Who Needs Mountains?: Go Climb a Tree

Mr Mike

#1 – 3:54 PM July 28, 2009

I've been an avid recreational tree climber in Northern California since I came here as a kid in '89. Dad knew a couple of arborists and came to be friends with some folks who I later had the pleasure of living and working with. If you're interested in spending extended hours/days in the canopy of your favorite Bay/Redwood/Fir grove, check out New Tribe. Beautiful people making to-notch gear.

http://www.newtribe.com/

Anonymous Anonymous

#2 – 4:49 PM July 28, 2009

Some of the links in the post are to New Tribe

technogeek

#3 – 9:13 PM July 28, 2009

Hm. The treefrong's interesting, as a kind of low-impact treehouse for adults. I've got a tree in my backyard that wants something to encourage communing with it...

arzak

#4 – 8:57 AM July 29, 2009

I spent lots of time up in trees in the Cove-Mallard area of Idaho and in Northern California. Even lived hundreds of feet up in a redwood.

My tip for safe tree climbing/living: Crab Claws!

Crab Claws require a climbing harness with a large carabiner attached at the belay point.

Prepare a piece of climbing rope with figure eight loops on each end and a figure eight loop in the middle, totaling about six feet end to end.

The middle loop goes on the carabiner at your waist. Put a carabiner on each end loop--these are your "claws." Make sure that you can easily reach and operate your claws even if you are hanging from one of them!

Now you can dance around the tree (or structure), clipping into protection as you go, while always remaining attached to at least one point of protection.

This works best in an environment where there are lots of ropes/cargo nets/other places to clip a 'biner.

Have fun and be careful!

forgeweld

#5 – 9:23 AM July 29, 2009

Recommending spurs for climbing trees is like recommending a cat for catching live birds. You might attain your goal, but seriously damage or kill your subject.

Cashmerio

#6 – 10:22 AM July 29, 2009

Ive done some recreational tree climbing since my career as a professional, ISA certified aroborist. I know this article is just a fun, speculative piece, but Id like to register my horror:

Climbing spurs are actually really hard to learn to use, are quite dangerous, and should never be used on a tree you don't plan to take down, as they leave significant wounds.

A grappling hook would also leave wounds, and frankly, Ive never heard of anyone using them, professionally or otherwise, except for a few experiments that didn't go all that well. A throwbag with lightweight line is typically used to get a line into a tree.

If you have significant rock climbing experience, you can probably figure out how to climb a tree safely, but there are some things you need to know to avoid hurting the tree. The information on this page is not enough to get anyone started.

Ito Kagehisa

#7 – 10:33 AM July 29, 2009

Anybody ever see the tree people's platforms at Pennsic? A remarkable range of designs from slum to palace, with no nailing or other damage to the trees.

That pretty yellow grapnel makes my home-made job look lame.

Steven Leckart

#8 – 12:53 PM July 29, 2009

For those who want more practical advice to tree climbing, check out some of these books:

- The Tree Climber’s Companion
- Fundamentals of General Tree Work
- Recreational Tree Climbing: A Newcomer's Guide

http://wesspur.com/Books/tree-climbing-books.html

I haven't read them, but they seem like a great place to start for any beginners.

Kickero

#9 – 3:13 PM July 29, 2009

I would also like to register my distaste for climbing innocent trees with spurs, in addition to Forgeweld and Cashmerio. Spur climbing is strictly used for topping trees, or climbing trees that you're going to cut down that have inadequate branches for throwing a rope around.

All the Arborists I've worked with use old-school ascender knots and leather harnesses, the idea being that there's less stuff to get tangled if you're moving around -and- leather isn't damaged easily.

Also, ditch the grappling hook and use a throwbag (String with a weight on it), toss it over your target limb, haul your line up, tie your knots, and you're golden.

As for ropes, 200' of high quality Arborist climbing rope from Wespur will only set you back 115 bucks plus shipping. A canvas saddle, about 120. That climbing kit is all hat and no cattle, as well as a horrible idea if you climb recreationally.

stevew

#10 – 6:41 PM July 29, 2009

No caulks (spurs) unless you're taking the tree down. The picture shows pole spurs. Tree spurs are 2x longer.

Shot bag and throw line to set the climbing line. Learn to set and retrieve a sling so that your rope doesn't saw through the bark on soft barked species. {{Set an retrieve a sling is a satisfying art in itself.}}

mdh

#11 – 1:31 AM July 30, 2009

I know it's something of a downer comment, but I think Huxley warned of ever more expensive equipment for ever more complicated sports at locations more and more distant from home. CONSUME!!!!

People have been climbing mountains for much longer than REI has been in business. Granted, more make it back today, but it's all a bit spendy for glorified ropes and sneakers... but I suppose most ego stroking hobbies aren't that way accidentally.

After all - red cars that look fast always cost more.

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