Who has climbed higher than 300 feet?

TREEfool

TREEfool

Participating member
Location
Sioux Falls, SD
I ask this question because climbing a tree higher than 300 feet is currently number one on my bucket list. However, I need to know how do-able this goal is. My wife and I do not have children yet so I figured this summer might be my last chance to accomplish this goal.

According to Wikipedia the tallest known tree is Hyperion, a Redwood, in the state of California that stands 379 feet tall. This fact leads me to believe that there should be many Redwoods higher than 300 feet. Is this incorrect?

I understand that this isn't something that is easily accomplished so that is why I started this thread.

Have you ever climbed above 300'?
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My idea is to find a group of guys with a lot more experience than me and offer to basically be a pack mule for the team's gear. In return I would have the chance to ascend a tree (using my own muscles! not one of those rope climbing machines) and sleep in the canopy of the biggest living organism in the world. Is this crazy or am I on the right path?

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EDIT: I have no idea why my entire post is centered.
 
Well, I've climbed a few things taller than 300 feet(TV and Radio towers, and was a jug second on El Capitan), but none of em include a tree. It's on my bucket list as well.
 
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Well, I've climbed a few things taller than 300 feet(TV and Radio towers, and was a jug second on El Capitan), but none of em include a tree. It's on my bucket list as well.

[/ QUOTE ]

Me too. I've lead tons of rock climbs higher than 300 feet but I don't want to fund any more rock climbing trips until I climb the Redwoods. If I had the choice between climbing El Cap vs Hyperion I would no doubt choose the tree climb. The mountain will always be there but it is only a matter of time before the tree is knocked down by wind, lightning, or man.

By the way, are there places where it is illegal to climb the Redwoods?
 
There are lots of trees above 300 ft, not just redwoods. Douglas fir, giant sequoia, sitka spruce and eucalyptus regia all get taller than 300 ft.

If I were you I would look at pacific tree climbing institute (http://www.pacifictreeclimbing.com/) or tree climbing planet (http://www.treeclimbingplanet.com/). These are the only wilderness tree climbing guide service on the west coast that I know of, and both are super experienced and run by people I know and trust.

Honestly I think you'll have a hard time with your original mission. As someone who regularly organizes expeditions to climb in our western forests, I would not bring on an extra person who brings nothing to the team. We have to be wary of our footprint on the ground and in the canopy, and subsequent bragging rights is not a compelling enough reason for me to think someone should be included. Sorry, but that's how it is.

Yes it is VERY illegal to climb redwoods in most publicly owned forests and can be extremely unethical to climb old-growth redwoods anywhere (in my opinion) if you don't know what you are doing. The rangers at all these parks know what to look for and regularly bust people attempting to climb without permits.

Please whatever you do, don't just go and climb something out in the woods on your own. You could injure yourself or more likely the tree and it's inhabitants, and it makes people like myself look bad.
 
Treewill, great information! I want to climb a giant tree for personal reasons, not bragging rights. And I want to complete a climb like this with others who love nature like I do.

Right now I am just trying to compile information about all of my options for completing this goal. I didn't know there were guided services for this type of climbing. If they do overnight trips I will likely end up with them. The other option, joining a recreational or work team, seems much more adventurous but the only things I have to offer are my medical skills and a refreshing attitude. Haha.

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By the way, you don't have to worry about me attempting this without a team of tree climbing veterans. I don't have a death wish.
 
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It's just a number.

[/ QUOTE ]. Right on!

Once you get over 150 feet or so in these trees, more height stops feeling different. My suggestion is just to follow Will's advice or hook up with people from here and just go climb some big Douglas firs. Enjoy the experience for what it is-a chance to spend time in a special place and spending time and connecting with people who share a similar passion. If you do it with a number in mind, you are missing the point completely.

Good luck! Have fun!
 
Great advice and input here.

A number of years ago Jerry Beranek and I organized a redwood climb for some friends from Denmark. All are arborists who wanted to climb big trees.

There are a couple of redwoods near Redwood River Resort in Leggit CA that are over 300' They're on private property and the owners have allowed climbing. Get hold of the resort.

Go to Google Maps and paste this into the search bar:

Redwoods River Resort, U.S. 101, Leggett, California

Switch to map view

Zoom down a couple of clicks

Look for the two tall shadows where the river bends. One of those trees was a multi-top but part broke away.

I was in the tree up at about 280' but left the Danes to 'summit' since we were short on time and gear.

Look at the attached pic

Jerry Beranek will have much more information for you.
 

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All good comments! Since you're in Minnesota I highly recommend that you find some big white pine and start figuring out how to climb them. Tall white pine has all the elements of any challenging conifer climb in the PNW. Basically you want to solve and master the following:

1. Line placement (throwing methods for high first limbs on conifers)
2. Access (tree assessment, limb/anchor safety, mastery of SRT techniques, SRT self-rescue etc.)
3. Crown mobility (solid techniques for advancing above your initial access limbs)
4. Risk assessment skills for climbing in a high conifer crown (how high to go, identifying hazards like hangers and problematic tree structure etc.)
5. Rope management skills (avoiding dropping the rope, hanging up the tail of your rope etc.)
6. Descent, rappel methods, exiting the tree, gear retrieval
7. Minimizing impact on the tree and surrounding habitat before, during and after the climb.

As I mentioned all of these conifer climbing skills can be developed and mastered on big woods pine (not tamed park or yard trees) in your area. Get busy and find out what it's all about, you will face some great challenges and you will be much better prepared for when you reach the PNW.
-AJ
 
I was lucky to have had this experience.
I really think that a "peak bagging mentality" with regard to tree climbing has a big downside. As Guy says "it is just an number" amazing
The trees that are a challenge to climb, and most interesting... are not always the largest.
Scott
 
"300 is just a number"

I understand what you guys mean. My all-time favorite rock climb was only 35 feet tall which is NOTHING relative to the tallest rock climb I have accomplished. I am the kind of guy who will shed a tear on the summit of a beautiful mountain because I climb for reasons that most others don't.

With that said, if I put the time, effort, and money into traveling to the other side of the country I want to climb to heights that I will never be able to experience anywhere else. And for this reason I set a personal goal of 300 feet.
 
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