Just this summer, I topped a dead hemlock that was a hazard to nearby buildings.
That entailed climbing the shaft with irons, limbing as I went up. I'm not young, and not particularly familiar with climbing methods. But I went as high as I thought necessary to drop the upper part short of any danger.
On the final ascent, I used a double flip line, and cinched in tight in case I would be knocked off the climbing spikes.
I wore a forestry helmet, gloves, long pants and steel toed boots.
The felling cut was made with a one handed toy electric chains saw. (Makita)
The top hung on a nearby maple tree in the horizontal position. I had just enough time to express "OH! Sh-t" in consideration of having the but end of that top expel me from that lofty perch.
Then it let go, falling safely below as I waggled and swayed on that free swinging hemlock stem.
I don't feel a need to do that again... safety wise. I'm getting old.
But what a ride!
You only live ONCE!