That rope trick for getting limbs down in tight spots really works

I was working a removal in a backyard in Portland last week where the tree was right up against the house and a fence. Couldn't get my normal rigging setup in there at all. Then I remembered this trick an old timer showed me where you tie a half hitch on the end of your rope and flip it over a high crotch before making your cut. Once the limb is cut, you just pull the rope and it swings the limb away from the house. I was skeptical at first because it looked too simple, but it worked perfectly. The limb came down clean without even brushing the siding. Saved me having to climb up and piece it out by hand. Anybody else use this method for tight spots or do you have a different go-to?

2 comments

2 Comments

hayden_rodriguez8d ago

That half hitch trick is gold. I had a similar situation last month in Seattle with a big maple hanging over a garage and used the same setup to drop a 10 footer without touching the roof. It really does save your back from all that extra climbing.

rubyj118d ago

Oh man, that half hitch trick is something else. I had a buddy who tried it on a big dead ash tree near a shed and he ended up with the rope getting stuck on a branch halfway down. Took him like 20 minutes to shake it loose. I mean, idk, maybe it's just me but I always carry a throw weight as backup now just in case the rope gets hung up. Works great when you have a good crotch though, for sure.