In search of trees for recreational climbing...and other ponderings and questions.

Zebco Kid

Zebco Kid

Branched out member
Location
Ashland, Oregon
Hello All,

I'm a recreational tree climber located just north of San Francisco. The predominant trees to climb around my area are oaks. We have them in a few flavors: Coast Live Oak, Valley Oak.

My mode of locating trees is simply scouting while driving or hiking. I try to find trees that are on public land (city/county), but out of eye-shot, as to not get rousted or ticketed.

As I'm relatively new to the sport, I'm inexperienced at understanding what is happening in the overall environment. As we've been experiencing drought in past years, it seems to me that trees everywhere are struggling. Then we have a big rain, and it appears that many trees have fallen that appeared alive, but simply not thriving. Then, of course, there's sudden oak death, which has ravaged the area. The thought has occurred to me that perhaps this is the end of a natural lifecycle for many trees in the area...but I think that is flawed thinking, as the trees can survive for for 100-300 years. They aren't that old.

Sorry for the rambling...I'm getting there...

I see some downed trees with one nice specimen amongst them. Should I be concerned about that?

Finally...do any of you recreational tree climbers have success asking people if you can climb a tree in their yard? In my area, the most spectacular specimens seem to be on private property. So far, when I ask people they respond with a strange mix of fear/aggression/mistrust.

Any tips to gaining access to private property just for the fun of climbing their trees?

Thank you.
 
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All the good property owners will be concerned about liability. Even in state parks where they allow rock climbing, they are reluctant to allow tree climbing because they don't know what they don't know. When I was a city forester, I allowed recreational tree climbing with a permit, maybe go that route. I've had luck with small country cemeteries too. The state department of transportation has a few nice rest areas along the river here, and didn't really have an avenue to ask permission for that sort of thing. I had a written letter from them to proceed at my discretion. If you prefer to be out of people's eyes and opinions, you may have to get creative or good at hiking.
 
Check out Atlas Tree Service in Santa Rosa. They have climbing classes for all levels of climbers- the first half of the day goes over technique and the second half is free climbing. The instructors are some of the best around and they’re really helpful especially if you’re a beginner. They also bring lots of gear and mechanical devices that you can test out in the tree. There are three climbing classes- Climber I, Climber II, and Climber III. I think it’s usually around 20-30 people per class.


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Do you have someone else that comes and climbs with you, or even just hangs out on the ground?

Granted, rec climbing doesn’t have all the hazards that comes with work climbing, but there’s still risk of severe injury or death. Even experienced climbers have made life changing mistakes or missed defects during their assessment.

If you’re being stealthy and out of public eye, that means it could be a very long time before someone can summon emergency services for you if ever needed.

Be safe and have fun man!
 
Thanks Jonny. I nearly always climb alone. You are correct that I'm often out of site...and off the familiar beaten path.

I used to be a paraglider pilot. Fifteen years ago I had a midair collision with a hang glider. I fell 300 feet, hit the deck, and broke my back. I'm definitely not into doing that again!

27RMTON, I do have a cell phone and whistle with me always as well. I've been thinking about purchasing/subscribing to one of those SPOT devices. I think the minimal subscription is $15/mo.

I'm not sure why, but I seem to pick all sorts of "dangerous" activities. Last year I want over the handlebars of my mountain bike and down a ravine.
 
Zebco Kid said:
Hello All,

I'm a recreational tree climber located just north of San Francisco. The predominant trees to climb around my area are oaks. We have them in a few flavors: Coast Live Oak, Valley Oak.

My mode of locating trees is simply scouting while driving or hiking. I try to find trees that are on public land (city/county), but out of eye-shot, as to not get rousted or ticketed.

As I'm relatively new to the sport, I'm inexperienced at understanding what is happening in the overall environment. As we've been experiencing drought in past years, it seems to me that trees everywhere are struggling. Then we have a big rain, and it appears that many trees have fallen that appeared alive, but simply not thriving. Then, of course, there's sudden oak death, which has ravaged the area. The thought has occurred to me that perhaps this is the end of a natural lifecycle for many trees in the area...but I think that is flawed thinking, as the trees can survive for for 100-300 years. They aren't that old.

Sorry for the rambling...I'm getting there...

I see some downed trees with one nice specimen amongst them. Should I be concerned about that?

Finally...do any of you recreational tree climbers have success asking people if you can climb a tree in their yard? In my area, the most spectacular specimens seem to be on private property. So far, when I ask people they respond with a strange mix of fear/aggression/mistrust.

Any tips to gaining access to private property just for the fun of climbing their trees?

Thank you.
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Yeah, I think trying to get access to private property is low percentage success unless you already know the property owner. I would look at land conservation trust forested lands, and state lands. Explore around without your gear and find some cool trees away from trails. Often the best trees are along creeks/rivers/streams, potentially steep terrain. Come back with your gear and enjoy. I wouldn't be a climber if I hadn't done that for years.

