Update: that day I nearly got flattened by a falling oak in a backyard in Ohio

Last Thursday I was taking down a big red oak in a tight backyard near Cincinnati. The homeowner wanted to keep the fence intact, which meant I had to rope everything real careful. Around 2 PM the breeze picked up and that tree started swaying more than I expected. I had my ground guy on the rope but the trunk twisted and a big limb came down maybe five feet from where I was standing. It hit the ground so hard it left a dent you could fit a cooler in. I sat there for a minute just breathing and thinking about how quick things can go bad. Anyone else ever have a close call that made you rethink your whole setup for the rest of the job?

2 comments

2 Comments

linda_clark9d ago

Maybe it wasn't that serious, happens all the time in tree work.

val2239d ago

Look, @linda_clark, I'm not gonna lie, that kind of stuff makes me cringe every time I see it. I've had branches snap on me in the middle of a cut and it always gets my heart pounding. But honestly, it happens with old deadwood all the time, you just gotta have a clear escape route planned before you make that first cut. Chain brake on, watch your footing, and don't rush it. That's how you walk away from the ones that look scary.