Well I decided I needed to trim some of my huge silver maples out front. ( I have 6 of them) and my over grown apple tree.
The first 2 I did'nt use any ropes, and i managed just fine with my new craftsmen professional cordless tools (20v lithum set for only $140) I used my reciprocating saw pictured below on my hip.

on tree number 3, I was thinking that I was pressing my luck so i decided rope up. I got out my climbing gear and put up some saftey lines. all was going well. Until a 6 inch diameter rotted branch broke from under me.. it happened so fast I didnt have time to think.

And this is the exstent of my injurys. dont be fooled... it still hurts. but my advice to world is when trimming very large silver maples... wear a harness and use some saftey lines.. I would have been so hurt if I fell to the ground 15 feet to a pile mean branches and hard ground. Today Im a lucky boy.