Rec climbing

[Tom Dunlap]

Last weekend about sixty people got together at Oregon Caves National Monument for the Recreational Tree Climbing Rendezvous. The crew at New Tribe did an excellent job of organizing a wonderful gathering.

People camped on the ground and in the trees. Some stayed in the lodge and chalet.

There were many discussions about what the future of rec climbing might look like. Mostly a sense of excitement but also some concern. The more people who make a connection with trees the better the world will be. That's the optimist in all of us. Balance that against the realists in the group who have a concern that rec tree climbing has the potential to grow willy nilly into something that will draw the ire of the powers that be.

Somewhere in between is where we'll probably end up.

There is the start of a good discussion about rec tree climbing standards at
http://www.tci-forums.com/

At dinner one night there was a suggestion that a non-profit organization be organized to provide a voice and oversite of the growing activity. This seems like a good idea to me and many other folks at the Rendezvous.

In the next few weeks [dayhs???] there will be another catalog for tree climbing gear. This one will focus on rec tree climbing. The catalog will be called Ascend from Sherrill Arborist Supplies.

When the catalog hits the mailboxes it will bring the fun that we all know about to more of the masses.

 

[thattreeguy]

tom is it currently illegal to rec tree climb on public lands? i will be in humboldt in october and spotted some monster second growth that i would like to climb on public lands..state parks a lil tree hamock for the night maybe.

 

[NickfromWI]

Legality of climbing on public land is one of the hottest topics in the rec climbing world. As of now, there are no hard set rules on where you can and can't climb. In some national forests you can, some you can. I know that in Sequoia-King's Canyon National PARK you cannot climb sequioas, though you can climb other trees.

Your best bet is to

-hike away from a trail where a ranger or concerned onlooker might see you
-Be quiet
-don't tell people what you're doing (i always tell people I'm carrying a LOT of photo gear)
-Don't give other rec climber's a bad name. Be a rec climber, not a wreck climber.

love
nick

 

[NickfromWI]

...oh- and the Oregon Rendezvous....soooo fun. I'm so glad I went. I got to meet a bunch of cool people, sleep in some cool trees (a doug fir and a sugar pine), and I made an awesome (I mean AWESOME) shot with the big shot 150' up huge fir after my, um...3rd try.

love
nick

 

[Tom Dunlap]

3rd?

Climbing in National Forests for fun, no money involved, is more legal than doing it if money exchanges hands.

It does seem contrary to not be able to climb the trees. But, in a way, I can understand some caution. The effects on the trees from large groups or multiple climbs is still not understood. Anyone whose climbed an old growth tree must be able to see their impact on the lichens and fungi. Is there a measurable effect? Who knows...

Trampling of undergrowth is another impact. After a group of tree climbers leaves the area it is very evident that they were around. Can the area recover quickly?

We all need to look closely at the guidelines for minimum impact use of the wilderness when we go into the woods. It doesn't make a big difference if our journeys are vertical or horizontal.

 

[thattreeguy]

NICK AND TOM thanks for the input.. i am usually pretty careful about not leaving a trace, maybe a pile of small deadwood scattered far from the dripline.. being that the dope growers damage more of the land than climbers i think i'll be cool..nick what are you using to sleep in? the new tribe treeboat or what ?

 

[JimK]

We all need to look closely at the guidelines for minimum impact use of the wilderness when we go into the woods. It doesn't make a big difference if our journeys are vertical or horizontal.

[/ QUOTE ]

 

[JimK]

Because I'm the only Rec climbing in my area, I see my impact on the land. I create small worn areas. With respect to the trees I see markings, but I don't see damage that alters the life cycle of the tree.

Natural weather condition inflict more damage on trees than what the rec climber would ever do.

I climbed a tree last summer that was destroyed by a storm exactly 24 hours later. Rec climbers could never inflict a level of damage that's detectable above what's naturally done by weather. I feel ok about climbing as I do. Moreover, we need to question it and modify techniques as needed.

Regards,
Jim

 

[thattreeguy]

jim what stae do you climb in

 

[NickfromWI]

THattreeguy- yes, I usually sleep up there with the treeboat, though I've used the Byer of Maine traveller amazonas hammock, too.

Jim, good point about the weather, but after seeing a tree that had been climbed by maybe 10 or 20 people, the ground below looked like a storm DID come through there and hit just that one tree.

In the hiking world, it seems that there are 2 rules to minimizing damage to the ground. One- stay on the trail if there is a trail. Two- if there is no trail, don't make one- everyone spread out and minimize the amount of damage in one spot.

So now I'm torn. When climbing, do I climb where I or others have already climbed, or do I stay away from those areas. Do we want to create "trail trees?"

love
nick

ps- thattreeguy- you might want to check out www.tci-forums.com

 

[thattreeguy]

i say keep searching for bigger and better trees, although who else would really understand a trail that leads to a tree and circles it and terminates there.

 

[thattreeguy]

nick how much was the tree boat and do you stay tied in? id hate to roll over and wake up in the garden in heaven. not that that would be bad but who would coach my wife down from the tree?

 

[sarumono]

Personally I sleep tied in with a comfy rock climbing harness and a line set as normal above me.

 

[thattreeguy]

do you use the tree boat also?

 

[sarumono]

Yep I sure do. I picked it up from Newtribe @ tci in Wisconsen. It was about $100. Real nice hammoc.

 

[allmark]

When we slept in the tree boats at the TREE FUND climb in the spring we also used a rock climbing harness and normal tie in.

 

[thattreeguy]

was thatthe climb in northern cal?

 

[thattreeguy]

can you fit 2 people in the hammock? it would be cool to take the wifey up and christen the hammock

 

[sarumono]

Anything is possible. It might be a tight fit though.

 

[Riz]

If you're interested in sleeping in a hammock, whether high in a big tree or at ground level between a couple of saplings, then I recommend taking a serious look at the Speer Hammock. http://www.speerhammocks.com/ It's a serious hammock for serious hammock campers.

The Speer is far more comfortable than most designs, arguably even more comfortable than a bed. (No joke.) Slung properly, it allows an almost level sleeping position on your back, and you can also sleep comfortably on your side. No uncomfortable gap under your legs as with most designs, including the Treeboat. And, with only two tie-in points and big sides, it's easy to set up and very secure in a tree.

No single design is perfect in all trees under all weather conditions, but I believe the Speer is the best all-around option available. It's especially superior in cool or cold weather when used in combination with the Speer Peapod (a sleeping bag system that goes around the outside of the hammock, and that allows adding more insulation between it and the hammock). I was almost too warm in one last winter, even in sub-freezing temperature.

And, being designed for ultra-light backpackers, the whole thing, including Peapod, fits in a couple of surprisingly small and light stuff sacks.