Mirror on a stick let me see inside a tree without climbing

I was on a big maple job and guessed there might be rot at the bottom. Instead of gearing up to climb, I grabbed a small mirror from my truck and taped it to a long pole. I held it up to the spot and tilted it to catch the sun. A dark hollow space showed up that was hidden from the ground. This meant I didn't have to climb into a shaky tree. Now I keep a cheap mirror in my kit for quick checks. It looks funny, but it works. It has kept me safe and saved a lot of time on jobs.

3 comments

3 Comments

leoscott1mo ago

Wow, that's such a smart low-tech fix. I read something once about arborists using their phone camera on a selfie stick to peek into cavities, but your mirror idea is even simpler and doesn't rely on battery. It's one of those old-school tricks that just makes perfect sense when you hear it. Honestly, that kind of simple thinking keeps people safe way more than some fancy gear sometimes. Solid move.

shanenguyen1mo ago

Forgets how fancy gear can distract from basic safety checks.

dixon.nathan28d ago

Remember when I used to roll my eyes at old timers with their simple tools? This post really hits home now. I got so caught up buying the latest gadgets that I'd skip checking my harness buckle. It's embarrassing to admit but that mirror trick is a wake up call. Sometimes the best fix is the one that doesn't need charging or an instruction manual.