think it is faster, less fiddly and I am always tied in with two ropes, so safer. No risk of gaffing out and hugging the tree all the way down. Great job on the first tree!
Great job Jake. You stayed calm, listened to Damian. the smile on Damian’s face was like a father teaching his kid how to ride a bike for the first. You all work great together and have fun doing it.
I'm learning arb at a UK college so there's a process and a progression of tickets we have to go through before we get to top handled chainsaws (chainsaw maintenance and cross cutting, felling small stuff, felling medium stuff, climbing & aerial rescue and finally using a chainsaw in a rope and harness). I've only climbed with spikes once and I've not yet used a top handled saw whilst in a tree... It was great to watch along with someones first time doing both. The tuition was really spot on - nice and patient, plenty of space and you let Jake make his own mistakes except the potentially risky stuff (eg two hands on the saw). The only thing I'd get pulled on would be to put the chain brake on as soon as cutting is finished and not to take the chain brake off until I'm in position and ready cut. Thanks for recording this, loved every second. Ten points to Jake!
I’m a guy that uses the chain brake when I’m starting the saw and finishing with using the saw. But only when I’m climbing. If I’m on the ground I’m using it more frequently while moving around brush.
Wow great first climb!!! Jake was trusting his gear at 2’ off the ground impressive. Damian has awesome coaching skills and Jake was an attentive student. Coaching from the bucket was a good call. Stoked to see this, so few young bucks that even want to work at this level these days I can see Jake excelling to a full production climber quickly good saw control and when I saw him duck a branch and slide to the side on his flip-line while taking a step I knew you got a new climber on your crew!!! Keep it up Jake.Thanks for sharing Rock on!!!
Well done fellas! Don’t usually comment but just wanted to commend everyone involved in this video. From the boss, to the new climber, and Damien for his excellent tutoring. It’s amazing how much you can learn from watching someone who is inexperienced do it, vs a pro. You guys make it look so easy it’s hard see where the troubles lie. Thanks for sharing
Brilliant video! A whole new appreciation for what the rest of you make look so easy. Great teacher and pupil. So many things to consider and remember...
Wow what a perfect setup for your first tree !!! Fairly open area, smaller tree without 3 million branches, and the bucket truck there to have Damien RIGHT beside you !!!! Really Great video !! Are there a few little thing's that people seem to wanna point out ? Sure. But really great job Damien, Jake and August !!!! Was super exciting and fun to watch and quite informative for new guy's.... I love that !!! Thank you so much !!!
A big grin on my face watching that. It was obvious how much Jake enjoyed doing that and how safe he felt with the equipment and having Damian alongside him made it a fantastic experience. Well done everyone. Keep the good vibes coming!
Get better August. Damien I can appreciate your teaching style, id feel completely confident with you there and geat job Jake you are now part of the initiate !!!!!
This guy seemed very comfortable for his first climb. Almost too comfortable. I hope he understands the importance of not gaffing out while cutting and or cutting his ropes. I didn't hear any mention of that from Damien but i assume it was either mentioned off camera or he has been a ground guy long enough to understand the dangers he was up against up there. Great video (as always) guys!
I thoroughly LOVED this video. Damien, you are an excellent teacher and Jake, you were an excellent trainee. I always love to watch the videos on this channel because I learn so much. Thank you guys or all that you do!
That was fun and exciting to watch! Jake you did great, and Damien you’re an excellent trainer. Thanks to August for editing and uploading this video. Your crew shines and reflects your leadership skills. Love❤you!
Mrs Hunicke , your comments are Always spot on and make me miss my mom ! August is So blessed and in sharing his time with us I'm blessed because of his hard work! See you in the comments !
Thanks for making interesting and delightful content. I enjoy and feel spiritually bonded with those who appreciate this amazing gift of life and who thankfully acknowledge the Lord for this amazing opportunity, at this particular time. Live life fearlessly, but with the confidence that the wisdom of the Lord affords us. 👍👍
You are a great teacher. He done a awesome job and trusted his gear as he should. If you don’t trust your gear you don’t need to be in a tree. Great job guys
My favorite part is the excitement and level of Stoke that the guys teaching him have. Great encouragement for a new skill....love it. Nice work, fellas!
Just a quick tip, teach him to reach around and check both lanyards to know there exact place on the tree before firing up the saw. Also, I would recommend having a steel flip line for anyone just getting started. He has a lot of potential and your training is spot on.
