2013 Tree Climbing Rendezvous wrap-up

moss

moss

Been here much more than a while
Location
Carlisle, Massachusetts, U.S.
The 2013 Tree Climber Rendezvous held last week in Norcross, Georgia is now history, a great event, super folks from all over the world attended, great presentations and workshops, superb day and night climbs, many nights sleeping in trees, on and on, was good.

Many thanks to Kevin Bingham for presenting his SRT workshop, his positive vibe and innovative tree tools were welcomed by the 'vous attendees. Good to hang out with Yoyoman and Tom Dunlap, I missed some other Buzzers, was crazy busy with quality evening presentations and daytime workshops and climbs.

Lots of Rope Wrenches were in use by climbers, my favorite climb was Sunday night, bunch of folks up in a monster Quercus falcata with criss-crossing SRT redirects over the upper crown, good fun. Back on the ground at 2AM we had an excellent camp-style espresso tasting, finally to the tree hammocks at 3.

Wrenching around in a red maple
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Rope wrench with tether makes a perfect canopy sleeping setup
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Hook modeling a double chambered alloy tank pneumatic thrower
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I didn't take many photos, hoping others will post theirs.
-AJ
 
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I want to see more about that throwball launcher... Was it air or CO2?

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Air. The compression chambers are former vodka bottles. I don't know the maximum height potential. Waiting to receive one, will test for height. Surprisingly light, using the alloy containers makes a huge weight difference.

For some reason the "vodka" chamber thrower doesn't make as much noise as the PVC chamber version, don't know why.
-AJ
 
I'm not even going to try to express how great this was, complete overload for me. People, info and climbing.
I do have a video I'm working on of Kevin coming down on my speed line with his rope runner. Very cool!!!
 
I agree! Lots O' fun. Interesting to see the difference between recreational/research climbers and arboriculture.

Tony
 
During the 'vous I was excited to see the interest in SRT. In years past there has been a faction that viewed SRT as dangerous, useless and un-necessary. Now, the groundswell is rising and LOTS of climbers are either using, interested or at least aware of the value of SRT. I spent time with several climbers who had come down to take the Basic Tree Climbing class at the beginning of the week. Some had never climbed with a rope/harness before. Their open-minded enthusiasm was exciting and invigorating. I don't think I crossed paths with one bit of negativity about SRT.

Tony did a great session on gear inspection and choices. The whole class was engaged and asked great questions. In the rec tree climbing world it is sometimes taught that screw gates are acceptable. Tony did a nice job of overlaying or injecting pro standards into rec climbing. There was no

flashback or negativity about this like in years past. Now...if more rec climbers would start wearing helmets! :) There were lots with head protection, mostly helmets and a few hard hats. That proportion continues to rise.

Plans are already full steam ahead for next year's 'vous which will be held on the first weekend of October near St. Louis. Get it on your calendar!
 
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Now...if more rec climbers would start wearing helmets! :) There were lots with head protection, mostly helmets and a few hard hats. That proportion continues to rise.

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Helmets were required of all climbers at the rendezvous. I think it's a small subculture within the rec climbing community that won't wear helmets and/or use twist gate carabiners. they are hardcore and won't change. At any rate for a rec climber on their own in their own trees on their own time it's up to them how they climb and what tools they use. I try rec climbing without a helmet once in a while and I always end up bumping my head on limbs. I won't wear a helmet while sleeping in a tree hammock ;-)

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-AJ
 
Hey Tom, just wanted to elaborate on my response to your helmet comment. I think you were talking about rec climbers in general not climbers at the 'vous. Buzzers who are not familiar with the group at the 2013 'vous might have thought folks were climbing there without helmets.

I suspect that the ratio of helmeted vs. unhelmeted work climbers in the U.S. is very similar to the rec community, a minority. I recently watched a tree crew in Boston working with zero PPE, not the only crew locally who work that way. Majority of crews working in Boston are professionals who work like professionals.
-AJ
 
Thanks for clarifying Moss.

You're right...same cross section of the population. My windshield survey concludes that more DON'T wear helmets though...topic for another thread ;)

Soooo many more had on helmets rather than hard hats too.

At a couple of in-tree demos the crowds gathered underneath where I feel everyone should be helmeted. The trees they used were 'tamed' though. If they were still 'wild' it would have been a lot different.

On another note...this morning I took the campfire recyclables to the drop off station today. There were a few boxes of 'Dead Marines'. Learn the etymology for the term and you'll know what it means ;)
 
You're right about laxity wearing helmets under trees where throwing etc. was going on. I think folks were thinking that since they weren't climbing they didn't need helmets. We got that straightened out on a couple of confused situations where different demos and climbing activities were happening at the chapel site.
 
Thanks for sharing, Richard. Very cool laser show in the smoke at the end. Cool choice of music for that vid. I'll see you in 2014 for sure!
 
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