Rant: rope vs. ladder debate in tree work, found a weird trick that changed my mind

Xena Anderson · 2026-06-07T14:55:05.254064+00:00

I've always been a climb-with-a-rope guy, thought ladders were just for roofers. But last month I had to prune a big oak in Portland where the first 20 feet was nothing but dead branches, no good tie-in point. Tried a 14-foot extension ladder to get to the first solid limb and honestly, it was faster and safer for that specific step. Now I keep both methods in my truck but I still feel weird admitting ladders have a place. Anyone else find themselves switching between climbing and ladder work depending on the tree?

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Rant: rope vs. ladder debate in tree work, found a weird trick that changed my mind | Arborists - HW Forums