[TowerTalk] Tree Climbing

[Fred Hopengarten]

From:
Fred Hopengarten  K1VR               781/259-0088
Six Willarch Road
Lincoln, MA 01773-5105
permanent e-mail address:  fhopengarten@mba1972.hbs.edu

On Thu, 19 Feb 1998 08:01:38 -0500 (EST) Bill Fisher - W4AN
<w4an@contesting.com> writes:
>
> I have the need to climb some trees in my backyard for some stealthy 
>antennas.  I'm wondering where I can get information on the needed 
>supplies for climbing a tree?  Seems like I'll need some spikes of 
>some sort.  


K1VR:  There are two different lengths of tree spikes (called gaffs in
the telephone and CATV world).  The shorter ones are for telephone pole
use.  The longer ones are for trees (where you have to get through the
bark before you get into the tree).  Please note that they kinda mess up
a tree, so try climbing a 20 foot ladder before you start poking your
spikes into the tree, if you want to hide your footprints.

I bought mine at a local supplier to landscape and arborist firms.  Look
in the yellow pages under arborist supplies.

Once you get to the store, you will also have to choose between permanent
spikes and replaceable spikes.  Permanent is less expensive.  If you were
climbing trees all day, every day, and sharpening the spikes regularly,
I'd get the replacesables.  As a ham, I purchased the permanents.  I use
my spikes once a year, maybe twice.

In re stealth:  #14 THHN in black insulation from Home Depot  disappears
with any type of background at all.  I have an antenna made of this (for
160), and I know where it goes -- but each time I go looking for it, it
is hard to find.  The actualy color is a greyish black and extremely hard
to see from a distance, as it reflects almost no light. Comes in 500'
rolls (I tried every Home Depot in the area to see if I could get a roll
of 1000').

GL! -- Fred K1VR

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