climbing on the sharp end of a rope ???

Bareroots,

The photos you posted helped us understand exactly what you can do. You are truly a ”Ninja Climber”. You use nothing but the tree itself to gain altitude. Full stealth mode!

What you show here is a completely different sport than what we do. Does your work (employment) involve climbing and the like?

Regards,
Electrojake

Bareroots I wonder if I could borrow you for my next tree climbing demonstration. It would put to rest the question newcomers to tree climbing always ask. "How do you get the ropes set so high?" I could then blow on a little tin flute like Willy Wonka and then Bareroots you could scamper up the tree with a climbing line in your mouth.

As for Bareroots day job he should perform with Cirque De Soleil. Those guys can climb!

Nice photos bareroots! This thread made my day

i would love to scamper for you optimus (takes me back to my childhood 'Transformers' days)

my work doesn't directly involve climbing. I work in an assessment program for children in crisis. I often take the out into the woods and sometimes we climb trees (small easy ones). however i would like to learn the way of the ropes so i could take both children and adults further in farer up. I'd love to see a tree village that people could come stay in. We've got quite a few protesters in this country defending woods under threat. they build shelters up in the trees that don't damage the trees. I'd hate the use of nails.

Do any of you work directly with trees and climbing or is this pleasure?

Originally posted by bareroots

Do any of you work directly with trees and climbing or is this pleasure?

The nature of my employment has me (on occasion) climbing steel towers & substation structures when necessary to access high voltage equipment that has failed. I seldom need to climb above the 100 foot mark. We have high voltage linemen on my job that do the high work and brutal stuff.

As for tree work…
I have done tree removal and enjoy doing fundamental tree maintenance, pruning and such. Since I am not a certified arborist, I look to make no profit doing tree work.

It sounds to me as if the programs here at TCI (and some of its sister operations) would be outstanding for your work with children. Too bad that big Pond is between you & us.

Electrojake

You have certainly taken the lead in conversations here Bareroots. I thought nickfromWI and electrojake were front runners but I think you are leaving them in the dust. How you have us other climbers typing away! And just think, you used to be a keyboard shy Brit who felt intimidated by us climbers Stateside.

I personally came from the rock climbing arena 27 years ago to climb trees full time as a certified arborist. In all of my years climbing trees, I think the most interesting aspect of it all is empowering children and regular folks to get up into big trees and feel good about themselves and learn respect and admiration for the trees. You really do need to know rope climbing technique so you can safely get anyone into the trees.

We do have rope climbers that climb barefoot along with the ropes. This style of climbing lets people touch trees with their feet and hands combined without fear of falling.

Keep posting Bareroots. You keep it lively here.

I'm just curious if the realization of gravity has struck yet (and I do mean STRUCK)?

More power to ya. Climb Safe!

I won't climb barefoot either. Seems like the spiders and ticks really like me. Any exposed skin gets nailed. I have a scar from two spider bites from last spring that are a nice nasty purple color. I remember what they felt like when fresh, and having that on my foot; you can have it.

Icabod

aha! this is my type of treeclimbing! well, I'm not always barefoot but sometimes I do climb that way too.

quote"I have a scar from two spider bites "
Fortunately we have no biting spiders here in the UK. Hi Bareroots hope all is well.

Great thread and great pictures bareroots!

As another rock climber who started climbing trees (for $) about the same time as I began lead climbing on rock I think that bareroots pic of bouldering up that awesome trunk were inspiring. I love "bouldering" on tree trunks.

I admit to still climbing alot without gear. About a year or so ago I was up in one of my favorite trees and I found a rope burn. I left a note in the tree suggesting that this tree did not need ropes and if you had to use one don't mark the tree.

A while later I was back in the tree and on the phone...yes I was working...and I found that my note had been added to by another climber who allowed as how shoes were not needed either!

I have guided a couole of tree house builders who don't wear shoes up into big trees...I am always amazed at how tough their feet are.

Bareroots you would probably enjoy learning to use ropes...I won't make you wear any shoes!

Here is a picture of me bouldering in one of my favorite redwoods.

now thats what i call a tree.

Fortunately since this thread started sometime ago i have since become a qualified arborist and make a few £ up the tree now too. IT's all a vehicle to start a rec tree org here in the lake district.

Currently designing my own porta ledge to get people out over night up there.

your bouldering looks grand. I was on a red wood working a month or some ago. only a 80 year old sapling. not like your buddies. It gave me a little concern though when some of its lower limbs started popping off despite being as thick as my calf. the only thing i noted was that the tree as a whole seemed quite dry. if it wasn't drinking properly could this explain the shedding of limbs?

would love to solo some time. if your ever in cumbria let me know.

Portaledges are nice and I love my TreeBoat too. But for the best platform aloft why not rig a cargo net?

With anchor points at all corners you can really spread out.

See you at the top,
TreeTramp

Originally posted by bareroots
now thats what i call a tree.
I was on a red wood working a month or some ago. only a 80 year old sapling. not like your buddies. It gave me a little concern though when some of its lower limbs started popping off despite being as thick as my calf. the only thing i noted was that the tree as a whole seemed quite dry. if it wasn't drinking properly could this explain the shedding of limbs?

Redwoods and many other tree species present the climber's hazard of epicormic branches. Epicormics are not structurally rooted in the heartwood. They are attached to the cambium layer and break easily. I don't know if the the branches you described are epicormics but suspect so.
-moss

Originally posted by TreeTramp
Portaledges are nice and I love my TreeBoat too. But for the best platform aloft why not rig a cargo net?

These folks have done some great things with cargo nets in trees:
Monkey-Do

-moss

I wouldn't lie down in a cargo net with a saddle on
because every little thing on your saddle will find those little holes and get stuck as you try to get out of the net.
I had to de-rig a regular hammock once while it was "glued" to my saddle. It made quite a sight for the folks grounded down below.

What about a bunkbed in the canopy? Perhaps 2 of Dans treetramps stacked on top of eachother?
I want top bunk!