Damien, great instructing... Jake, great implementation of instruction ! Really enjoyed this video. Great seeing August at the end and hope the visit went well and you get some relief so you can get into the trees again. I know back pain....
Well done good sir! And congrats on your first top. Someday I hope to be doing that as well, but for now, my place still belongs on the ground! Looks like you have some great coaches too! Well done!
This nice to watch. It reminds us how easy the professionals make it look, and how difficult it really is! Thanks for being a good and patient teacher!
This was honestly fantastic. I learned a lot, and I've never even thought about climbing a tree. Seeing it from a stand-off position rather than some helmet-mounted camera makes all the difference. Great patience, solid encouragement, and clear instructions. Can't ask for better than that!
Nice instruction Damian!!! You were patient, and instructful. You were obviously aware of the surroundings and Jake's comfort level. Good job all the way around!
Great video, and a great job. The only thing that I would add is that he needs to get in a habit of setting his brake in-between cuts. It has saved me a couple of trips to the hospital over the years. I try to set the chain brake every time. Well, within reason. Lol.. obviously, every situation and cut is a little different. Just a good habit to get him into now before he climbs a lot.
Bless your soul for being such a great, patient teacher... not too common nowadays. Most would have got frustrated and gave him the "figure it out" method.
Great job Jake and great teaching Damien. Sorry to hear about your back August, hope it gets better. I deal with that about once a year as well. Yall stay safe.
Jake you did amazing you took your time, listen to instructions from your teacher and you trusted your gear. Your going to go far keep on learning. Slow is fast knowledge is key stay humble my tree brother
Holy haircut!! Lookin fresh August. Jake you nailed it buddy! You looked a lot more comfortable than a lot of new climbers. You'll be a natural before long and then you'll really start to enjoy it. Once the nerves subside everything gets easier. Good job though for your first climb.
I just started learning this on UA-cam. This weekend I successfully cut down my first tree it was a 70ish' oak hanging towards my cabin. I learned a lot mostly through pain and little failures, but my gear, saw and myself are all good so I'd say I'm gonna plan to get better at it. This is another world of ability 🤘🏼
Thank you Damien. I teach apprentices all the time how to do this and I would like to say damn good job there bud. Damn good job I wish I had time to do this with these guys and your apprentice did amazing he’s a natural climber for sure.
I'm going to start making the time to do more training in this type of setting. The middle of production residential work is usually not the place, but all it took was the attitude to make the choice. We're going to sacrifice our production rate, some, to make a good environment for the next guy to learn, tons. The only way to learn is to do, but the only way to get comfortable is to have the time.
catching up on your videos - Congrats JAKE.... Damian you're an awesome teacher. Hope your back has settled August. Loving the channel, you all do something I could NEVER do so I admire you so much, stay safe and TY
Wish I had Damian in a bucket first time I climbed a tree with a flip-line, spurs and a saw. Great instruction and patience to help a new climber out. well done Jake!
Thank you for this video!! I want to take baby steps to get into climbing, but I’ve been trying to find good, trustworthy material to learn from. This is the first video I’ve found that I’m confident in, and I feel like I learned a ton! God bless you and your crew! Thanks again!! PS I hope by now you’re feeling better!!
Congratulations Jake on the first tree. I remember my first spur climb and top off a spindly pole. So much fun, and easier to trust your gear when you have an amazing crew of experienced climbers teaching you..... and one of them in a bucket following you up and keeping you safe. I had to figure it out on my own with some second hand gear. Cant wait for my MB 2.0 harness to come in, everything around central Texas just got annihilated by an ice storm so there will be no shortage of tree work in my immediate future. Stay safe guys and thanks for the videos I have learned a lot from you.
I was taught that a good way to quantify your distance away from the tree, is a forearms length away. So, if you stick your elbow against your belly, your fist should just be touching the tree. Obviously, more experienced guys will go further at times, but it's a good start, imo. Great video guys! Love seeing how I can improve on training my new climbers.
This guy did it like a boss! Second time watching this. Tried climbing today for my first time with no saw, it was awesome and this video helped alot. Tomorrow I'm doing the full job, climbing and cutting. Spruce tree about 5 times as thick as this with a ton of branches and about the same height. Im going to use the exact same methods as this, the choke around for the second tie in point. Have pretty much the exact same gear set up.
