0423 190 077 Published: | Category: Arboriculture · Climbing | Author: Arborista Trees
Tree climbing looks simple from the ground: harness on, rope up, off you go. In reality it's a discipline built from precise equipment configuration, a handful of core techniques, and a professional mindset that takes years to develop. None of it is about speed or bravado — it's about building a system you can trust with your life, every single time you leave the ground.
Work positioning, not fall arrest
The first thing every climber needs to understand is what their equipment is actually designed to do. Tree climbing systems are work-positioning systems, not fall-arrest systems. The ropes used are semi-static, stretching only 1–3% under load — nothing like the dynamic ropes used in rock climbing that are built to absorb a fall. A serious fall onto tree climbing gear can cause severe injury even if the rope catches you.
That's why industry guidance is built around avoiding falls altogether, not surviving them:
- Remain attached to the tree or a suitable structure at all times, in a way that limits any potential fall to a peak force of no more than 6kN.
- Keep the climbing rope taut or nearly taut whenever it's the primary point of attachment — slack should never fall below the climber's feet.
- Never climb above the anchor point without a second point of attachment.
What separates a professional climber from a liability
Skill matters, but attitude matters more. The habits below aren't about talent — they're choices any climber can make every time they tie in.
Good climbing is
- Putting safety first and communicating well with the crew
- Reading manuals and understanding equipment configuration
- Recognising the limits of your own skill and asking for help
- Operating with solid safety margins and good work practices
- Maintaining currency with regulations and industry guidelines
Good climbing is not
- Racing around the tree faster than everyone else
- Cutting oversized pieces and taking risks that 'get away with it'
- Never admitting a tree is beyond your ability or experience
- Using the same work method for every tree, regardless of fit
- Skipping safety checks or climbing without a rescue climber
The job is won or lost before the truck arrives
There's an old saying in tree work: the most dangerous stage of any job is doing the quote. Underquoted work puts pressure on a crew to move faster, work longer hours and cut corners — and fatigue, rushing and shortcuts are behind a large share of climbing injuries. Good work planning, realistic scheduling and a proper site and tree inspection before anyone clips in are what keep a job profitable and safe.
The harness: more than a seat
A purpose-built, certified arborist climbing harness has several features that generic industrial harnesses lack, and understanding each attachment point is essential:
- Primary attachment point — where the climbing line and friction hitch or device connect, often via a sliding bridge that lets the climber twist side to side at branch ends without the rope constantly pulling them back to face the anchor.
- Side D's — used when tying in to the trunk or a branch level with the hips. Both Side D's must be connected together; never attach to just one, and never hang from them for extended periods — they're not suspension points.
- Lower D's — used with a lanyard when the climber will be suspended underneath the point of attachment. Again, both D's should be connected together, never just one.
Lanyards: steel-core vs rope
The lanyard, pole belt or flip-line is essential for spur climbing, cutting positions and moving around the crown. The right choice depends on the job:
- Steel-core lanyards advance more easily on rough-barked or larger trees and won't snag as readily under bark — but they are not chainsaw cut-resistant, and they must never be used near electrical conductors.
- Rope lanyards are easier to knot, more flexible, and can be configured in more ways — but lack the stiffness that makes steel-core lanyards easier to advance on some trees.
Whichever lanyard is used, a stopper knot, back splice or similar must always be in place — without one, an adjustor can slide straight off the end of the lanyard.
Choosing a climbing technique: MRT, SRT or spurs
Modern tree climbing offers more than one way to move through a tree, and knowing when to use each is part of the craft:
- Moving Rope Technique (MRT), also called Doubled Rope Technique, has been the backbone of tree work positioning for decades — the climber advances by moving the rope through a friction hitch as they ascend.
- Stationary Rope Technique (SRT) uses a fixed line anchored at the base or in the canopy, with the climber ascending and descending along a single stationary rope — increasingly popular for efficient ascents in tall trees.
- Spur climbing uses climbing spurs for direct trunk ascent, but is reserved for tree removal and specific circumstances given the damage spurs cause to living bark.
None of these techniques is universally 'better' — the right choice depends on the tree, the job, and the climber's training and comfort with each system.
Communication holds the whole system together
Even the best-built climbing system fails without clear communication. Hand and whistle signals keep the climber and ground crew in sync when voices don't carry, while a documented climb plan and Job Safety Analysis (JSA) ensure everyone has agreed on the access method, anchor points and hazards before the first foot leaves the ground.
The takeaway: a climbing system is only as strong as its weakest link — whether that's a mismatched connector, a lanyard used the wrong way, or a shortcut taken under time pressure. Mastering the equipment, understanding the techniques, and keeping a genuinely professional attitude are what let an arborist do this work for decades, not just one season.
Content adapted from the AHCARB312 / AHCARB305 Tree Climbing Handbook training materials.
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