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Update: a 90 foot oak in Bellingham taught me to check my knots six times
I got a call about a big oak in Bellingham that was leaning over a garage and the homeowner was nervous. I walked the tree, liked my TIP, and started up. About 90 feet up I felt my bowline slide maybe a quarter inch and I froze. I had tied it in a hurry because I was running late and I never backed it up with a Yosemite finish. I sat there for a minute just breathing and thinking about my kids. The knot held but I came down, retied it, and went back up slower than I ever have. Now I tie, dress, and look at every knot three times before I leave the ground. That oak is still there and so am I. Has anyone else had a close call that made them change how they gear up?
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perry.jesse8h ago
Man, I felt that quarter inch in my stomach just reading it! My close call was forgetting to clip my lanyard once, so now I pat my harness like a guy checking for his keys every single time I stand up in the tree.
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