Awesome job I appreciate a good climbing teacher with good patience not many of them out there anymore just wanna get the job done most of the time much love to u and everyone u teach
That guys got balls I was getting sick to my stomach just watching this…what a true savage !!!this is only my second video and I’m hooked… hope he’s still climbing…
“Gotta be better everyday” ❤ great saying Jake. Excellent job Coach Damien and Jake did 👍 😎 Always a joy to watch your Videos. Likewise, you enrich our lives! 🤠Wassup ants 🐜 Healing prayers for your back 🌲❤️💫
Great video. That is so cool that Jake had Damien in a bucket the whole way up. I'd love to have had that while learning so many benefits to be had. Thank ya all for the content and useful info.
I really have no choice here but to reiterate most of the comments regarding this shoot. Excellent instructor, excellent student. wish i could have had someone to teach me the "ropes" when i started.....50 years ago. yep, am 70 now and still climbing trees. something as a kid we just never seem to grow out of.
Thank you guys for creating the video many of us have wanted to see. Wish I had a experienced climber with me every step on my first climb! Can't imagine the difference it would make for a new climber to have someone be able to come talk them thru rigging and any other questions that arise! Great job to the climber! Think think think and continually inspect your gear and rigging before during and after each climb. Don't wait until the end of the day to inspect your gear. Don't rush a cut because of nerves. Do the opposite and slow down if you feel shaky!
Absolutely loved this video. See a new guys do it then describing those first time feelings. I would like to see more Jake videos as his skills develop and confidence builds up!!
Nice video, one piece of advice I have as someone who is also learning is keeping your spikes as horizontal as possible. I’ve noticed everytime I have slipped on spikes it’s because I’m standing straight up and down and the bark gives out. Getting your butt back and spikes deeper into the sap wood can be a life saver especially when running the saw and pushing your body in different angles. Climb high and stay safe!
Great job Damien and Jake! August, the care you have for your team (and your audience) is inspirational. I'm with Adam. I was nervous the whole way. I am NOT "made for this" - unless Monkey Beaver bring out a harness with a built-in diaper - but I love watching. 😁 Hope your back improves. I'm nursing mine right now. Ah, the joys of being human. Peace, Mark
Damien , I've been watching August's channel for a while now , you guys inspire me to become more safe and efficient. I grew to love climbing because of watching the channel and also because I have a fellow old timer climber that teaches me a lot , your chemistry with August reminds me of my own job chemistry , I just want to say you sir are a great teacher I met August and Samurai Joe at TCI 2022 in Charlotte NC, I didn't get to see you, as you know if you were there it was HECTIC with crowds of people but one day I would like to meet you , you are a very intelligent humble human and I respect you , much love brother ! Keep doing you ! Your an inspiration to many!!
Damian, you are a patient teacher and gave Jake confidence with your good instructions. You probably wanted to do the cutting for Jake but you gave him a few minutes to figure out what he was doing. Jake, you have the basic instincts to be a great climber. Thanks to you guys for making a very interesting video. Blessings to all of you.
Patience is KING!
Boredom always beats too much excitement🤣🤣
I agree 100% . Good job fellas. Success all around. :)
Charlie
I gotta disagree fellas. A mans basic instinct to live (survive) in any situation takes president. Guy was hanging on a tree. You were clowning from a fucking backet. Teach him to tie knots...leave him alone. More.
great job ! Jake worked with stihl 151?
@@davidtur5199 gotta agree with you dude, my foreman and my dad used to let me make mistakes when I was learning. and when I'd get stuck or realize that I fkked up, I'd ask them if ________ is what I did wrong, and they would let me struggle n get mad tryi g to figure it out on my own, THEN they would explain what exactly I did wrong and they would then have me ask what I THINK I should do, then they would tell me the correct thing to do.
when u let a guy make small mistakes, like working harder not smarter, a guy tends to learn faster that way.
at least in my experience 🤷🏻♂️
I'm glad I didn't get baby'd like him, they're actually hurting his learning process.
dude was cutting SO CLOSE to his climbing system multiple times.
bro that is NOT a mistake that u let a new guy make, it can turn into a habit real quick and That's a dangerous habit .
