The Tree Climbers' Guide, 4th Edition, written by Sharon Lilly, is a foundational technical manual for arborists preparing for the ISA Certified Tree Worker exams. This edition includes updated safety protocols and new technical chapters reflecting modern industry standards. Key New Content & Chapters
The 4th edition expanded significantly by adding three dedicated chapters to cover modern climbing techniques:
Moving Rope Systems (MRS): Techniques and equipment for traditional double-rope systems.
Stationary Rope Systems (SRS): Detailed guidance on modern single-rope access and work positioning.
Climbing Equipment: Comprehensive overview of hardware and gear essential for modern aerial work. Core Subjects Covered
The guide is structured to provide both biological knowledge and practical field skills:
Tree Biology & Health: Fundamentals of how trees grow and respond to stress or wounding. tree climbers 39- guide 4th edition pdf
Safety & Ropes: Adherence to ANSI Z133 standards for safe operations and essential knot tying.
Pruning & Cabling: Techniques for structural support and canopy maintenance.
Rigging & Removal: Advanced methods for controlled dismantling of trees. Guide Structure for Study
Each chapter is designed for self-study and exam preparation:
Learning Objectives: Outlines the core competencies for each topic.
Key Terms: Glossary of professional arboricultural terminology. The Tree Climbers' Guide, 4th Edition , written
Illustrations: Over 270 diagrams by Bryan Kotwica to clarify complex rigging and climbing setups.
Workbook & Challenge Questions: Practice sections with an answer key provided in the appendices. Tree Climbers' Guide.djvu
The most significant shift in this edition is the move toward Modern Tree Climbing Systems.
A common search query we see is “tree climbers 39- guide 4th edition pdf” . Let’s decode this typo. The “39-” likely stems from an OCR (Optical Character Recognition) error or a misreading of the ISA’s SKU numbering system. Some catalogues list the guide as part number TREE-39 or similar. The correct title remains: Tree Climber’s Guide, 4th Edition.
Why are people searching for a PDF specifically? Several reasons:
However, this leads to a critical ethical and legal discussion. Moving Beyond Doubled Rope: While previous editions focused
Note on Query Interpretation: The search term "tree climbers 39" is interpreted as "Tree Climbers'" based on standard keyboard layouts where the apostrophe key shares the same key as the number 9 (often shifted or input erroneously as 39 in raw data strings).
A: Use the following format (APA 7th):
International Society of Arboriculture. (2023). Tree Climber’s Guide (4th ed.). ISA Publishing.
Originally published by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) in partnership with leading safety committees, the Tree Climber’s Guide was born out of necessity. In the 1980s and 90s, tree climbing was largely an apprenticeship-based trade. Knowledge passed from old-timers to rookies, but there was no standardized reference for knots, hitches, or aerial rescue.
The first edition changed that. Small enough to fit in a back pocket, it listed approximately 20 essential knots, basic spur-and-saddle techniques, and emergency descent procedures. The second and third editions added sections on rigging, tree risk assessment, and newer friction hitches like the VT and Knut.
Now, the 4th edition represents a complete overhaul for the 21st-century climber.
If you are studying for your Arborist Certification exam (ISA Certified Arborist) or a climbing assessment, here is a study guide using the 4th edition:
Note regarding "39": If your search for tree climbers 39 guide refers to page 39, that page typically covers Angle Factors in Rigging. It explains why a 120-degree rope angle creates 100% of the load’s weight, but a 10-degree angle creates nearly 600% tension. Do not skip this page.