That big oak removal in Portland nearly went sideways when a branch swung back

I was cutting a heavy limb about 30 feet up, and my notch was a bit too shallow. The branch didn't drop clean, it hinged and swung right back toward the trunk I was standing on. I had to shove off hard and ride my rope over to the next spar. My ground guy just stared, his saw idling. Has anyone else had a close call with a shallow notch on a leaner?

4 comments

4 Comments

brianreed1mo ago

My buddy had a limb kick back on him because his notch was way off. It didn't fall, it just sat there on the hinge and then whipped around like a baseball bat. He jumped clear but it tore his chaps right open. He just stood there looking at the frayed cloth, realizing how close that was. It made him religious about his face cuts from that day on.

king.val2mo ago

Yeah that "shallow notch on a leaner" thing is no joke. My buddy had a similar scare last fall, a big maple limb barber-chaired back at him. He still gets quiet when we talk about it.

keith_bennett2mo ago

Man, that's rough. Seeing a buddy get shook like that really sticks with you. The sound of a barber chair is something you don't forget. It's a good reminder to take our time on those tricky cuts.

emery2902mo ago

Ever notice how the barber chair sound is basically nature's way of yelling "you messed up"? @keith_bennett is right, that noise gets in your head for good. It's like the tree's last laugh before things go bad. Makes you want to triple-check every cut on a leaner, even if it takes all day. My hands get sweaty just thinking about it.