Dude....Jake looked super comfortable the entire time. He absolutely trusted his gear & and instructor! Nice job, Damian, very good job. That's an amazing story from both sides. First, the kid from the coffee shack to the tree crew who welcomed him in and felt he had earned a chance to climb. It's just another example of how August wants the tree life to benefit everyone. Tree life is a shared environment and community. August Hunicke. Your connection to your viewers is clearly on your mind every day. If there's one thing I love the most about you, AUGUST it is your desire to stay in touch with all of us. I love that mindset and commentment. 🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜
Well said I couldn’t agree more
Great comment Lorrie 👍❤
Yes I’m completely one of those hugs the tree newbies (years and years as a bucket guy) deep respect for this teacher/student
I was smiling the whole time. You guys are great. Now Jake has this forever. The way you film and edit videos is wholesome fun and entertaining. A relaxing way to spend time. Time to head to work now. My wife asks how can you watch tree videos after working in them all day. I said fine I’ll watch them before I go to work. 😂
😁
I have never seen someone not wuss out before halfway up the very first time on hooks so I say may not be the absolute truth and not the first gaff out or slip come on with the games
@@Psy6o I think you should try punctuation 🤷🏼♂️ That was Jake’s 1st time on spurs. It’s SUUUUUUPPPPPPER obvious.
Damien was so patient and clear all the way and Jake had both ears open following and understanding , I think I remember August going through the Dutch Bros. drive through and that first conversation with Jake with the "would you like to try ? " while the boys were getting their caffeine fix that day . At least a year ago , probably more . Regardless , well done , this may well be an instructional video of mention for future reference . Jake wants to learn , he'll do well and be an asset to any company . Kudos Damien , Some people know but cannot teach , you can , respect man .
I remember that offer to come out and work and was thinking cool is that the same kid? Just goes to show when you have an open mind you never know what doors will open. Jake looks like a great fit to an awesome crew!!! Good on ya!!!
I recall that drive through conversation as well! Been noticing Jake in recent videos doing ground work and crane/blower 360's lol. Very cool to see Jake make his way over, learn, progress, climb and even top a tree. Well done!
Top marks for Jake for his first time, you could tell he had total faith in the equipment and looked comfortable in the tree. A really nice touch for Damian to be beside him in the bucket.
It was so wonderful to see a first climb, and the dynamics of a good teacher and eager learner. So many smiles! I love this type of content, thank you August
Great job teaching, coaching and filming Damien. Great job Jake!!! Wearing August’s old orange had to help a little bit too. It’s great waking up at 300am to a new August video. I hope your back feels better soon August.
What a fantastic training class. Damien you were a really patient and informative instructor. I hope that this is the start of a training programme especially for the younger people who are interested in being future arborists. Learning all that it entails correctly and safely. Well done guys.
The bucket buddy system is an incredible benefit. Great moral support.
He's got it....
That was honestly one of the best 1st tries I've ever seen. His ability to relax, absorb info, & execute is really good. I really like the ability to teach with the bucket right there... It has to give a sense of comfort to the climber, that they have an instant exit if ever needed. Plus the vantage point is perfect for explaining specifics.
Zactly
@@AugustHunicke I've been following your channel for a couple of years now. I've been in the tree care industry for just shy of 8 years. I have learned more from you and Damian in the last couple of years than I have fron the various companies I've worked for. Thank you for helping to educate, train and inspire
I don’t know anything about cutting trees but this seemed like the perfect learning/teaching setup to me too. Plus, those guys couldn’t ask for a better boss in August. Seems like a great little company to work for with quality people throughout. That’s tough to find in my experience.
This is the best video I've seen on all the steps to safely climb a tree with spurs! Well done Jake!
Excellent instructing!
Jake did amazing. Super keen, bold but not cocky. He's only going to get better and better. Damian is a great teacher! Awesome video guys. Dave
Thanks for showing us non-climbers that it's really not as easy as you pros make it look like. Kudos to all new climbers on their first ascent and getting through it. It's gotta be a thrill!
It is , IS 😂 ... I'm new at it myself and two years into it and still haven't dropped a top yet ! I bought gear online and was inspired by August , BBR and Reg Coates . I have 5 acres of mixed hard woods and dying white ash , so I've got plenty of trees to learn on .
Doing something that scares you, is also what builds confidence in you. :)
The boy has balls of steel and that's a thing. Jake you will have a great future in the tree climbing business, you did great on your first climbing. Damien your a great teacher and you could tell that Jake was depending on every word you told him. Good job men and be safe out there.
By far the best video in the subject, have to love the multi-angle and close ups
So great, really good,, he did great for the very first time awesome .. he got very good instructors 😊 ..I love professional workers ..safety .. qalm and quit ,,without ..bla bla .. congratulations 🎉🥳🥳🥳 beautiful video. Have a good one .. TC regards greetings from Germany ....💪 21:33 watching you. Nizzze on point
This is an incredible video. I understand as a tree worker that you are busy and training new guys takes time but you absolutely get out what you put in to guys that are driven like this. Mad props on the team for being patient instructors.