Continue working on your tree assessment skills, doesn't matter if there are dead standing or fallen trees around, there always are except in the most heavily human managed woods. Look at a prospective tree from the root zone to the top, you want a fairly clean looking trunk and main limbs, no major deformations/hollows at the base, nice smooth transition from the lower trunk flare to the roots. Look foor good twig complexity on the branch ends (overall healthy limb indicator) on the majority of the crown. Clusters of epicormic sprouts on big oak limbs indicates disease/rot process going on even though there's plenty of foliage. Be conservative first time into any tree, set your line at the limb/trunk union on decent sized wood. Once you're at your TIP take a look around and further examine the crown. From there advance incrementally. Stay within your skill set, expand your "range" gradually as you learn more. Listen to the smart voice in your head when it says "Nope". That's different from the adrenalized fear response which is a familiar but less reliable source of info ;-) Just getting off the ground in a tree is amazing, as you expand your capabilities it gets more amazing. Great thing about rec climbing unlike work climbing is you get to choose the best possible tree to climb.
-AJ
 
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Nobody wants to get up there with you? It’d be sweet if you could get your significant other or a friend or relative to join you. It’s not exactly an inexpensive hobby but keep your eyes peeled for deals, especially Black Friday sales. Check Wesspur clearance rope and clearance gear sections on weekdays.
A person can get around the canopy safely with just a proper rope, a lanyard, and a saddle. Maybe a hitch cord and foot ascender if you’re rolling in cash :)
 
Zebco Kid said:
Moss,

If it weren't the evening, you're inspiring words make me want to grab my gear...like right now...and go find a tree.

You captured it well. Words worth saving.

Cheers,
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Awesome! I always try to remember what it was like in my first year of climbing, so much taken for granted. In a way, the beginning is the best part of a new endeavor, the challenges are greater as is the reward.
-AJ
 
Awesome write-up AT! I was helping a newer climber buff-up their skills on a woods Quercus alba before they took a climber test to qualify for an Asian Longhorned Beetle management climb team. It was middle of the winter with deep snow so we didn't get far off trail. In the middle of the climb a state park ranger leading a cross-country skiing excursion stopped at the tree with 15 or so people. "What are you doing?" "Training for ALB climbing!" "For who?" I named his employer/agency who was indeed the hiring entity. Minor detail that I didn't work for the agency and that my student wasn't hired yet. I expected him to ask for credentials next, I was saved by the skiers who started to pepper me with questions about ALB. Eventually the ranger joined in answering their questions. Since everyone was getting cold standing around they moved on. A year later I took 5 park rangers on a stealth climb same area, they were super wary, didn't want the public to see them in trees, shhh ;-) The student went on to become one of the best ALB climbers on the state's team. I heard from his supervisor on that. He was a natural, my job was just to get him past the starting gate.
-AJ
 
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I live in an area now where forest and trees are so abundant, no more stealth or fun excuses required. When I lived close in to Boston, MA, I "stealthed' in local wooded parks constantly. It was a running joke among my climber friends, whenever asked by anyone: "We're research climbers", and really, we were.

Biking to locals trees is great for low level stealthing. No vehicle at a trailhead to indicate you're there.
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My favorite is getting to a tree with a canoe, great trees to be found in wooded areas along rivers and you can carry as much gear as you want. Swamp White Oak on the left, Black Gum or Tupelo on the right in the water.
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Number one rule, don't climb where a vehicle can roll up to the tree.
-AJ
 
Now this conversation is taking off! Thank you everyone. AJ...did I see a video you posted when you climbed a tree that was accessed along a lake or river. One of my favorite. Oh....to live in such an environment. How cool.

Keep it coming everyone...I think this is probably quite exciting for the recreational climbers...and just might inspire the professionals to see their work/craft for the art that it is.
 
California has a recreational use law that makes land owners free from liability if they give you permission to recreate on their land. There's a form on the internet somewhere you can print out and have both parties sign, but I think verbal permission is enough legally.
 
Same law here in WA State. No liability for landowners as long as they don't charge anything other than $20 per day for vehicle parking; and they are required to have warning signage and/or fencing for any hazards such as an open well, deep pits hidden by vegetation, etc.
 
Burrapeg said:
Same law here in WA State. No liability for landowners as long as they don't charge anything other than $20 per day for vehicle parking; and they are required to have warning signage and/or fencing for any hazards such as an open well, deep pits hidden by vegetation, etc.
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Yes, same in every state since I last checked. Liability is typically around situations where a person is paying for a service, like a commercial zip line or skiing at a ski area. When no money is exchanged liability is not much of an issue for recreational use of land. We’re so used to talking about being sued or suing we tend not to be discerning about what situations are or are not applicable. I climb your tree recreationally and hurt myself you have zero liability. If I paid you to climb your tree then yes, there could be liability if I hurt myself. Highly unlikely scenario. Tort law is built around economics. Obviously if I don’t shovel snow off my steps and you slip and fall that’s different than non-commercial recreational use.
-AJ
 
I suppose a landowner could sue your estate for emotional trauma if you fell and died on their land. You have to reach pretty far to create actual liability situations.

For rock climbing for example there could be liability for search, rescue, emergency extraction costs. It could be the same for hikers. I follow this stuff closely, I’ve never seen anything about a rec tree climber requiring rescue out of the woods. It’s a relatively safe activity compared to ATV use, snowmobiles, rock climbing etc.
-AJ
 
I got permission to climb from a lot of property owners in the neighborhood by offering to remove dead limbs from their trees for free. At the time there were lots of dead limbs left by hurricane Michael. I'd assure them I wouldn't hold them liable if I got hurt, and that I'd clean up all the debris. I only had a few refusals out of several dozen asks.

I'd just drop the smaller stuff, and speed line or rig the larger. It certainly made the climbing more interesting, and I got lots of practice setting lines. This twenty-footer hanging by a thread sixty feet up took some careful planning and rigging to keep it off their heat pump.
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Work like this was too small for the pros in our area who were really busy with big stuff for several years. Filling the niche, and making things safer was very satisfying. Being able to share the experience with the Tree Buzz group added to the fun.
 
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