Help with organizing rec climb

[ArchiePittsburgh]

Can anyone give me some advice on organizing a rec climb? I'm in Pittsburgh and have been looking to be involved in one, but as it seems there aren't any around I believe it's up to me to start organizing one. I have a few questions for people who have been involved in them before:
-What kind of property do you guys climb on? Private/public?
-Anyone climb in parks and what kind of clearance do you need to do so?
-Do you change the trees you climb in any way? (Removing branches and twigs in the way of routes, removing deadwood as you move throughout)
-Apart from here are there any other good ways of meeting up with guys? I'll be attending the Penn-Del symposium once again this year and compete in the regionals but would like to have an idea of how climbers usually set these things up before I start inviting people.

Thanks for the help, any response is really appreciated!

 

[macswan]

A couple years ago I set one up in a sugar bush near where I used to live. Asked the farmers and they didn't care. Me and a buddy went out the weekend prior and cleaned up the trees we were gonna use. Half the people who said they'd come didn't. We still had a good time. The weather sucked, but it was spring in VT so total crapshoot. You just gotta go for it. Weather be damned.

I am gonna try to do another one this year, and I want to figure out something cool to do, zip line, rescue scenario, bells for a work climb. Think that would make it more fun.

Really I just started inviting people, and it turned out pretty well.

I climb in parks around here and have never been hassled, but it might be different with a largish group. Two or three monkeys probably wouldn't ping the radar.

 

[TTTE]

Hey Archie! I was just talking to another tree guy and setting up a climb but also to do rescue training! Probably in a park and in exchange for some cpr training. If you have any parks that need the work we might be able to trade with the community for the cpr training. Win ,win!

 

[ArchiePittsburgh]

Hey Jim! You climbing with another guy from your crew? I'd definitely be looking to hook up for a climb and I like the idea of some aerial rescue also. Lyle and I are taking the AR class at the symposium next week so hopefully I'll have a few things to share. You going to be out there next week?
I've been looking for some places to climb around here, from what I've seen and heard it looks like I may try finding some trees in the woods off the beaten path. I'm going to talk with Shaler twp manager and see if they can help us out.

Macswan, thanks for the info and help! Appreciate the response and that's exactly what I needed to figure out how to go about setting these up. I read some more threads and it seems that as long as a climb is off main trails and not a ton of people we should be good, thanks again!

 

[TTTE]

I'm skipping Lancaster this year, I'll miss throwing a few back with you and Lyle, so have a Copple for me! Waiting for the big TCIA conference in November in Pittsburgh and having all the guys take and retake the courses! Keep in touch and let me know what u figure out. Tell Lyle I said hi! Make sure you don't scratch that new bucket truck! About time you guys got one!

 

[LandonPainter]

My understanding is that with city and state parks you are supposed to get a permit. On national forest lands you are good to go. That said a few of us just climbed a couple of trees in a Portland city park without any trouble. Start early and avoid high traffic areas. If you are planning on cleaning the tree some I would seek out trees that are on private property. Make friends with people who own cool trees. Good luck!

 

[gmcttr]

...On national forest lands you are good to go...

I recently contacted the local office in charge of the Hoosier National Forest in Indiana and asked if tree climbing was allowed. I got a quick answer that they "had never been asked that before, but no, it is not allowed". I politely asked for the reasoning and have not received a reply. My impression was that they had never heard of recreational climbing.

 

[ArchiePittsburgh]

We will have a few for you Jim, I'll let you know what I figure out and amen to the bucket, we've been in need of one no doubt.

From the sounds of what I'm reading from you guys it seems that while I'm trying to do things the correct and legal way, maybe sometimes it's better not to ask and just be smart about where we climb. I kind of figured this in regards to liability, like many things there appears to be a gray area that probably changes between states and municipalities. Thanks for all the input! Be safe out there

 

[moss]

My main strategy is don't rec climb where any kind of law enforcement vehicle can roll up to the tree or near the tree. Don't be a problem and you won't have problems. I don't take out any deadwood on public land unless it's a hanger directly threatening a climb route. Basically think of it as a walk in the woods, leave it the way you found it as much as you can. There is no legal and correct way currently, managing liability is a huge issue for public land managers.
-AJ