You can tell this company has a great work environment. Patient teaching, y'all seem like chill people wanting your helpers to improve on their craft.
Man I wish I would of had guys like yall around when I was learning to climb. And congrats to Jake 👍
@mikemccopwatch7961 I was literally about to type the same exact comment 😂 Too relatable
This is the best video ever put on UA-cam. Jake truly has Massive Balls and their size was augmented by Damian’s confidence and calm demeanor. Every time he had a small gaff out my A-hole puckered WAY more than Jakes seemed to. Absolutely incredible.
Nice job coaching him. You were very patient & thorough. A real boss.
Excellent instruction.
Decades ago, I was instructed by an wonderful gentleman who had taught many foresters climbing techniques in the forest service. I had done a little rope climbing, but new to spikes. What may not have been mentioned here is that climbing with spikes is a completely unnatural feeling at first. Feels like your legs might snap and new to certain muscles. Of course, second nature after a couple of climbs.
Pine tree. Not removing, just vines and dead limbs. I know, not a recommended procedure, but this was way before more efficient single line techniques had come along. Speed saw. Probably a pole belt. "Keep the gaffs pointed to the center of the tree." Stomp stomp flip, stomp stomp flip. No double tying in back then. These days, always on rope or another flip line. I keep going up, whole body is tensed up -- this does not feel right. Cut dead limbs, cut vines. To climb around limbs, grab the trunk and unhook pole belt and flip around and re-hook. Back in those days, guys who did utility trimming weren't allowed flip lines and would climb with just their spurs and hands to a tie-in point, and trimmed limbs as they descended(!) If a climber brought a flip line to a job, a superintendent might cut it to pieces if he saw it. Production mode, evidently. And now unheard of. But I've seen old guys do it -- spikes and two middle fingers with each hand and up they went.
I get very high in the tree. Seems to be about 4 inches in diameter.
"Don't go any higher!"
"Don't worry about that!"
"Alright, now put your hands behind your head and lean back and relax!"
"OK." I do as instructed.
"Are you relaxed?!"
"I'm relaxed as hell! Can I come down now?!!"
On a tree like this I prefer not to remove the carabiner from the second line all the time. I just release som tension and scooch it up and re-tighten. I think it is faster, less fiddly and I am always tied in with two ropes, so safer. No risk of gaffing out and hugging the tree all the way down.
Great job on the first tree!
Great job Jake. You stayed calm, listened to Damian. the smile on Damian’s face was like a father teaching his kid how to ride a bike for the first. You all work great together and have fun doing it.
I'm learning arb at a UK college so there's a process and a progression of tickets we have to go through before we get to top handled chainsaws (chainsaw maintenance and cross cutting, felling small stuff, felling medium stuff, climbing & aerial rescue and finally using a chainsaw in a rope and harness). I've only climbed with spikes once and I've not yet used a top handled saw whilst in a tree... It was great to watch along with someones first time doing both. The tuition was really spot on - nice and patient, plenty of space and you let Jake make his own mistakes except the potentially risky stuff (eg two hands on the saw). The only thing I'd get pulled on would be to put the chain brake on as soon as cutting is finished and not to take the chain brake off until I'm in position and ready cut. Thanks for recording this, loved every second. Ten points to Jake!
Eh, chain brakes are for big saws.. joking of course, I wouldn't dare use the saw and not set the brake..
Good luck on your progression bro. Im also from UK and learnt in Windsor. You'll be sweet. The chainbrake is deffo worth thinking about
I’m a guy that uses the chain brake when I’m starting the saw and finishing with using the saw. But only when I’m climbing. If I’m on the ground I’m using it more frequently while moving around brush.
Wow great first climb!!! Jake was trusting his gear at 2’ off the ground impressive. Damian has awesome coaching skills and Jake was an attentive student. Coaching from the bucket was a good call. Stoked to see this, so few young bucks that even want to work at this level these days I can see Jake excelling to a full production climber quickly good saw control and when I saw him duck a branch and slide to the side on his flip-line while taking a step I knew you got a new climber on your crew!!! Keep it up Jake.Thanks for sharing Rock on!!!
We all want todo this.. it’s the old gatekeepers stopping us..
How long was he on the ground before he was given a chance??
Well done fellas!
