[TowerTalk] Getting a stuck wire antenna out of a tree

[Dan Starkenburg]

I've also used the extension ladder / ratchet strap technique suggested by Bob, below.  Using my 32' extension ladder tipped against a tree has allowed me to get the ends of my antennas fairly high.

A few points worth mentioning:

1 - The "come to God" experience is when you have to first climb the ladder, before the ratchet strap is in place.  Having the ladder's straight upper rung resting against the round tree trunk permits the ladder to tilt side-to-side as you climb if you're not perfectly balanced as you ascend.  I haven't found a way around this, but perhaps making a "V-notch adapter" for the top rung so there are at least two points of contact with the tree trunk would be worth looking into.

2 - The ladder-against-tree technique is best saved for calm (non-windy) days.  

3 - By all means, take the ladder down immediately after use.  I left a ladder up for a few days once and discovered the ladder rung had chewed through the tree as the ladder was "fixed" whereas the tree was rocking back-and-forth in the wind.  The ratchet strap amplified the effect of the damage.

73, 
Dan / ab0re



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On Tue, 10/24/17, Larry <lknain at nc.rr.com> wrote:

 Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Getting a stuck wire antenna out of a tree
 To: towertalk at contesting.com
 Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2017, 9:51 PM
 
 Bob suggested I post the
 following for those that might not have thought 
 about using a ladder against a tree.
 
 I use a relatively cheap cargo
 strap with a ratchet to secure the top of 
 the ladder to a tree. One end of the strap
 hooked to the say the ladder 
 left leg and
 the strap under the top rung usually and around the tree 
 and the other end of the strap hooked to other
 (right) leg of the ladder 
 and then ratchet
 it down so the top of the ladder doesn't move and
 can't 
 slip down the tree. The strap
 will be sort of an X on the ladder side of 
 the tree. Depending on what I am doing I often
 use a climbing harness 
 with a belt around
 the tree to stabilize me.
 
 FWIW
 
 73,
 Larry  W6NWS