As the sport of tree climbing grows, ecologists and climbers grapple with the implications

Definitely some interesting points made there! Made me wonder a couple things,

For those of you who identify as rec climbers (@Zebco Kid lookin at you) has your time in trees changed the way you think about trees and forests in general?

Also wondering if anyone has seen branches or trees decline or die due to the aftermath of recreational climbing?
 
Stumpsprouts said:
Definitely some interesting points made there! Made me wonder a couple things,

For those of you who identify as rec climbers (@Zebco Kid lookin at you) has your time in trees changed the way you think about trees and forests in general?

Also wondering if anyone has seen branches or trees decline or die due to the aftermath of recreational climbing?
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I have been to at least 1 tree climbing competition were some of the trees were severely trashed (broken limbs, etc). The comp was held on private property; but I’m sure the owners had to come in later & do extensive pruning. :(

Ten+ years ago, I thought that it would be neat to have a climbing competition on my property (12 acres of woods).
I’ve volunteered for 80+ TCC over the years. Tree damage is never intentional.
In the heat of comp, accidents happen.

Today, I would not donate my property for that.
 
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As tree climbing becomes a thing outside of the pro/rec circles of tree climbing I hope that people respect the trees.

I'ver read about the days in Yosemite as the 'clean climbing' trend started and the use of pitons started to fade away. More respect for what is climbed and an incorporation of 'leave no trace' ethic.

Over the years I cringe when I read about non-arbo types are written up about a tree climb. I'm expecting to read how some climber put on ice climbing gear and face climbed. I've done that on dead trees and tools and crampons can really tear things up! Much better to set a rope and go up srt. A climber could still do the tree in a clean face-climb style too.
 
GregManning said:
I have been to at least 1 tree climbing competition were some of the trees were severely trashed (broken limbs, etc). The comp was held on private property; but I’m sure the owners had to come in later & do extensive pruning. :(

Ten+ years ago, I thought that it would be neat to have a climbing competition on my property (12 acres of woods).
I’ve volunteered for 80+ TCC over the years. Tree damage is never intentional.
In the heat of comp, accidents happen.

Today, I would not donate my property for that.
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P.S. Rec climbers w/ proper technique (& liability), would be welcome anytime on my property.
 
Aerial Traveler said:
After I began recreational tree climbing in 2009 I started to think about forests and trees in 3 dimensions. Responsible recreational tree climbing should have minimal impact as long as the target trees are not over-climbed and over-loved. I've never had one of my favorite climbing trees show declining health due to recreational climbing but I spread the tree climbing love around on many trees not just one.

One thing I often do on private property trees is remove grape vines and poison ivy vines that are slowly choking trees to death. Not something I would do on an illegal recreational climb on federal or state land but it would probably be beneficial to the trees.


I don't think many recreational climbers carry liability insurance that aren't teaching or formally facilitating climbs. Can a weekend recreational tree climber actually get liability insurance?

Should state and federal authorities offer a simple and easy to navigate permit process to tree climb on public land instead of banning tree climbing outright?
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My intent was not a legal document; Just an agreement that I would not get sued.
 
More discussion on this same topic:

As the sport of tree climbing grows.

Intriguing thread wanderings lead me to this/so joined No longer a hangaround. And a recent hometown accident. Rumors…,, Asked an acquaintance FDEMT if there was a recent zip line accident. Trying to be proper curious. Said it was a very rough deal. So sad…, a recovery of a ten year old...
www.treebuzz.com
 
Very interesting points. I’m a firm believer that no matter how hard one tries to ‘leave no trace’ this still a impact, no matter how diligent and careful one is, we leave foot prints.
Now to raise a entirely different point, as rec climbing takes hold there will be a societal impact as well. The more people in trees, the more accidents are bound to happen, and I’d venture to guess recreational climbing in trees will have more risk than professional arboriculture. The nature of this will be a increased public perception, as well as the regulation belt tightening.
I can approach nearly any tree manager on the island and get permission to rec climb even if officially against policy. The moment a rec climber falling out of a tree next to a kids playground in park reaching headlines, that will change in a heartbeat.
Many years ago, we had a huge windstorm. The state park rangers and volunteer hosts evicted all of the campers. For some unknown reason the volunteer campground host decided to go back into the park and was pancaked by a oldgrowth. The community remembers it vividly but the important details have faded away. Point is there is now a skewed public perception ranging from miss management of the park, to closing the camp ground permanently, or logging 90 trees of our ONLY remaining pocket of lowland coastal oldgrowth (minus another small park on the far end).
 
Thanks for sharing, my biggest concern with people doing it for sport and thrills is the carelessness that always comes with mass appeal. Also my main concern even in my own work is disrupting the habitat of the birds and animals that call these trees home especially in areas with sensitive and endangered birds and tree species, along with the potential if Introducing a pest that may have hitchhiked on our shoes/clothing or climbing gear that otherwise would’ve never made it in the canopy.
 
GregManning said:
I have been to at least 1 tree climbing competition were some of the trees were severely trashed (broken limbs, etc).
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Yeah, I haven't seen too much "big" damage either, but I know there had been some at every comp. One obvious issue was with basal anchors for entry. Most climbers use the same top anchor to enter the tree and I've seen damage many times from the rope moving in that same crotch. That part I felt was unavoidable all things considered, yet I felt bad for the tree.
 
I skimmed the beginning but was just talking about this topic while doing a clearing job at a local arboretum that will be having a comp soon. I’ve been trying to guess which tree they’re going to use and was wondering about damage to trees of value like an arboretums collection.
 
evo said:
....The more people in trees, the more accidents are bound to happen, and I’d venture to guess recreational climbing in trees will have more risk than professional arboriculture. The nature of this will be a increased public perception, as well as the regulation belt tightening.
...
Click to expand...

Yes/no. They are just climbing. Yes, without training. But they aren't running chainsaws and dropping big chunks of wood.
I'm not a fan of more regulation...but frankly, we are an under-regulated industry.
 
Tom Dunlap said:
And, not unique to arb work, industry safety is under enforced
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That’s where I think the problem lies. Not so much in a lack of regulations, but a lack of enforcement.

Most of the tree services in this area illegally classify their workers as contractors instead of employees. Saves them tens or hundreds of thousands a year, but it’s a violation of a mountain of laws, yet not a thing is done about it. That one bothers me greatly.
 
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