Don’t usually comment but just wanted to commend everyone involved in this video. From the boss, to the new climber, and Damien for his excellent tutoring.
It’s amazing how much you can learn from watching someone who is inexperienced do it, vs a pro.
You guys make it look so easy it’s hard see where the troubles lie.
Thanks for sharing
Brilliant video! A whole new appreciation for what the rest of you make look so easy. Great teacher and pupil. So many things to consider and remember...
Easily the best video I have seen for helping my education! Thank you August, Damien, and Jake!
Wow what a perfect setup for your first tree !!! Fairly open area, smaller tree without 3 million branches, and the bucket truck there to have Damien RIGHT beside you !!!! Really Great video !! Are there a few little thing's that people seem to wanna point out ? Sure. But really great job Damien, Jake and August !!!! Was super exciting and fun to watch and quite informative for new guy's.... I love that !!! Thank you so much !!!
A big grin on my face watching that. It was obvious how much Jake enjoyed doing that and how safe he felt with the equipment and having Damian alongside him made it a fantastic experience. Well done everyone. Keep the good vibes coming!
Get better August. Damien I can appreciate your teaching style, id feel completely confident with you there and geat job Jake you are now part of the initiate !!!!!
This guy seemed very comfortable for his first climb. Almost too comfortable. I hope he understands the importance of not gaffing out while cutting and or cutting his ropes. I didn't hear any mention of that from Damien but i assume it was either mentioned off camera or he has been a ground guy long enough to understand the dangers he was up against up there. Great video (as always) guys!
Jake did Very Good for his first Climb. Love how you were teaching him Jeff every little pointers right down to the smallest little detail. ❤️
I thoroughly LOVED this video. Damien, you are an excellent teacher and Jake, you were an excellent trainee. I always love to watch the videos on this channel because I learn so much. Thank you guys or all that you do!
That was fun and exciting to watch! Jake you did great, and Damien you’re an excellent trainer. Thanks to August for editing and uploading this video. Your crew shines and reflects your leadership skills. Love❤you!
Well said Miss Helen ❤👍
Mrs Hunicke , your comments are Always spot on and make me miss my mom ! August is So blessed and in sharing his time with us I'm blessed because of his hard work! See you in the comments !
What an excellent way to learn climbing a tree, having you in the bucket to talk through it. Very cool and excellent video.
Thanks for making interesting and delightful content. I enjoy and feel spiritually bonded with those who appreciate this amazing gift of life and who thankfully acknowledge the Lord for this amazing opportunity, at this particular time. Live life fearlessly, but with the confidence that the wisdom of the Lord affords us. 👍👍
You are a great teacher. He done a awesome job and trusted his gear as he should. If you don’t trust your gear you don’t need to be in a tree. Great job guys
My favorite part is the excitement and level of Stoke that the guys teaching him have. Great encouragement for a new skill....love it. Nice work, fellas!
Just a quick tip, teach him to reach around and check both lanyards to know there exact place on the tree before firing up the saw. Also, I would recommend having a steel flip line for anyone just getting started. He has a lot of potential and your training is spot on.
Flip line was steel core maxi
the greatest gift u can give to anyone, no matter what you do in life , is to teach someone else how to do it, good on ya dam!
Damien, great instructing... Jake, great implementation of instruction ! Really enjoyed this video. Great seeing August at the end and hope the visit went well and you get some relief so you can get into the trees again. I know back pain....
I wish I had a teacher like Damian when I first started! I self taught myself but would have loved a teacher like that!
He did great. He remained polite and smiling, even when it was probably tense moments for him. Good guy. Good job Damien.
Great mentor !! Everyone needs a boss like you.
Well done good sir! And congrats on your first top. Someday I hope to be doing that as well, but for now, my place still belongs on the ground! Looks like you have some great coaches too! Well done!
This is such an excellent video. Damian, you are such a great teacher and mentor. Well done!!!
That was great! This brought back memories from forty years ago that made the palms of my hands sweat. Pray your back gets well! God bless!
This nice to watch. It reminds us how easy the professionals make it look, and how difficult it really is! Thanks for being a good and patient teacher!
This was honestly fantastic. I learned a lot, and I've never even thought about climbing a tree. Seeing it from a stand-off position rather than some helmet-mounted camera makes all the difference. Great patience, solid encouragement, and clear instructions. Can't ask for better than that!
Well done Damian!! Your student was successful (good job Jake). Big responsibility being a trainer. Feel better soon August. Thanks for sharing.
Perfect environment to get used to climbing. Here in Ireland its usually a wet ash tree covered in thick ivy. Great work from instructor and trainee
Nice instruction Damian!!! You were patient, and instructful. You were obviously aware of the surroundings and Jake's comfort level.
Good job all the way around!
Great video, and a great job. The only thing that I would add is that he needs to get in a habit of setting his brake in-between cuts. It has saved me a couple of trips to the hospital over the years. I try to set the chain brake every time. Well, within reason. Lol.. obviously, every situation and cut is a little different. Just a good habit to get him into now before he climbs a lot.
Bless your soul for being such a great, patient teacher... not too common nowadays. Most would have got frustrated and gave him the "figure it out" method.
Very nice. Spikes are very rough on knees and hips the first few times. He did great. Wonderful teacher...
I wish my first climb would have gone that well! 🤣 i did it on my own so nobody to give me confidence or advise...Harder way to learn for sure!
I wish I had a bucket next to me on my first! Awesome video. I can't believe how entertained I was watching a new guy lol.
You guys are nice. I learned alone. one thing, a pair of gloves for when ya gaff out...bark nuckle owwie.
Great job Jake and great teaching Damien. Sorry to hear about your back August, hope it gets better. I deal with that about once a year as well. Yall stay safe.
Jake you did amazing you took your time, listen to instructions from your teacher and you trusted your gear. Your going to go far keep on learning.
Slow is fast knowledge is key stay humble my tree brother
Holy haircut!! Lookin fresh August. Jake you nailed it buddy! You looked a lot more comfortable than a lot of new climbers. You'll be a natural before long and then you'll really start to enjoy it. Once the nerves subside everything gets easier. Good job though for your first climb.
I just started learning this on UA-cam. This weekend I successfully cut down my first tree it was a 70ish' oak hanging towards my cabin. I learned a lot mostly through pain and little failures, but my gear, saw and myself are all good so I'd say I'm gonna plan to get better at it. This is another world of ability 🤘🏼
Thank you Damien. I teach apprentices all the time how to do this and I would like to say damn good job there bud. Damn good job I wish I had time to do this with these guys and your apprentice did amazing he’s a natural climber for sure.
I'm going to start making the time to do more training in this type of setting. The middle of production residential work is usually not the place, but all it took was the attitude to make the choice. We're going to sacrifice our production rate, some, to make a good environment for the next guy to learn, tons. The only way to learn is to do, but the only way to get comfortable is to have the time.
August needs to give Damian a raise. What a valuable team member. Jake did great with a great, patient instructor.
How much should his hourly be? 😁
100$
catching up on your videos - Congrats JAKE.... Damian you're an awesome teacher. Hope your back has settled August. Loving the channel, you all do something I could NEVER do so I admire you so much, stay safe and TY
This is a delight to watch, and very helpful for an initial look into what learning to climb is like. Thanks so much for sharing! What a great teach.
Wish I had Damian in a bucket first time I climbed a tree with a flip-line, spurs and a saw. Great instruction and patience to help a new climber out. well done Jake!
A lot taller than my first tree! Great job Jake! You were absolutely right when you said you’re in good hands! You have the opportunity of a lifetime!
That was great the way you coached him up that tree. Very good lesson. I wish I would of had that when I learned.
Thank you for this video!! I want to take baby steps to get into climbing, but I’ve been trying to find good, trustworthy material to learn from. This is the first video I’ve found that I’m confident in, and I feel like I learned a ton! God bless you and your crew! Thanks again!!
PS I hope by now you’re feeling better!!
Congratulations Jake on the first tree. I remember my first spur climb and top off a spindly pole. So much fun, and easier to trust your gear when you have an amazing crew of experienced climbers teaching you..... and one of them in a bucket following you up and keeping you safe. I had to figure it out on my own with some second hand gear. Cant wait for my MB 2.0 harness to come in, everything around central Texas just got annihilated by an ice storm so there will be no shortage of tree work in my immediate future. Stay safe guys and thanks for the videos I have learned a lot from you.
I was taught that a good way to quantify your distance away from the tree, is a forearms length away. So, if you stick your elbow against your belly, your fist should just be touching the tree. Obviously, more experienced guys will go further at times, but it's a good start, imo.
Great video guys! Love seeing how I can improve on training my new climbers.
This guy did it like a boss! Second time watching this. Tried climbing today for my first time with no saw, it was awesome and this video helped alot. Tomorrow I'm doing the full job, climbing and cutting. Spruce tree about 5 times as thick as this with a ton of branches and about the same height. Im going to use the exact same methods as this, the choke around for the second tie in point. Have pretty much the exact same gear set up.
He has a good attitude and looked like he genuinely wanted to learn a trade. Strong work to the master and the apprentice.
Great job! He was nervous but listened well and paid attention to detail. He had a patient and well educated instructor as well!
Fantastic job Jake, you look like natural tree climber. Keep up,the good work. 🇨🇦
Awesome job I appreciate a good climbing teacher with good patience not many of them out there anymore just wanna get the job done most of the time much love to u and everyone u teach
Thank you. Jake you did a great job. Thank you for sharing your first time up a stick.
That guys got balls I was getting sick to my stomach just watching this…what a true savage !!!this is only my second video and I’m hooked… hope he’s still climbing…
“Gotta be better everyday”
❤ great saying Jake.
Excellent job Coach Damien
and Jake did 👍 😎
Always a joy to watch your
Videos. Likewise,
you enrich our lives!
🤠Wassup ants 🐜
Healing prayers for your back
🌲❤️💫
Great video. That is so cool that Jake had Damien in a bucket the whole way up. I'd love to have had that while learning so many benefits to be had. Thank ya all for the content and useful info.
I love this video dude I’ve been waiting for them to put the boy in the tree! Excellent teachers he’s lucky to have you guys there teaching him.
Damian is a natural teacher! Nice work on all fronts.
I really have no choice here but to reiterate most of the comments regarding this shoot. Excellent instructor, excellent student.
wish i could have had someone to teach me the "ropes" when i started.....50 years ago. yep, am 70 now and still climbing trees. something as a kid we just never seem to grow out of.
Kuddos to you Jim for stayin at it !! I'm only 60 but plan to keep going as long as possible. I'll sit down when my legs won't hold me up anymore 😉
Great work, teaching and technique, thank you 🤝
Fantastic ,I loved every second of it! Had the feeling that I was on those ropes too.
Great video and good job Jake. Damien did good explaining things to him. August take it easy with your back.
I trust the climbing gear more than I'd EVER trust that bucket!
Big D, Capital A -- y'all are a blessing, and blessed!
Thank you guys for creating the video many of us have wanted to see. Wish I had a experienced climber with me every step on my first climb! Can't imagine the difference it would make for a new climber to have someone be able to come talk them thru rigging and any other questions that arise!
Great job to the climber!
Think think think and continually inspect your gear and rigging before during and after each climb. Don't wait until the end of the day to inspect your gear.
Don't rush a cut because of nerves. Do the opposite and slow down if you feel shaky!
Absolutely loved this video. See a new guys do it then describing those first time feelings. I would like to see more Jake videos as his skills develop and confidence builds up!!
Nice video, one piece of advice I have as someone who is also learning is keeping your spikes as horizontal as possible. I’ve noticed everytime I have slipped on spikes it’s because I’m standing straight up and down and the bark gives out. Getting your butt back and spikes deeper into the sap wood can be a life saver especially when running the saw and pushing your body in different angles. Climb high and stay safe!
Good job Damien, good job Jake! I see you are both happy at work. This is the most important! Keep it up guys! Best regards from Budapest, Hungary!
Great job Damien and Jake! August, the care you have for your team (and your audience) is inspirational.
I'm with Adam. I was nervous the whole way. I am NOT "made for this" - unless Monkey Beaver bring out a harness with a built-in diaper - but I love watching. 😁
Hope your back improves. I'm nursing mine right now. Ah, the joys of being human.
Peace, Mark
Love the diaper thing!!
Great instructor with concise instructions., great student able to follow instructions under pressure.
ive been climbing for many many years. jake you have what it takes man !!!!
That's real nice tree training like this with the bucket to be a close teacher!
Great job Damian, and top job Jake.
Awesome video. Giving me confidence to do my first tree soon! Nice job guys
Damien , I've been watching August's channel for a while now , you guys inspire me to become more safe and efficient. I grew to love climbing because of watching the channel and also because I have a fellow old timer climber that teaches me a lot , your chemistry with August reminds me of my own job chemistry , I just want to say you sir are a great teacher I met August and Samurai Joe at TCI 2022 in Charlotte NC, I didn't get to see you, as you know if you were there it was HECTIC with crowds of people but one day I would like to meet you , you are a very intelligent humble human and I respect you , much love brother ! Keep doing you ! Your an inspiration to many!!